The rainy season has finally ended and summer in Costa Rica has begun. The Christmas season here coincides with summer break; school is out and many businesses slow down for the holiday festivities. Costa Rica seems to have an abundance of holidays and the Christmas season is no exception. On December 7, San Ramon celebrates El Dia de Maria. Women and girls with the name Mary make sweets to give out to the whole town. December 8 is a Catholic holy day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. La Fiesta de los Negritos is celebrated the entire week of December 8; ancient Indian rituals are 
combined with honoring the Virgin Mary through costumes and music in the Indian village of Boruca and firework displays nationwide. On December 12, Nicoya hosts La Fiesta de la Yeguita, a festival with music, dancing, fireworks and bull fights. In Costa Ruca, the bulls are not killed in the fights. Sometime during the second week of December, the Christmas season truly commences with La Festival de la Luz in San Jose. People line the streets to watch the colorful floats and bands parade through San Jose’s center. December 15 marks the beginning of the caroling season. Carolers go around from house to house, sharing the joy of Christmas through their music. All of these festivities are of course leading up to Christmas. Catholicism is the predominant religion in Costa Rica, thus Christmas is widely celebrated. Leading up to Christmas day, houses are donned with lights, Christmas trees, and other decorations. One of the most important and popular symbols of Christmas is the the Portal, or Nativity Scene. Families take time and care to make and arrange their portals each Christmas season. The Baby Jesus is not added to the portal until midnight on Nochebuena, Christmas Eve, to represent the birth of Christ. Midnight mass, or Misa de Gallo, is popular in Costa Rica. On Christmas morning presents, which were brought by the Baby Jesus not Santa Clause and his reindeer, are opened. Christmas dinner typically consists of a leg of ham and traditionally tamales. Families gather prepare tamales before Christmas in a way similar to the tradition of making Christmas cookies. San Jose holds two more festivals after Christmas, on December 26 and 27, complete with ox cart parades. The uVolunteer house has joined in with the Christmas spirit of San Ramon and Costa Rica, purchasing a Christmas tree and poinsettia from the weekly farmer’s market. The volunteers are looking forward to taking part in many of these new Costa Rican traditions, and sharing in the Christmas spirit that is present no matter where one is in the world.
Dec 25
