Holidays in Costa Rica

Residents of Costa Rica believe that the family is the main value in life, that is why the country is honored with ancient traditions and tries to celebrate all celebrations with relatives. It is also a rather religious country and church holidays (fiestas) are very important for them. Let's talk about them in more detail.

Main Holidays of Costa Rica

The main official holidays in Costa Rica are about 15:

• New Year's Day - January 1;
• St. Joseph's Day (patron of the city of San Jose) - March 19;
• The Pan American Day is celebrated on April 4;
• The anniversary of the Battle of Rivas and the Day of the National Hero Juan Santamaria - April 11;
• Easter and the accompanying holidays are celebrated at the end of April;
• Labor Day is celebrated on May 1;
• Feast of the body of the Lord - May 26;
• St. Peter and Paul's Day - June 29;
• Joining the Guanacaste province is celebrated on July 25;
• The Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary (patron of Costa Rica) is celebrated on August 2;
• Ascension of the Virgin and part-time Mother's Day - August 15;
• Independence Day - September 15;
• Dia de la Race is a celebration of Columbus, celebrated on October 12;
• Day of the Immaculate Conception - December 8;
• Christmas and Christmas Eve on 24 and 25 December.

What celebrations are worth to visit?

1. January in the country is fun, except for Christmas holidays, at this time there is a tennis tournament, the Alahuatilla festival, as well as mass festivities in Guanacaste and Santa Cruz.
2. In February in Boruka and in Talamanca celebrate the holiday devil - Fiestas de los Dyblitos, and in Cartago and San Jose - the festival of orchids.
3. In March , a national holiday is celebrated on the Day of Repentance, at this time bullfights and parades are held. Also in the first month of spring in the capital of the country there is a marathon "Carrera de la Paz", a fair of crafts, in the cities of Dia del Boyero and Puerto Viejo celebrate the music festival, and in Escazu arrange a day of ox carts.
4. In May in San Jose, there is a dance festival, in Cartago - Carrera de San Juan marathon, and in local villages celebrate the national day of farmers - San Isidro.
5. In June , the city of Pakas hosts a large celebration dedicated to the Day of the Body of the Lord. On this day, a huge number of people make sacrament, they solemnly pass through a carpet of flowers and painted sawdust.
6. In Puntarenas in July , a carnival in honor of St. Mary (the patron saint of seafarers) and a music festival are held.
7. In August, pilgrims travel to the city of Cartago, where the Day of Our Lady of Angels (Nuestra Señora de los Angeles) is celebrated. A large column of people walks from all corners of the country for several days, and the last meters, many of them pass on their knees. In the last month of summer, an international music festival dedicated to Afro-Costa Rican culture is also held.
8. In September (the 15th), Independence Day is celebrated. In the evening on the eve of the holiday, parents and children go to school, where the hymn of the country sounds, and those present sing along with the choir. In the holiday itself, parades take place in the cities, in which children take part instead of the military, they carry a national flag, they play in the orchestra, and the smallest ones - preschoolers head the columns. All present are dressed in national clothes, they dance, jump and have fun together with children.
9. In October , many different carnivals and holidays are held: Noche-des-Bruhas (Night of Magic), Great Regatta, etc. October 12 is marked by the Day of the Discovery of America.
10. In November, in the cities of La Rivera de Belém and Jesús Maria de San Mateo, many ritual activities are held devoted to the commemoration of the dead, as well as demonstrations. In the last days of autumn international surfing competitions are held.
11. In December, in Boruka is the Fiestas de Los Negritos, as well as the procession of Dia de la Egypt.

It is worth remembering that if you are going to visit Aborigines, then it is not customary in the country to come empty-handed. From you will wait for some delicious dish.