Costa Rica is a colorful country with a multicultural mix of customs and traditions from countries including Spain, Italy, Jamaica, and parts of Africa and Asia. When combined with elements from the indigenous heritage of Costa Rica, they blend together to create a unique culture. The majority of Costa Rica is Catholic and many of Costa Rican traditions stem from the religion and revolve around family values. We have created a list of the most important Costa Rica traditions and holidays with an explanation of each one so you can embrace the Costa Rica culture, customs and celebrations a little bit more

January

New Year's Day Celebrations - fireworks light up the country on this national holiday, and street parties attract locals and visitors alike with music, dancing and food.

Palmares Fiestas - one of Costa Rica's most anticipated traditional celebrations, includes two weeks of concerts, fireworks, sports activities, tents with alcohol and food, Costa Rican-style bullfighting and a traditional horse parade.

Alajuelita Fiestas - a celebration to honor "Santo Cristo de Esquipulas" during the week of January 15th. Events include an ox-cart parade, a turno (food, arcade games and music) with a religious procession to the top of the mountain, where the big metallic Alajuelita cross shines above San Jose.

Santa Cruz Fiestas - another celebration to honor "Santo Cristo de Esquipulas" traditional music, folkloric dancing and bullfighting.

February

Fiesta de los Diablitos - the "festival of the little devils" an indigenous celebration wrapped around a re-enactment of a battle between the toro (Spanish troops) and the diablitos (Boruca Indians). Striking hand carved masks and traditional costumes decorate participants and food and fireworks complete the scene.

Carnival and Festival del Mar - A week of local celebrations including street fairs and fiestas, dancing and sporting events.

March

Día de los Boyeros - a parade of beautifully handmade and painted oxcarts and driving competitions surrounded by traditional costumes, food and dancing, one of the most colorful celebrations and a real photo opportunity.

Día de San José - this day is recognized nationwide by Catholics with special masses (especially in the many other towns and communities named San José). It is an official business, bank and school holiday in the capital.

April

Semana Santa - Holy week is observed with religious processions and masses. The official holiday falls on the Thursday and Friday before Easter Sunday. Public transportation does not run on these two days and is extremely crowded the whole week. All alcohol sales are prohibited Thurs. - Sun. Many businesses extend the holiday to the entire week.

Fiesta San Vincente de Moravia - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed). This festival begins on the Thursday before Easter and do not stop till Easter Sunday, and even into the Monday after Easter.

Día de Juan Santamaría - National holiday honoring a young fighter from Alajuela who defended his country to the death against William Walkers forces at the battle of Rivas in 1856. Parades, marching bands, dances and other celebrations extend through the week.

Fiesta San Rafael de Sata Ana - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)

Fiesta Tarrazu - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)

May

Día de los Trabajadores - Labor Day. Parades, marches and the Presidential "state of the union" address to Congress and the people. Cricket matches are a highlight in Puerto Limón.

Fiesta Pattronale Desamparados - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)

Día de San Isidro Labrador - Escazú and San Isidros all over Costa Rica hold street fairs and parades with music, dancing, traditional food, honoring the patron saint of farmers with blessings of animals and crops.

Fiestas Pattronales San Marcos de Tarrazu, and Coronado - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)

June

Fiestas Pattronales Trinidad de Moravia, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Leon Cortes, and San Jeronimo - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)

Día de los Padres - Father's day

Fiesta San Juan de Tibas - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)

Día de San Pedro y San Pablo - Saint Peter and Saint Paul's day marked by processions and masses.

July

Fiesta de La Virgen del Mar - The Fiesta of the Virgin of the Sea on the Saturday closest to the 16th is marked in Puntarenas by a procession of decorated fishing boats carrying a statue of La Virgen del Monte Carmelo (the city's patron saint) and a special mass. The secular celebrations include a week of parades, dances, regattas, parades and fireworks. Playas del Coco also celebrates the Virgin of the Sea.

Día de Guanacaste - Guanacaste Day celebrates the annexation of Guancaste from Nicaragua in 1824. Street fiestas, folk dancing, topes (horse show/parade), traditional bullfights, rodeos and cattle shows are particularily colorful and exhuberant in the eponymous northwest region of Guanacaste and the Nicoya peninsula.

Virgen de Los Angeles - National holiday celebrating the patron saint of Costa Rica, La Negrita. Special masses and a religious procession from San José to La Basilica de Cartago. Pilgrims come from all over the country, many on foot to celebrate the mass at Cartago.

Fiesta Ciudad Colón (San Carlos) - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)

Día de la Madre, Feast of the Assumption - Mother's day is a national bank, school and business holiday in Costa Rica.

Fiesta Pattronale Aserri - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)

National Parks Day - Special events in the major National Parks around Costa Rica.

September

Independence Day - Costa Rica gained independence from Spain on the same day as the rest of Central America in 1821. The nationwide celebration starts with parades, traditional dancers, and street parties and culminates with the arrival of the Freedom Torch in Cartago (delivered from Nicaragua by relay runners) when everyone in the country stops and simultaneously sings the national anthem. Children later enjoy faroles parades where they carry small lanterns through their towns.

Fiesta Pattronale San Francisco de Dos Ríos - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)

Founding Day - A week of local celebrations in San Isidro de El General including street fairs and fiestas, dancing and sporting events culminates in the fiesta marking the founding of the town.

Carnival - Shades of Río on the streets of Límon, this celebration of Columbus' arrival in the new world culminates on the twelfth (Columbus day)

Día de la Raza - Columbus Day commemorates the arrival of Columbus in the new world and caps off several days of Carnival on the Caribbean coast.

Fiesta Pattronale Escazú - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)

Halloween - Relatively new to Costa Rica but gaining popularity rapidly as the youngsters pick up on the concept of trick-or-treat.

November

Día de los Muertos - All Soul's Day is observed across Costa Rica with Catholic masses and pilgrimages to graveyards.

Coffee Picking Contests - Local communities throughout the Meseta Central and mountains sponsor coffee picking contests in November.

El Desfile de Carretas - One of the largest parades of ox-carts (the other is the Día de los Boyeros the second week in March) takes place in San José the last week in November.

December

Festival de la Luz - San José's week long festival of lights is marked by lighting displays and concerts and fireworks after dark in the park.

Fiesta Pattronale Pavas - Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)

Immaculate conception, Fiesta de los Negritos - Formerly a national holiday now celebrated with religious processions, masses, and costumed dancing.

Fiesta de la Yeguita - Bullfights and a parade followed by a party in the parque central of Nicoya with food, concerts and fireworks.

Misa de Gallo - Christmas eve midnight mass. (Literally, Mass of the Rooster.)

Christmas Week - Although not an official holiday the week preceeding Christmas is so commonly observed that it might as well be. A very popular time for Ticos to head to the beach.

Christmas Day - Family gatherings and Christmas mass.

Tope Caballos - A horse parade through downtown San José proudly displays the equine traditions and unique Criollo. breed.