In this text it are analyzed the nationalistic representations created by the bogotan society during the celebration of the first centenary of birth of Simón Bolívar in 1883. The celebration is conceived as a performance, an event in which the production and reception are entangled in one moment. In this sense, in the center of the discussion it is important to highlight the nationalist conceptions of the politicians of La Regeneración, a political movement that promoted the modernization of the country through the tradition, observing how these ideas were presented and discussed during a celebration. In the Centenary are promoted a national unification and the identification of Colombia with the image of Simón Bolívar as the leader in the search for the ‘progress’ and ‘civilization’. In consequence, this text contributes to the cultural historical studies of the centenary celebrations in Colombia and their influence in the construction of the nation during the XIX century.
