HOLIDAYS IN COSTA RICA Holidays in Costa Rica are something that expats should know about before buying Costa Rica real estate and moving to Costa Rica for retirement or a vacation property. Christmas in Costa Rica. Christmas is one of the most popular holidays celebrated in Costa Rica. Easter in Costa Rica. Easter in Costa Rica otherwise known as Semana Santa or Holy Week is Costa Rica's biggest holiday. Thanksgiving in Costa Rica. Thanksgiving is not celbrated in Costa Rica, but some of the resorts and restaurants that are populated by US and Canadian Expats will serve up a traditional turkey and stuffing dinner on the respective days. Columbus Day in Costa Rica. Columbus Day is celebrated in certain parts of Costa Rica, especially in the Caribbean region and Limon Province which is where Columbus came ashore in Costa Rica. US Independence Day in Costa Rica. The American Way Colony hosts the largest expat parties of the year at its annual picnic in San Jose. Other resorts and gated communities that are friendly with American Expats offer traditional meals of barbecue chicken, potatoe salad, cole slaw and baked beans followed by a variety of fireworks shows. Canada Day in Costa Rica. The Canadian Embassy celebrates Canada Day with a party. The Queens (England) Birthday in Costa Rica. The Canadian Embassy celebrates the Queens Birthday with a party. Halloween in Costa Rica. Ok. This is probably one holday that you could live without, but you may be interested in knowing that Halloween in Costa Rica is being celebrated more and more every year. Halloween in Costa Rica article. Valentines Day in Costa Rica. Valentines Day is celebrated in Costa Rica as a Hallmark Holiday gaining more and more in popularity each year. Traditional greetings cards, flowers are chocolates to the one you love. Mother's Day in Costa Rica. El Dia De La Madre is not in May when American's and Canadian's celebrate Mother's Day, but instead it is celebrated on August 15th of each year. If you happen to be an Expat Mother living in Costa Rica, you most likely get to celebrate Mother's day on both days! Father's Day in Costa Rica. Fathers Day in Costa Rica is celebrated on the 3rh Sunday in June of each year and is similar to Father's Day in North America. Labor Day in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has its own Labor Day on May 1 and does not celebrate the traditional North American Labor. Memorial Day in Costa Rica is celebrated on Nov 2. Some of the Expat American Legion members in San Jose celbrate this day by placing flags and flowers on the graves of Expat Veteran Servicemen who have passed away and are burried in Costa Rica. New Years in Costa Rica. New Years Even in Costa Rica is a big party and celbration just like in the United States and around the world. Ticos and Expat's alike attend parties and celebrations bringing in the New Year. At many of the beach areas like Jaco Beach, fireworks can be seen up and down the beach from about 9pm to 1am. Carnival in Costa Rica. The Caribbean Province of Limon celebrates Carnival every year in late September / early October. Other Costa Rican Holidays to take note of are: April 11 Juan Santa Maria Day; a war hero that drove away the Gringo William Walker who wanted to take over Central America and make it a slave state. Sept 15 Indepence Day from Spain; Costa Rican children make lanterns and dress in traditonal clothing and parade around on the evening of Sept 15 just as the Costa Rican citizens gathered in streets in the evening with their lanterns as they learned the news by word of mouth of their Independence from Spain. July 25 Guanacaste Day; is the day that Guanacaste separated from Nicaragua and joined Costa Rica. Sept 9 Children's Day; my parents always told me that every day was children's day, but here in Costa Rica, children get a special day of their own where parents buy them a gift and usually candy. It's like another birthday! What a great place to be a child! Aug 2nd Virgin De Los Angeles; The Patron Saint of the Country is celebrated by thousands of people taking pilgrimages to their local churches. The largest is from San Jose to Cartago where many years ago a woman found a rock with the image of the Virgin Mary. |