Sidebar #43 - Costa Rican Independence Day

Ticos join several other Central American countries and celebrate independence annually on September 15th. This means that this past Monday, the whole country had a feriado (public holiday). However, unlike the 4th of July, independence isn’t just a one day celebration. Rather, some refer to September as the “patriotic month”, and students have several actos cívicos (civic assemblies) scattered throughout the month.

In reality, Costa Rican independence celebrations strike me more as a 2-day holiday - kind of like Christmas Eve and Christmas in that vein. But, one of the stark differences between celebrations here compared to our independence festivities in the States is that everything runs through the schools here. Meanwhile, during the 4th of July, students are on summer break and are trying to stay as far away from the classroom as possible. 

The night before independence day (Independence Eve, if you will) is almost a bigger deal than Independence Day itself. Select students participate in the antorcha in which they run with a torch to commemorate the spreading of the news of independence throughout Central America. As the “runner” in my community, I’ve been invited to participate in the antorcha both years at my site, and it’s been a really cool experience. After students deliver the torch to the school, there is a parade of faroles (little decorated lanterns). Schools have competitions related to these faroles - some took the shape of national symbols such as sloths, while others paid homage to certain cultural identities like indigenous tribes. The closest thing I can compare it to in the American school system is when students create Valentine’s Day boxes.

Independence Day itself is perhaps a tad more formal, but is still very celebratory in nature. Schools start the day with an acto cívico in which they sing national anthems, listen to some speeches about the country’s history, and then there is an artistic performance, usually by an informal school band that emerges in the weeks leading up to the holiday. After spending a couple hours in the assembly, students (and teachers) are dismissed to spend the rest of the day participating in local desfiles (parades). This year, following having to go to school on Sunday and Monday, teachers and students were granted the following day off (Tuesday), which was a fun quirk in the schedule.