Independence Day - Costa Rican-style

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Traditional Dance

Traditional Dancing

By the way, Shana Tova everyone. Although there are 2 synagogues in San Jose, we did not make it to services. Instead, we rang in the New Year by baking challah, eating apples with honey and having friends over for dinner. It was very nice and casual but we did miss everyone up north with whom we usually celebrate.

Back to our lives here in Costa Rica - Way back in 1821, a Central American congress declared their independence from Spain, effective on September 15. Well, as you can imagine, here in Costa Rica - and as it is in the United States - Independence Day is a big holiday. Every town has a parade and, it seems, every school in every town has a band that marches in the parade. Unfortunately, it seems that every band consists solely of drums and glockenspiels (and maybe a couple flag twirlers). So for a month leading up to the big day, everywhere you go you could hear the booming and clanging of school bands practicing (and feel the ground rumble as all the little boys banged their drums energetically - there were very few girl drummers and no boy glockenspielers).

The European School had their big Independence Day celebration on September 14 since they (and the rest of the country) were closed on the 15th. All the kids up to the 6th grade donned traditional dress (the older kids are too cool for that), had a parade around the block and then put on a show. Ari’s class told “bombas” or traditional jokes. Ari’s group said “Las muchachas son de oro/ Las casadas son de plata/ Las viudas de limpio cobre/ Y las viejas de hojalata” (Girls are made of gold, wives are made of silver, widows of clean copper, and old ladies are made of tin.) Well, at least they didn’t say rusty. Ellie’s class did a traditional dance - we’re trying to post a video on the blog but it seems there are some technical problems. It was great with the girls swinging their skirts and the guys twirling bandanas. We later found out from her teacher that Ellie was such a great dancer that she got paired with one of the more shy girls in her class so she could help her. It was a beautiful, clear day with food and ice cream after the show, all outside on the school’s football field. All the colorful costumes and flowers put everyone in good spirits and a good time was had by all.

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Photos

Our traditional Costa Rican children
As in the USA, Independence Day is a day of celebration and great pride in Costa Rica's cultural heritage and history of democracy and freedom. The kids' school had a huge celebration for the day.

Ellie and Son Ae in the parade
All the kids on the school dressed up in traditional dress of the various regions of the country and walked in a parade around the block.

Ari in the parade
Ari's class represented the province of Heredia, the province of flowers.

Musicians
The musicians sat and rode in the back of a pick-up during the parade.

Payasos (Clowns)
No Costa Rican celebration is complete without payasos, intricate, enormous masks worn by men or boys, often in dresses.

Bombas, dancing, and music
The parade was followed by a colorful and festive, outdoor celebration in which each of the grades either danced, sang, or told traditional bombas (jokes). Here's the 3rd grade (with Ari somewhere in there) doing their jokes (all in Spanish, of course.)

Ellie dancing
I couldn't get a good picture of her doing her dance during the celebration, but here she's showing off her traditional skirt (enagua).

Ellie dancing, again
Another picture of Ellie in her traditional skirt and blouse.

Happy New Year
I know, we were supposed to make a round challah, but the kids like braiding. About a month ago, we tried making challah for the first time. We didn't read the recipe too closely before we started and ended up using about 15 cups of flower -- we made a challah 3 feet long, plus 2 other good sized challahs. We only used 1/2 the recipe this time.

Comments

[ArtF]

Rosh Hashanah
What you did in Costa Rica is what most Israelis do. They go to the beach! When do you return. we miss you. Art

[j.p.]

Hey guys, We've been reading your blog closely, as we're thinking of coming down to C.R. with our kids. One question, did you have any issues registering them at school on only tourist visas? Keep up the writing... we're living vicariously through you!! J.P.

[TheBortmans]

Response to j.p.
Hi j.p. - We had no problem at all...I don't think you would at any of the private schools here. Send us an e-mail if you have more questions. Dara