Last Wednesday, September 15th, Costa Rica celebrated the 190th anniversary of its independence.
In Santa Teresa we celebrated it with a big parade in the town´s soccer field with children dressed in the red, white, and blue traditional campasino dress. As proud Costa Ricans, we gather together to sing the national anthem and light traditional candle lanterns. Bands play and all the town folk line the sidewalks to see the brightly decorated lanterns, high school bands, and proud citizens passing by and marching. There was typical Costa Rica food for sale in the stands such as arroz con pollo (rice and chicken) tamales, fried yucca, black beans and rice, fried plantains, and cabbage slaw. And of course rice pudding and coconut flan.
The environment was very family oriented, and missing any militant overtones. This came as no surprise since Costa Rica gave its army the boot more than 55 years ago.
A little bit about Costa Rica
On Sept. 15, 1821, Costa Rica, along with the rest of Central America (minus British Honduras, or modern-day Belize ), declared its independence from Spain. Following a series of relatively mild rebellions from 1811 to 1814, a council of leaders in Guatemala drafted and signed Central America's official declaration of independence. Word of the region's newfound freedom reached Costa Rica nearly a month later on Oct. 13.
Although in later years Costa Rica became part of, and subsequently declared independence from, both the Mexican Empire and the Federal Republic of Central America, Ticos celebrate Sept. 15 as their true Independence Day.
Important dates
September 15, 1821:
Independence of Central America.
October 13, 1821:
The news of independence for Costa Rica arrives.
October 29, 1821:
Signature and oath of independence of Costa Rica.
September 15, 1821:
Independence of Central America.
October 13, 1821:
The news of independence for Costa Rica arrives.
October 29, 1821:
Signature and oath of independence of Costa Rica.
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