Country Guide » Culture
Many of Costa Rica’s holidays are based on religious holidays coming from the Catholic faith. On most of these official holidays (dias feriados), banks, public offices, and many businesses are closed. Here is a listing of the most important official holidays that Costa Rica celebrates:
- January 1st- New Year’s Day
- March 19th-St Joseph’s Day, patron saint of San Jose and San Jose province
- March or April – Easter/Semana Santa. Most businesses (except tour companies/tourist industry) shut down Thursday and Good Friday and don’t resume as usual until Saturday before Easter Sunday. You cannot buy alcohol on Thursday or Friday during this week.
- April 11th – Juan Santamaria Day celebrating the national hero, Juan Santamaria who fought against the American invader, William Walker, in 1856
- May 1st – Labor Day (Dia de los trabajadores)
- June – Father’s Day is on the third Sunday of June each year
- July 25th- Guanacaste Day which celebrates the annexation of Guanacaste from Nicaragua in 1824.
- August 2nd – Virgen de los Angeles Day. Patron saint of Costa Rica.
- August 15th –Mother’s Day
- September 15th – Independence day, celebrating Costa Rica’s independence from Spain in 1821
- October 12th –Columbus Day/Dia de la Raza
- November 2nd-All Souls Day
- December 8th-Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
- December 25th –Christmas
