Colors of San Jose - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

San Jose will meet and surprise its foreign guests not only with hearty and welcoming atmosphere and a great choice of entertainments but with plenty of exciting ethnic holidays and country celebrations. In the second part of December the city celebrates the Fiesta Del Fin del Ano being a bright folk festival with plenty of entertaining events which lasts almost till the middle of January. The festival features exciting music shows and theatrical performances, bright marches and masquerades, exciting children’s holidays. Local cafes offering various festive treats deserve special attention of tourists. The Fiesta Del Fin del Ano festival is considered to the brightest and the most exciting country holiday.

The festival is timed to coincide with Christmas celebration. Traditionally the festival is opened with the Holiday of Light. A festive parade runs through central streets of the city. Every participant of the march demonstrates a unique festive costume. The main distinctive feature of festive dresses performed in the parade is modern illuminating systems application. One will meet giant insects, fabled beings and great bright carriages which are given a unique inimitable look with a well planned lighting system.

The brightest event of the spring in San Jose is the Orchid Festival. Visiting of this exciting flower show will be of great interest for all the tourists without exception. During the holiday days the city sinks in fragrant flowers. Florists make the most stunning and incredible constructions and compositions of these tender flowers. Tourists may join one of the organized excursions through local parks during which they will learn many interesting facts about these splendid plants. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Tourists planning to visit the city of San Jose in May will have a chance to take part in the Dance Festival. A major part of the events of the festival is held in the open air. The festival engages as professional dancers so dancing amateurs. San Jose is as well an established place for holding of some global scale sport events. Local tennis courts are turned to the battle fields for world renowned tennis players. In November the city attracts surfing addicts to watch the competitions of great surfing masters held in the suburbs of the city and to hone the surfing skills on local beaches of the resort.

Visiting San Jose at the end of December, when the rest of the world celebrates the New Year, is a great opportunity to get to know the local culture as well as possible. You can do this by attending the event Fiestas de los Diablitos, which usually takes place in the surrounding village named Ray Kurre. The festival proposes that all its participants be divided into two teams. The first team puts on the masks and costumes of the Boruka Indians (“Diabolitas” or demons). The second one represents the Spaniards (“toro” or bulls). Then the recreation of the battle follows. It displays the events that took place during the conquest of Costa Rica by the Spaniards. It is believed that the bright and bizarre costumes worn by the participants are necessary to call on the spirits of the ancestors, which can help them to show this battle of the past more realistically. A special feature of this event is that every one of its visitors becomes a participant.

There are several opinions about the origin of the celebration. Some researchers conclude that it came into being after the colonization of the country. The others believe that the appearance of the Spaniards only added a few elements to it (bull masks, for example), whereas the tradition of the event is much more ancient. Anyway, the festival is one of the most significant in the whole country, and it testifies about the rich cultural heritage of Costa Rica. This holiday can hardly be imagined without the tasting of local dishes, in particular, “chichi” which is a drink made from corn and pineapple. The event is also associated with traditional Indian dances and games, as well as colorful fireworks, which complete the celebration.

No less interesting is the festival that is called Fiestas de Palmares. It takes place on the central streets of Palmares, which is located near the capital of the country. At the time of the event, the city turns into “Rio de Janeiro of Costa Rica”. The celebration is accompanied by costume processions, horse parades, dances, rodeos, amusement rides, musical concerts, and theatrical shows. This is perhaps one of the most colorful and fun feasts in the entire country. It demonstrates to the guests of Costa Rica the hospitable and groovy character of the locals. Beer tasting is considered to be a special tradition of the celebration. Alcohol is flowing like from the “cornucopia”. It is consumed in huge amounts during the two weeks of the holiday.

Another tradition is the “transformed” corrida called Toros a la Tica, which is more comical and less extreme comparing to the Spanish version. It confirms the merry disposition of the Islanders one more time. The holiday ends up with bright fireworks. It is so popular among locals and tourists that about a million people visit it every year. Speaking about religious holidays, a special place is occupied by Easter (also known as Semana Santa), which usually falls in the middle of April. The actors from the Teatro Nacional troupe take part in the annual procession through the streets of the capital of Costa Rica, which is precisely one of the reasons why the parade is considered as one of the most impressive.