Monday is Independence Day in Costa Rica.

Monday, September 15, 2008 marks Costa Rica’s 187th year of independence from Spain and all throughout the country celebrations will ensue. Activities began as early as Friday morning all around the country as the population prepares to honor this important date. Events will be celebrated in typical “Tico” style with “Cimarronas”, or Costa Rican bands filled with enough brass instruments and drums to get even the elderly dancing. You can also expect “mascaradas” or clowns to liven up the mood along with the music. Children will form lines and dance along with bands of drummers in typical outfits. Meanwhile, festivity goers can chow down on typical Costa Rica food. Of course no celebration would be complete without fireworks, so one will not be disappointed by any lack of this staple entertainment.

The independence is also commemorated by the passing of a lit torch from the border of Nicaragua to Cartago, the original seat of the Costa Rica government. The torch represents the news of independence arriving to Costa Rica, a full month after Central America´s independence was actually declared in Guatemala. The torch arrived in Costa Rica today at 11 a.m. and will be carried by select school children, about 500 meters each, for a total of 350 kilometers.

It is expected that the torch will arrive in Liberia tonight at 5 p.m. and to San Jose tomorrow at 6 p.m. where a reception event will take place in the Central Park. The celebration will include the signing of the national anthem and a concert courtesy of the Banco de Costa Rica with the band Escats. During the concert this beloved national band will present there newest video for their song “Que mas da” which is also part of a DVD set to release in October. President Oscar Arias will be in Cartago around 8 p.m. to officially receive the torch tomorrow evening.

Earlier in the day, you can look for the excitement to heat up at the National Cultural Center, located in the old national liquor factory in downtown San Jose. Beginning at 11 a.m. the public can celebrate with urban dancing performed by the dance company La Zona.

Finally, on the true Independence Day, activities will conclude at the commercial center Terramall. Here, a great folkloric show will take place, including typical dancing and music. All of these events are free to the public, so don’t miss out!

A brief History of Costa Rica’s struggle for Independence:

On September 15, 1821 Guatemala proclaimed independence from Spain for all of Central America, hence why the date September 15 is so important still today. Ironically, Costa Rica didn’t find out that this had occurred until a month later. Shortly thereafter the first constitution, the Pacto de Concordia, was adopted. A few months later, in December of 1821 the first Costa Rican elections were held.

Three years later in 1824 the first Chief of State, Juan Mora Fernández, was elected by Congress. His legacy includes the building of roads, schools and land grants to coffee farmers. In 1838 Costa Rica proclaimed itself a sovereign state under the administration of Chief of State Braulio Carrillo. However, this was revoked in 1842 and again Costa Rica became part of the Central American Federation. The towns of San Jose, Alajuela, Cartago and Heredia argued over the issue and civil war ensued. Finally in 1848, Costa Rica once again declared sovereignty and by 1850 was recognized as an independent nation by Spain.

In 1856 the advances of William Walker, an American fillibuster who threatened Costa Rica´s Independence by attempting to turn it into a slave colony, were rebuked as Walker was pushed back by a people’s army of 9,000. The defeat of Walker is credited to Costa Rica’s only war hero, Juan Santamaria. November 7, 1889 marked the first completely free elections in Costa Rica and years later in 1949 a new constitution was formed on the same day, which did away with the army. Today, Costa Rica remains an army-free, democratic nation.

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on September 13th, 2008