World Travel 4 Indians

Festivals of Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, the Christians are in majority. Easter is the premier holiday, and Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a time when most of all express their faith, bringing the nation to a standstill.

Spanish-style street processions take place every day of the week before Easter, to sensationalize all stages of Christ's way to the cross, crucifixion, and resurrection.

Small villages have their own way of celebrating, and they add to the occurrence the blessing of oxcarts, horses and trucks.

Families everywhere prepare "dulce de chiverre" (sweet preserves), "arroz con leche" (sweet rice), "tamal mudo," eggnog, quesadillas, "rosquillas" and "polvorones," and special dishes with seafood.

During the Christmas merriment and some days previous to New Years, a similar phenomenon, the national "fiesas patronales," is celebrated.

Families congregate to exhibit nativity scenes at their homes and to celebrate the "posadas," a norm where children, playing shepherds, go house to house and sing Christmas carols, re-enacting the journey of Mary and Joseph.

Musicians perform traditional carols while the party-goers feast on time-honored meals. O ne of the most distinctive foods is tamales, but families also serve "hecho de masa de maiz y rellenos de arroz," and "carne de cerdo vegetales."

Another religious celebration is the pilgrimage to the Basilica de Los Angeles in Cartago city, in tribute of the Virgin of the Angels.

During this holiday many people walk to the city from all parts of the country, in order to pay a "promise" to the Virgin (when she answered a prayer) or to renew their faith.

Costa Rica Festivals
Christians inhabit major regions of Costa Rica, though you can also find inhabitants of Jewish community scattered in between. Christmas is the main festival that is celebrated with full pomp and zeal. Many events are held in Costa Rica and in particular San José during Easter Holy Week known as Semana Santa.

Besides, various towns in and around Costa Rica celebrate their own saints' day. San José's Day or (Saint Joseph's Day) on March 19, Virgin of Los Angeles Day (the patron saint of Costa Rica) on August 2, Juan Santa Maria's Day on April 11 and Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day) on October 12, are some of other events to enjoy, while you make your stay a memorable event.

Some believers travel for days or even weeks in order to reach their destination and to honor the Virgin. Even though some Costa Ricans decide to party during religious celebrations, they still prefer the company of their family.

Independence Day is the most noteworthy non-religious holiday in Costa Rica. Every town has its own prescribed official festivity counting parades of young children, music bands and majorettes. People carry the national flags and wear with the national colors red, blue and white.

Worldtravel4indians.com provides information on Festivals of Costa Rica and different festive occasions of Costa Rica.