Expert: MRZ - 1/15/2008

Question
what kind of festivals do they do in colombia and why?

Answer
With over 100 festivals and carnavals in Colombia, it would be too difficult to describe them all. So I just picked the most known.  

Carnaval de Blancos y Negros - Carnival of whites and blacks, celebrated in Pasto in January. This carnival is one of the oldest celebrations of the continent and its genesis is rooted in the rituals of the local indigenous people that were part of their agrarian culture which used dances and prayers to honor their deity, the moon, and made prayer rituals for protect their crops.

Carnaval de Barranquilla, celebrated in February of each year. Is a carnival with traditions that date back to the 19th century. It takes place for four days preceding Ash Wednesday. During the carnival the city of Barranquilla's normal activities are paralyzed because the city gets busy with street dances, musical and masquerade parades. Barranquilla's Carnival is reputed for being second in size to Rio de Janeiro's but is far less commercialized.

Exposición Internacional de Orquídeas, International Orchid Expo in Medellín in March. With the orchid being the national Colombian flower, exhibitors from different countries participate with the most exotic varieties. The show is an amalgam of all colors where everyone can appreciate the beauty of orchids.

Semana Santa, Holy Week (easter), celebrated in Popayan in March. Colombia is a strong Catholic country.    
Popayan is known for the celebration of Holy Week, which dates back to Colonial times. This tradition has been jealously preserved by their inhabitants. On the same days they celebrate the Religious Music Festival, which brings together bands of this genre from various countries. 450 years after the first Holy Week was celebrated, it has become the emblem of the city founded in 1536 by Sebastian of Belalcázar.

Festival Internacional de la Leyenda Vallenata, International Festival of the Vallenato Legend, celebrated in Valledupar in April. It was was established in 1968 at the initiative of ex president Dr. Alfonso Lopez Michelsen, then governor of Cesar. It is an event where musicians compete to become the king of Vallenato. The event works to protect the expression and dissemination of the folk and popular music known as Vallenato. Vallenato is the national symbol of Colombian folklore.

Fiestas del mar, Festival of the Sea, celebrated in Santa Marta in July. The Festival of the Sea is celebrated on a yearly basis in this city. It serves as a tourist attraction during the midyear vacation period. One of the main events in the festival is the jetski show organized by Santa Marta Esqui. There are beauty pageants, parades and parties in the city. The Festival's slogan is "Santa Marta, la magia de tenerlo todo" (translates as "Santa Marta, the magic of having it all").

Feria de las Flores, Flower Festival, celebrated in Medellín in August. Is one of the largest events in the country and one of the largest horticultural events in the world. The festival began in the 1950's to help inspire the large number of flower growers in and around Medellin. The first festivities consisted of just the locals parading small arrangements through the downtown area but it has blossomed into a more than a week long event filled with concerts, parades, speeches, and craft sales.

Festival de Cometas, Kyte Festival held in Villa De Leyva in August. August is the month of the winds and so kites block out the sky above the Plaza Mayor when expert kite runners descend upon the town for the Festival de Cometas (Kite Festival). With idyllic whitewashed walls, cobblestone streets, elegant dining, boutique shops and galleries, Villa de Leyva is one of the top weekend retreats for Bogotanos. Boasting, what some say is the largest and certainly most gapingly expansive, Plaza Mayor in all of the Americas and some of the finest examples of colonial streets dating back to 1572.