Culture

As Costa Ricans are commonly known, are mostly a white population with a number of minor groups. the majority of the country's 3.3 million people are Spanish immigrants, many families originated from other parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and Central America. There are a number of fair-skinned people native in the country also, especially in the Central Valley. In the lowlands, there are some mestizos – a mixture of European and indian blood - where the majority of people along the Caribbean coast are of African descent, and much of the Talamanca Mountain Range is inhabited by full-blooded indians of various tribes.


 * January 1**st: New Year’s Day, celebrated with a big dance in San Jose’s Parque Central.
 * March 19th:** St. Joseph’s Day, patron saint of San Jose and San Jose province.
 * Easter**: Holy Week, Semana Santa. Dates vary annually but businesses will often close for the entire week preceding Easter weekend.
 * April 11th:** Juan Santamaria Day. Public holiday to commemorate the national hero who fought at the battle of Rivas against the American invader William Walker in 1856. **May 1st:** Labor Day. Dia de los Trabajadores.
 * June**: Corpus Christi
 * June 29th**: St. Peter and St. Paul’s Day
 * July 25th**: Guanacaste Day. To mark the annexation of Guanacaste from Nicaragua in 1824.
 * August 15th**: Mother’s Day and Assumption Day
 * September 15th**: Independence Day, with big patriotic parades celebrates Costa Rica’s independence from Spain in 1821.
 * October 12th**: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day). Limon province only, marked by carnival, which take place in the week prior to October 12.
 * November 2nd**: All soul’s Day
 * December 8th**: Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
 * December 25th**: Christmas Day. Family-oriented celebrations with trips to the beach. Much consumption of apples and grapes.