The town center of Liberia fills with folkloric dancers, music and celebration in anticipation of the arrival of the independence torch from Nicaragua.

September is to Costa Rica what July is to the United States: a month filled with patriotic displays and celebrations of the country’s Dia de Independencia, which officially takes place on Sept. 15.

Costa Rica is a country brimming with national pride thanks in part to the fact that its Independence Day traditions that are highly centered around the younger generations. For the nation’s work force, Sept. 15 might be just one day off work, but for the school children, it marks the culmination of months of preparation and time to show off their artistic talent.

Central America actually declared its independence from Spain collectively from the colonial seat in Guatemala in 1821, meaning Sept. 15 is a day of celebration up and down the isthmus. As with most colonial government affairs, Costa Rica had little to do with the decision, and the region didn’t even learn of its independence until a full month later when a delegation arrived from Guatemala to pass on the news.

Every year, a flaming torch is carried from Guatemala starting on Sept. 11 all the way to the former colonial capital of Costa Rica in Cartago, symbolizing the arrival of the news of independence. The runners are selected from the local schools throughout Central America to carry the torch an average of 500 meters, a task that serves as a great source of pride. The torch crosses the Nicaraguan border into Costa Rica each year on the eve of the day of independence and arrives in the northern town of Liberia in time for a sunset ceremony on Sept. 14. Runners and bikers follow the torch route for varying distances, occasionally getting lost as outlying townspeople join the crowd to light their own torches to carry along their own divergent routes.

As the torch makes its way through Costa Rica, local townships kick off the two days of celebration with parades, mascaradas, concerts and cultural shows. School children are required to participate in their town parades in marching bands or by carrying “Faroles”, or elaborate homemade paper lanterns. Their designs sit atop or hang from a wooden stick with candles inside to light the way. It is a tradition for the children to make their own lanterns in patriotic colors, often in the form of a house, animal, vehicle or other creative representations of national symbols.

As the torch arrives in Cartago on Independence Day at 6 p.m. before the Basilica de Los Angeles, the entire country joins together in singing the national anthem “Noble patria, tu hermosa bandera”. The night is capped off with more parades, fireworks and local concerts. While visiting Costa Rica in September, you are sure to stumble upon a festive display of Tico pride and patriotism just about anywhere you go. Don’t forget to wear your red, white and blue and compliment the children on their faroles!

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Filed under: Tico on September 2nd, 2009