Independence Day...Costa Rica Style

Independence from Spain is like a big celebration here in Costa Rica.  In fact, I think it's one of the biggest celebrations of the year, festivities-wise.  And since I'm in Costa Rica, I really didn't know about it's existence until like the day before everything started, because that's just how people roll here.  I always learn about things at the last minute, and never get all the details until I'm pretty much at an event.  But that's part of the fun and spontaneity I guess!  Anyway, there are three main days of celebrations for al Dia de la Independencia....

September 13, 2011: The Torch
The "Torch of Freedom" is a torch that gets carried from Guatemala to Cartago (in Costa Rica) to commemorate these Central American countries' independence from Spain.  Basically, Central America gained independence from Spain when the Spanish were defeated in the Mexican War of Independence on September 15, 1821 and that has since been the day that Costa Rica celebrates its Independence as well.  After Spain was vanquished (by Mexico, not CR, and announced by the colonial seat in Guatemala), there were a few movements to form federations which eventually disbanded and yada yada yada for more information, you can click here.


Anyway, every year a flaming torch is carried from Guatemala starting on September 11 and it arrives in Cartago (the colonial capital of Costa Rica) on September 15.  Runners from local schools are selected to carry the torch an average of 500 meters and it stops in various large cities along the way where it is greeted by lots of local celebrations and cheering fans.  The torch is also followed along with bikers and other runners and police/fire/ambulances, etc.  I found a website with lots of good information about the Independence Day celebrations (some of which I "recycled") and you can read all about it here.  My intermediate students offered to hang out with me on the 13th to watch the torch enter Liberia and I was definitely glad I went.  Here are some pics:

Students preparing a "runway" for the torch:

 Students: Hugo, Laura, Noemy, Katthya

 The girls and me!

 Typical dancers performing before the torch arrived:

 Lots of people milling around before the torch gets to Liberia:

 The torch is coming around the corner!

 And passing in front of us!

And here she stops to light a stationary torch in Liberia, which will stay lit until after all the Independence celebrations are complete.

 Lots of speeches and photography going on...

 The torch is divided into three new torches and I'm not sure where this one was headed....

 After the torch left on it's way down south, I taught a very small class of beginner students (only three showed up!) and then joined my intermediate students at a restaurant to enjoy a delicious strawberry milkshake!

The next day, I snapped a pic of the stationary torch, being guarded by two serious school children.  I got one of them to smile, but they generally take this job quite seriously.  Pretty much like the guards in front of Buckingham palace.  Not gonna lie, I was a little intimidated by these two!

September 14, 2011: Faroles
Although we were technically supposed to have class, my intermediate students convinced me that they couldn't have class on Wednesday night because it was the Desfile de Faroles (Parade of Lanterns) which is part of a national celebration and they would rather attend that than have class.  Also, they explained that because all the festivities occur right outside our classroom, they wouldn't be able to concentrate while everyone else was out there having so much fun.  So in the end, we had class outside while watching the festivities, and I just made them promise they'd speak in English, which they kind of did.  So the Desfile de Faroles stems from the fact that when the first torch was carried to Cartago, townspeople came out with lanterns to light the way for the runners and it has since turned into part of the yearly celebration.  Children prepare for the Independence Day celebrations all month, and the kids are the ones who create and carry the torches.  Most people dress in red, white and blue (colors of CR) and there are just a ton of people that come out to join in the parade.  Here are some pics:

Check out the crowds!

 Up close view of one of the many homemade lanterns:

 Yep, most of them used real candles to light their lanterns!  The kids were mostly pretty careful with them :)

Then of course there were vendors selling all kinds of balloons and glow-in-the-dark toys and food and drinks, etc.

 Some lanterns did catch on fire...but they didn't get out of control, which was good :)

 David, Laura and Noemy:

 More of my intermediate students:

 And with me!

 How freaking adorable is she?  And you can see her proud mom smiling toooo!

 After the festivities, my intermediate students informed me that we needed to grab a drink at Bar Kasa, and when we got there, somebody purchased some festive (SUPER sugary) shots.  Which we followed with a beer.  I really like my intermediate students because they are GREAT and also because we can communicate in both English and Spanish, which is kind of nice.  It's really fun to get to know them on a more personal level and I really appreciate that they like to hang out with me too!  (In case you were wondering, one translation of "hang out" in Spanish is "matar al tiempo" which means to literally kill time.  I've found that handy to know :)

September 15, 2011: Dia de Independencia
Okay, so this is where things get a little silly.  Because I didn't realize that there were lots of big happenings for CR's independence day, I made plans to go with my friend Rebecca for a hike in Rincon de La Vieja which means we missed the music and dancing and parades and celebrations going on in downtown Liberia while we were gone.  So, sadly, I missed the "big shabang" but I still got to celebrate in all the other stuff, so I guess that's okay.  Plus, we climbed to the top of Rincon de La Vieja and the weather was perfect for such a climb, so I don't really feel like I messed up too much by missing the few hours of celebrations.  In a perfect world I could have done both, but I'm cool with having hiked that day.  PS, a post about my trek up Rincon is coming next, so keep your eye out for that.

Yay for Independence Day Celebrations!!!  I'm so glad I was in Costa Rica to learn about some of its history and to celebrate with the peeps!  Woo-Hoo!!!