Costa Rica is a highly religious country, and the Catholic population celebrates Christmas just like you do in the United States; on December 25. This holiday does actually coincide with the same time as the United States, so you might be more prone to scheduling a visit to Costa Rica during this time since you\u2019ll likely have some time off already. The locals in Costa Rica are also enjoying some end\u00adof\u00adthe\u00adyear time off, and they will be celebrating by sending some time on the sunny beaches. In December, the weather will be include sunshine and wind, so it is perfect for relaxing in the sand and taking a board out to the surf.<\/p>\n

For the actual holiday, you\u2019ll find that Costa Ricans know how to celebrate! There are traditions, like fireworks on the beach and family dinners on Christmas Eve. In Costa Rica, though, the Christmas holiday is celebrated all through the end of December, into January, and there are huge dinners and parties on the 31st. The holiday season brings many other traditions, like tree lightings and Mass. The locals do decorate their homes and businesses, just like Americans do. Tree lighting ceremonies take place in the major metropolitan areas, and holiday bonuses stimulate additional shopping. There are also traditional holiday festivals that the locals look forward to each year. The Festival de La Luz begins during the second week of December, on Saturday, and centers on a parade and festival of lights. The lighted floats and marching bands in the parade draw a crowd of thousands, and you could be there! The parade is free and open to the local and visiting public. If you can\u2019t be there in person, you can watch it on one of the local Costa Rican television stations.Costa Rica also celebrates the holiday season with more food, live music, carnivals, music, and bullfights.<\/p>\n

Holy Week in Costa Rica is a time for religious traditions, but it is also similar to Spring Break in the United States, in terms of timing as well as spirit. There is time off of work and school, and everyone is happy and ready to celebrate. Holy Week in Costa Rica starts on Palm Sunday. The preceding Thursday and Friday are often considered official holidays, which means that you can bet on banks being closed. Some businesses will also be closed. If you are a traveler, it is important to keep this in mind. You may also find that there are some limitations with transportation, most notably with public transportation. Many colorful processions are held in Costa Rica during Holy Week, as a way to celebrate the local population\u2019s faith. These processions are held all throughout the week, all throughout the country, in towns and cities, including San Jose, on every province. The processions include one that chronicles the journey of Jesus. The processions commonly include well\u00adknown figures from religion, including Jesus, the Virgin Mary, Angels, and apostles.<\/p>\n

If you are visiting Costa Rica during Holy Week and find yourself relaxing in your hotel room channel surfing, you might yourself watching some classic films based on religion. The beaches are often crowded during the observed Holy Week. There are probably close to a million or so locals that have some or all of the week off, and you better believe that they are taking advantage of living in paradise and heading straight to the sand and surf. The weather during Holy Week is warm, so it is the perfect time to visit the beach.<\/p>\n

One of my favorite parts of Holy Week, of course, involves food. Chiverre is a popular fruit that is used in so many delicious recipes. Chiverre is about the size of a watermelon, and it produces a type of honey. It is in season during Holy Week, and there are so many specially prepared dishes that include it as an ingredient. If you are visiting Costa Rica during Holy Week, you have to add tasting chiverre to your vacation bucket list. Try Chiverre Empanadas!<\/p>\n