Christmas in Costa RicaBy: Ariel

About the Flag

The Costa Rica flag has five horizontal bands of blue (on the top), white, red (under the top blue) white, and blue (under the big red stripe).Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance, white denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people.

A. On what Continent is Costa Rica located? B. What hemispheres Costa Rica lie in?

A.What continent is Costa Rica on? Do you know? I do here it is, Costa Rica is located in Central America. Christmas in Costa Rica is time for parties and celebrations, sharing and reflecting. The traditional Christmas tree in Costa Rica is a big evergreen branch, a small cypress tree, or dried coffee branches.

B. About Costa Rica’s hemispheres: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

A. What language do they speak?B. What are the country’s people called?

A. People in Costa Rica speak the languages Spanish and English.

B. This country’s people are called Costa Ricans.

Costa Rica has 5 ethnic groups which are; white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%.

A. What Costa Rica Climates Like?B. The Highest Point in Costa Rica

A. Costa Rica’s climate is tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands

B. Costa Rica ‘s highest point is Cerro Chirrup which is 3,810 m

What is Costa Rica’s Major Source of Income and Water?

Costa Rica’s major source of water is the North Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Lago de Nicaragua.

Costa Rica’s major source of income is….lowest 10%: 1.7%highest 10%: 39.4%

A. What's the Population of Costa Rica?B. What Costa Rica’s Main Religion of the People?Costa Rica population is 4,576,562 .

Costa Rica’s main religion is Roman Catholic.

Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

Christmas in Costa Rica

During Christmas in Costa Rica, people like to decorate their houses with beautiful tropical flower. It’s also decorated with flowers and sometimes fruit. As well as the traditional figures people add other models including houses and lots of different sorts of animals. On Christmas Eve, everyone puts on their best clothes and goes to midnight Mas. In Costa Rica its called the ‘misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster); it's also called that is Spain. In Costa Rica, the gift bringer is often 'Niño dios' (Child God, meaning Jesus) or 'Colacho' (another name for St. Nicholas).

After Midnight Mass the main Christmas meal is eaten. It normal includes chicken and pork tamales that have been wrapped for cooking in plantain leaves. To drink there's lots of egg nog and rum punch!

After Christmas, and into January, there are lots of fiestas, parades, rodeos, street parties, bull runs and choral and dance festivals. On 26th December (Boxing Day) there is an important horseback parade called the Tope. The next on the the 27th, many towns and cities have 'Carnaval' with a big parade featuring dancing and big floats.

Would You Like To Visit This Country?

Yes, I would like to visit this country because it seems like a interesting country. Also sounds like a fun country!!!

ReferencesCIA World Fact Book

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cs.html

Why Christmashttp://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/