Christmas Traditions in Costa Rica

As December arrives, the weather changes from the rainy "green" season into the dry season and the festive time of year begins. Costa Rica, like many other countries around the world, has it's own unique and special way to celebrate Christmas.

You notice that the houses begin to be adorned with Christmas lights and decorations. You will also see models of the Nativity Scene which are called the Pasito or Portal. Christmas wreaths are made of cypress branches and are decorated with red coffee berries and ribbons. The Ticos prefer the Cypress tree with its cypress scent as the "Tree" of choice. The most important Christmas tree in Costa Rica is the one outside the Children's National Hospital planted decades ago, which represents to all kids of the hospital hope for the coming year and thankfulness.

In San Jose, the official holiday season starts with the Festival de la Luz, the Light Festival, with floats, dancing and musical groups from all over the country parading the two main streets at night. The groups are awarded prizes for best costumes, best dancers and best orchestra.

In Costa Rica Santa Claus doesn't bring Christmas gifts to the kids, those are brought by Baby Jesus the night before Christmas called la 'Noche Buena' while they are sleeping and the gifts are opened on Christmas morning.

A very important date is Christmas Eve when the families get together for a special dinner traditionally served with pork leg and tamales.

The tamale is made of corn or maize flour dough stuffed with rice, potatoes, vegetables, and pork or chicken, wrapped in plantain or banana leaves and then boiled. Making tamales is a tradition that involves the participation of all family members. It is a slow, laborious process taught by Grandmothers and mothers to granddaughters and daughters. Everyone has their own secret recipes that are also passed on from generation to generation

On the 25th at night the religious families in Costa Rica put on their best clothes and go to the midnight mass called 'La Misa del Gallo' which means "Mass of the Rooster" and can last as long as 2 hours.

The municipality of San Jose organizes many activities during the holiday season. The most popular, however, is the Bullfight in Zapote, a suburb of San Jose. The famous cattle ranches of the country provide the bulls for free and the bullfighters are "regular" folk trying to ride the bull without any professional training.

The most popular part of the Tico bullfight is the run when dozens of young men race into the ring en masse with the intention of frightening the bull and provoking it to attack. The bulls are never injured but occasionally there are human injuries.

The Christmas festivities end on the 6th of January, the day the three wise men historically arrived at the manger of Jesus, with the celebration of the Rosario, which includes prayers and serving coffee, tamales, rompope (eggnog) and other typical pastries and drinks.