Colombia's calendar for 2025 is filled with holidays and important dates providing opportunities for additional leisure time. These dates not only serve as moments for relaxation and recreation but also represent occasions to celebrate cultural and religious traditions.
Throughout 2025, Colombia is set to enjoy multiple holidays, offering many chances to plan vacations and special activities. The establishment of these holidays is made possible by Law 51 of 1983, popularly known as the Emiliani Law, which was advocated by Senator Raimundo Emiliani Román. This law was crafted to move certain holidays to Mondays, thereby creating long weekends, commonly referred to as "puentes festivos." The dual purpose of the Emiliani Law was to improve productivity by reducing disruptions during the workweek and to promote domestic tourism, ensuring Colombians had more opportunities to travel and relax.
Thanks to this regulation, Colombia’s 2025 calendar is now filled with holidays allowing Colombians to rest, celebrate, and reflect. The year will see 18 public holidays, marking perfect moments to plan ahead and maximize these dates.
The holidays of 2025 are strategically spread across almost every month. Nevertheless, some months stand out with more holidays making them favorites for planning vacations or getaways.
- January 1: New Year’s Day
- January 6: Day of the Kings
- March 24: Saint Joseph's Day
- April 17: Maundy Thursday
- April 18: Good Friday
- May 1: Labor Day
- May 13: Ascension Day
- June 2: Corpus Christi
- June 23: Sacred Heart of Jesus Day
- June 30: Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s Day
- July 20: Colombian Independence Day
- August 7: Boyacá Day
- August 18: Assumption of the Virgin Mary Day
- October 13: Day of the Race
- November 3: All Saints' Day
- November 17: Cartagena Independence Day
- December 8: Immaculate Conception Day
- December 25: Christmas
June is particularly appealing to many as it includes three long weekends: June 2 (Corpus Christi), June 23 (Sacred Heart of Jesus), and June 30 (Saint Peter and Saint Paul). This month is ideal for planning extended vacations or engaging in recreational activities with family.
- June 2, 2025: Ascension Day of the Lord: The first holiday of June, celebrated on Monday, June 2, marks the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven, 40 days after his resurrection. This significant date on the Christian calendar is commemorated widely.
- June 23, 2025: Corpus Christi: This religious festivity recognizes the presence of Jesus Christ during the Eucharist. Various regions of Colombia participate with processions and ceremonies to honor this day.
- June 30, 2025: Sacred Heart of Jesus: This Catholic celebration emphasizes Jesus Christ's love and compassion for humanity. Typically, masses and community events are held across Colombia to honor this occasion.
Overall, Colombians will enjoy 18 holidays throughout 2025, distributed across all months except for February and September. Among these days, ten holidays will be observed on Mondays, resulting in multiple long weekends for rest or travel.
June will be the most generous with three long weekends, followed by October, November, and December, which also present several rest days.
For those planning early, it's important to recognize these religious and civic holidays as not just breaks, but also opportunities to explore tourist destinations. The Caribbean beaches, the mountains of the coffee region, and historic cities like Cartagena are popular choices during these long weekends. Holy Week continues to be a special time for religious and cultural tourism.
Why do February and September lack holidays? The months of February and September have no holidays because there are no significant historical, patriotic, or religious events to justify declaring a day off for the entire population. Unlike other months with notable celebrations—like Independence Day on July 20 or the Immaculate Conception Day on December 8—February and September do not feature dates commemorative of national importance. February’s brief span, with only 28 or 29 days, also contributes to the lack of holidays, leaving fewer days available for coinciding events.
Despite the Day of Love and Friendship being celebrated in September, it isn’t recognized as an official holiday due to the absence of historical or religious significance demanding paid leave. Therefore, September remains holiday-free.
