Christmas In Costa Rica

A few weeks ago, I went Christmas caroling with the youth group from church. We traveled caravan style across the city, with guitars, candles, and tambourines in hand, to greet members of our congregation in jubilant song. One of our favorites was “Hoy es Navidad.” Quite a few songs mentioned Mary and donkeys. The most energetic of them all was “El Burrito de Belen.” When you get to the chorus you spin slowly in a circle and dance as you sing, “tuki tuki tuki, tuki tuki tuki tah.” It was really fun! Check out the songs on iTunes for a taste of Christmas in Costa Rica.

Christmas trees here have more of a designer look with bows, ribbons, big ornament balls, even butterflies sometimes---anything glittery goes! All about presentation, there are no homemade ornaments. Nativities are elaborate and commonly seen in houses, even of those who do not attend church. There are stuffed mascot-like elves and santas parading through malls, some of them on stilts. In fact, stuffed Barney and Baby Bop can even be seen mingling with the pigeons, clowns, and crowds of folks during a typical day in downtown San Jose. Sometimes it’s funny what transcends culture! Wii and silly bands are big here, too.

Fireworks are also a big start to light up the sky as early as mid-October. The biggest display is New Year’s Eve at midnight when people set them off all over the valley (San Jose is in a valley, surrounded by mountains!). From where I sat, it sounded like a series of gunshots as debri from the explosions set off all along the street fell on nearby roofs. Costa Ricans know how to party! There were even bull fights in nearby Zapote during the week between Christmas and New Year’s and a light parade and a horse parade in downtown San Jose.