The Meaning of Christmas in Costa Rica #HogsAbroad

Costa Rica has Christmas celebrations, but they aren’t what you might expect. Anthony and I spent a few months in Puntarenas, Costa Rica right before and after the Christmas season. When I spoke to locals about Christmas, it simply wasn’t as big of a celebration as it is in the United States.

The family I lived with had a small plastic statue of Santa Claus still on top of their refrigerator when I arrived in January, but other than that they said they didn’t decorate their house. Anthony’s family had red Christmas lights inside their house, but nothing on the outside. Many people went to Christmas mass, at the Catedral de Puntarenas, and children are excited because it coincides with their summer break. 

Catedral de Puntarenas

Costa Rica is a primarily Catholic country so one of people’s main traditions was creating a nativity scene, or Portal. Many families would display the nativity in their homes with great pride. It's also decorated with flowers and sometimes fruit. Some of the scenes take a long time to make and all the family is involved. As well as the traditional figures, people add other models including houses and lots of different sorts of animals.

a tyical nativity scene, or Portal, in Costa Rica

Even though there aren’t many Christmas celebrations, Costa Ricans focus heavily on niño dios or child-god. Catholicism is an important part of la cultura in Costa Rica and they like to remember the reason for the season :)

By: Amanda Simmons and Anthony Eller, Peer Advisors and Costa Rica Study Abroad Alumni

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