Holidays & Celebrations

Holidays are highly restricted in catholic Costa Rica and there are numerous reasons for omitted ceremonies.

One of the largest non - church celebrations is the carnival in Limón; this celeberation is accompanied by bull-fights without bloodshed.

All offices and most shops are closed on:

Public Holidays

• 1st January (new years day)
• 19th March (St. Josephs Day, patron saint of San José)
• 11th April Juan - Santamaria - Day (national hero)
• Easter week: Holy Thursday and Good Friday holidays, Easter Monday regular workday
• 1st May (labor day)
• 25th July (union of the province Guanacaste)
• 2nd August (Maria of the angels, patron saint, pilgrimage to Cartago)
• 15th September (Independence Day, torchlight procession)
• 12th October (Columbus - Day, carnival in Puerto Limón)
• 1st December (Abolition of the Army) 
• 8th December (Mariä conception)
• 24th and 25th December (Christmas)

Local holidays and fiestas

January:
Public-festival with bull-fights, in the middle of January in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste;
Tennis tournament Copa del Cafe.

February:
Fiestas in San Isidro de El General (agriculture, bull-fights)
Fiesta de los Diablitos in Boruca.

March:
Carrera de la Paz (Marathon) in San José; national Orchid exhibition in San José; pilgrimage to Ujarrás, Bonanza cattle exhibition at the road to Alajuela (rodeo, bull-fights, etc.); arts and crafts exhibition in front of the national theater in San José; ox-cart day (Dia del Boyero, pilgrimage with ox-cart) on the 2nd Sunday in Escazu.

May:
15th San Isidro (parish fair in villages named San Isidro);
17th. Carrera de San Juan (Marathon) near Cartago.

July:
16th Santa Maria, patron saint of the sea (procession of decorated fishing-boats, later carnival) in Puntarenas.

August:
International musical festival; Afro Costa Rican cultural week (shows, lectures etc.);
31st festival for San Ramón (procession in San Ramón)..

Oktober:
12th Diverse local festivals (carnival in Limón; Fiesta del Maiz in Upala). Costa Rica yachting club regatta.

November:
2nd divine services and visiting cemeteries in the whole country; coffee pick competitions, international surf competitions..

December:
8th Fiesta de los Negritos in Boruca (dancing); Dia de la Pólvora (fireworks in the whole country);
12th Dia de la Yeguita (little mare) in Nicoya (procession, indian influences)..
Christmas and New Years celebrations.