Costa Rica celebrates “Columbus Day” on October 12th, every year. However these days, it is not about Columbus as much as it is about culture. The name has actually been changed to Cultural Day. Costa Ricans are people who are proud of their culture, and they use this day as a way to celebrate and showcase it.
Costa Rican culture faced a tough time during the Spanish occupation of the Central American country. However with dedication and bravery Costa Ricans managed to preserve their rich culture. From the countries capital in San Jose to the outerlying areas, all activities are directed towards the cultural celebration.
Presently, Columbus Day is a symbol of national unity, a symbol of peace. Among the activities conducted on this day include festivities and parades in the streets, displaying Costa Rican culture.
Also, Costa Ricans cook engage in song and dance praising their culture. Locals and tourists are treated to not only the cultural dressing of the Costa Ricans but also to their traditional food. The parades are always a beautiful site to watch as people young and old march down the streets in Costa Rican colors of red, blue, white and traditional costumes.
While we all can enjoy the traditional, national dish of Costa Rica, Gallo Pinto, which means “spotted chicken” and is made of rice and beans fried together creating a spotted appearance, we can also seek out other traditional recipes like arroz con pollo (chicken with rice) or arroz con leche (a sweet dessert of rice and milk)
People often think that Costa Rican music is greatly influenced by the Spanish and Mexican culture. However, Costa Ricans have a unique approach to music. Calypso and Marimba are a common part of the music scene in Costa Rica.
Columbus Day in Costa Rica is more than a holiday. It is a day of showcasing Costa Rica to the world. A day of appreciation of Costa Rican culture, for both locals as well as visiting travelers.
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