Top holidays celebrated in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known for its warm hospitality, strong family connections, and vibrant cultural traditions. Throughout the year, communities come together to honor faith, history, and national pride through meaningful holidays and local customs. From Christmas tamaleadas to Independence Day parades, the holidays celebrated in Costa Rica offer a closer look at the country’s culture and the spirit of Pura Vida.

Whether you’re learning about Costa Rican traditions or supporting relatives and friends from abroad, here are some of the most important holidays and celebrations across Costa Rica.

Nochebuena and Navidad: Costa Rica’s Christmas traditions

Christmas is one of the most cherished holidays celebrated in Costa Rica. The season centers on family gatherings, religious traditions, and sharing meals with family and friends.

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve)

For many Costa Ricans, Nochebuena on December 24 is the highlight of the holiday season. Families often attend church services before gathering for a festive dinner that lasts well into the night.

One of the most meaningful Christmas traditions is the preparation of tamales. Made with seasoned corn dough and fillings such as pork, chicken, vegetables, or rice, tamales are wrapped in banana leaves and slowly cooked. Preparing them is often a family activity known as a tamaleada, where relatives and friends come together to make large batches for sharing.

Tamales are more than a holiday meal. They represent family, generosity, and togetherness. For many families, preparing them together is just as meaningful as sharing them around the table.

Navidad (Christmas Day)

Christmas Day is typically a more relaxed occasion. Families spend time visiting relatives, exchanging gifts, and enjoying leftovers from the previous night’s meal. The day emphasizes connection and gratitude, values that are deeply rooted in Costa Rican culture.

El Tope Nacional: Costa Rica’s horse parade tradition

One of Costa Rica’s most distinctive post-Christmas traditions is El Tope Nacional, held each year on December 26 in San José.

Often called simply “The Tope,” this popular event features thousands of horses and riders parading through city streets. The event highlights Costa Rica’s ranching heritage and equestrian traditions, attracting spectators from across the country.

The activities extend beyond the parade itself. Visitors and local residents gather to enjoy live music, food vendors, and a lively atmosphere that keeps the holiday spirit going after Christmas Day.

For many Costa Ricans, El Tope remains an important part of the holiday season and a tradition shared across generations.

Carnaval: Costa Rica’s celebration of music and community

Costa Rica’s Carnaval celebrations reflect the country’s diverse cultural influences through music, dance, and community gatherings.

One of the best-known carnival events takes place in Limón on the Caribbean coast, where Afro-Caribbean traditions have helped shape local culture. During carnival season, streets fill with:

• Colorful floats
• Calypso and reggae music
• Traditional dances
• Street performers
• Local cuisine

Carnaval is an opportunity for communities to come together and celebrate Costa Rica’s cultural diversity through music, food, and shared traditions.

Independence Day: Costa Rica’s celebration of national pride

Every year on September 15, Costa Rica celebrates its independence from Spain, achieved in 1821.

The observances begin on the evening of September 14 with the Desfile de Faroles (Lantern Parade). Children proudly carry handmade lanterns through neighborhoods and town centers while families gather for community events.

On Independence Day itself, activities typically include:

• School marching bands
• Community parades
• Traditional folk dances
• Patriotic performances
• Flag ceremonies

The holiday serves as a reminder of Costa Rica’s history and national identity, bringing together people of all ages in a shared expression of pride and unity.

Staying close during Costa Rica’s holidays

For Costa Ricans living abroad, holidays are often a time to reconnect with family and friends back home. Many people support family and friends by helping cover the costs of holiday meals, tamale ingredients, gifts, travel expenses, or community gatherings.

Whether you’re helping fund a family tamaleada during Christmas or sending support ahead of Independence Day festivities, staying close to the people who matter most can make special occasions even more meaningful.

With Western Union, you can begin a money transfer online and choose the option that works best for your recipient.

You can also:

• Use the international money transfer app to send money on the go
• Explore different ways to send money
• Use international mobile wallet transfers, where available
• Easily send money to Costa Rica

Send money to Costa Rica

Holiday traditions are about bringing people together. If family and friends are celebrating in Costa Rica, Western Union offers convenient ways to provide support when it matters most.

Ready to help those who matter most celebrate? Send money to Costa Rica and support the people who matter most.