For nearly 300 years, the countries that now comprise Central America were Spanish colonies. To the frustration of the Conquistadors who occupied the region, the people of Costa Rica proved unwilling subjects. While the indigenous people of Costa Rica suffered great losses both in battle and from diseases brought by their invaders, the roots of pacifism run deep in these proud people, who often simply retreated into the forest rather than become slaves.
In 1821, Costa Rica was part of the Kingdom of Guatemala, along with Nicaragua and the rest of Central America. On September 15th of that year, Spain relinquished its hold on the region and granted the entire kingdom independence. Without roads connecting the colonies, the government in Guatemala dispatched runners with torches to carry the news to the outlying regions. It took a full month for the runners to traverse the dense terrain and finally reach Cartago, the territorial capital of Costa Rica at the time.
Ironically, although the country's independence is roundly celebrated these days, the news was met with little more than a shrug back in 1821, primarily because Costa Ricans never accepted subugation in the first place!
Now, almost two hundred years later, the country’s independence is celebrated with a re-enactment of the events of 1821. Torch runners set off from Guatemala for Costa Rica and the other Central Americans countries who share the same Independence Day. As the torch runners reach critical road junctions, they are met by other runners, whose torches are lit by flames carried from the original torch. And so it continues until every school in every canton of every province has received a torch runner honoring the country’s independence. The first runner dispatched from Guatemala to Costa Rica will continue his journey until he reaches Cartago, where the torch will be received by Presidenta Laura Chinchilla.
Concurrent to the torch running that commemorates the 1821 dispatch, the celebration gets an early kick-off with concerts in the park and lots of flag waving.
We stumbled upon our first encounter with one of these concerts this past week when we crossed through the park en route to the bank. The picture above is of a high-school (collegio) girl singing on the bandstand in the center of Parque Central. What a joy she was to hear - certainly would be a contender on the Costa Rican versions of America's Got Talent or American Idol! With many errands yet to be run, we couldn't linger to watch the performances that followed, but we did get a snapshot of these girls waiting their turn to perform.
On the eve of Independence Day, Ticos will gather in the park to sing the country’s national anthem. Then early on September 15h (we’ve heard that it starts at 5:30 a.m.!), school children, dressed in traditional garb and carrying Costa Rica’s tri-color flag will parade through town, accompanied by marching bands.
[As I write this post, the high school band can be heard rehearsing for the event right across the street from our apartment.]
This year will be our first opportunity to witness and take part in the celebration. One thing we have learned in our nearly five months in Costa Rica, is that Ticos know how to throw a good party. Expect more reports as the festivities unfold.
Pura Vida
