Costa Rica Independence Day
September 15 · Level 10 · #127 of 2238
Costa Rica’s Independence Day marks the end of Spanish rule in 1821. Schoolchildren take a leading role in the celebrations, bringing the country’s history into the streets through music, colour and handmade lanterns.
How it is celebrated: families join lantern processions on the evening before the holiday. School parades feature marching bands, dancing and national flags, while an independence torch relay recalls the shared history of Central America.
News of the declaration took several weeks to reach Costa Rica. The holiday therefore commemorates the regional declaration, rather than the day Costa Ricans actually heard about it.