So, if you find yourself in Colombia this December, put on your rubber boots, grab a bottle of Aguardiente , and shout the national motto of the Chiva Culiona: Have you survived a Chiva Culiona? Tell us your story in the comments below. If you haven't, share this article with the friend you want to drag onto the bus with you.
It is the juxtaposition of a child lighting a paper lantern on a quiet street corner and a bus full of adults screaming the lyrics to "El Hijo de Tuta" while hanging off a railing. Juliana Navidad A La Colombiana Chiva Culiona
The term (derived from culo , meaning rear/bottom) refers to the modification made to these buses for party purposes. Unlike a standard bus, a Chiva Culiona has an exposed, flat platform at the back, or a completely open top deck with a railing. The "culiona" aspect emphasizes the rear engine deck where brave (or drunk) passengers ride in the open air, holding onto steel bars as the bus navigates steep mountain curves. So, if you find yourself in Colombia this
Will you get motion sickness? Probably. Will you lose your favorite jacket? Almost certainly. Will you wake up on December 8th with a headache and a thousand new memories? Absolutely. It is the juxtaposition of a child lighting
So, where does "Juliana" come from?
When you think of Christmas, you might picture snow, reindeer, eggnog, and a silent night. Now, throw that image out the window. In Colombia, Christmas is loud, colorful, exuberant, and slightly chaotic. At the heart of this festive chaos lies a unique phenomenon that is taking over not just the streets of Bogotá and Medellín, but the algorithmic feeds of TikTok and Instagram Reels:
"Juliana" is a colloquial, slightly mischievous term used in urban Colombian slang (particularly in the Andean region around Bogotá and Boyacá) to describe a massive, raucous party that starts on the night of December 7th and lasts until dawn on December 8th. While the grandmothers are lighting candles, the younger generation is saying, "Vamos a la Juliana."
So, if you find yourself in Colombia this December, put on your rubber boots, grab a bottle of Aguardiente , and shout the national motto of the Chiva Culiona: Have you survived a Chiva Culiona? Tell us your story in the comments below. If you haven't, share this article with the friend you want to drag onto the bus with you.
It is the juxtaposition of a child lighting a paper lantern on a quiet street corner and a bus full of adults screaming the lyrics to "El Hijo de Tuta" while hanging off a railing.
The term (derived from culo , meaning rear/bottom) refers to the modification made to these buses for party purposes. Unlike a standard bus, a Chiva Culiona has an exposed, flat platform at the back, or a completely open top deck with a railing. The "culiona" aspect emphasizes the rear engine deck where brave (or drunk) passengers ride in the open air, holding onto steel bars as the bus navigates steep mountain curves.
Will you get motion sickness? Probably. Will you lose your favorite jacket? Almost certainly. Will you wake up on December 8th with a headache and a thousand new memories? Absolutely.
So, where does "Juliana" come from?
When you think of Christmas, you might picture snow, reindeer, eggnog, and a silent night. Now, throw that image out the window. In Colombia, Christmas is loud, colorful, exuberant, and slightly chaotic. At the heart of this festive chaos lies a unique phenomenon that is taking over not just the streets of Bogotá and Medellín, but the algorithmic feeds of TikTok and Instagram Reels:
"Juliana" is a colloquial, slightly mischievous term used in urban Colombian slang (particularly in the Andean region around Bogotá and Boyacá) to describe a massive, raucous party that starts on the night of December 7th and lasts until dawn on December 8th. While the grandmothers are lighting candles, the younger generation is saying, "Vamos a la Juliana."