Culture en Tradition in Costa Rica

 June 25th, 2016 |    suenoceleste

Sueño Celeste B&B is very special because you get here as a guest, you stay as a friend and we hope you will leave as our Ambassador*.

Sueño Celeste B&B is the center of a circle where you find Rincón de la Vieja, Monteverde, Arenal, Coco Beach and 5 National Parks. Minimum stay is one night, recommended stay 4 nights.

Bijagua first settlers arrived here 1950, from San Ramon area. At this time there were many Bijagua (Calathea lutea) plants. So they gave its name to the village. Road 6 was build 16 years later. People here are welcoming and smiling- Last but not least, you will feel free and safe n this area.

Exploring Costa Rica during the green season is a real good idea: flights are inexpensive and hotels offer their best deals.

In September or October, come to Bijagua to discover Costa Rican culture and traditions. This little village born in the year 1950, is located between two National Parks:  the Volcano Tenorio National Park with its famous blue river (Río Celeste) and the Volcano Miravalles National Park.

There, as in every single village of the country, on September 14th at nightfall, hundreds of families gather one year at the school and the next year at the high school to participate in the civic act which commemorates the anniversary of Independence of the country. Join them respectfully; you will be more than welcome. The ceremony starts with a few speeches presented by municipal representative, school and high-school directors and teachers.

At exactly 6 pm, millions of Costa Ricans sing the national anthem, a really touching moment.

Children did not arrive empty-handed; each one brought its own build lantern, some are works of art representing the traditional house, some are wonderfully simple but all wear the colors of the national flag and the State coat of arms. Some use candles, some LEDS. When all the lanterns are lit the parade begins. Parents, children and visitors follow a route that crosses the village where all the non-participants applaud the parade passing in front of their house. This activity ends near the rodeo area at the municipal festival place where the judges determine who the winners of an original contest are. Hard job and many categories: the biggest one, the smallest one, the greenest one, the most representative of the village and so on! After that, lanterns are extinguished one by one and the village finds its normal darkness and quietness till next year same day, same hour, same place.

Costa Rica has no army but schools everywhere and on September 15th, our Independence Day, you will assist another wonderful show: the kid’s parade. Horses, Flags worn by pupils with the best academic results, bands and cheerleaders and all the kids and adolescents from all local institutions will proudly parade. Do not miss that, you would miss a message of peace and wellness.

Another famous meeting in Bijagua happens every year: the Bijagua Cultural Week. It generally happens around October 12th, the Costa Rican Day of Race. The definitive program is generally broadcasted a few days before the event. Send us an email to get it when released.

In a few words:

  1. Music: Traditional, Symphonic, Small modern bands
  2. Dance: Typical, Modern
  3. Corn Dress Contest (Pre Colombian Tradition)
  4. Theater
  5. Rodeos, Bull Riding, Costa Rican Bull fight and Steeple Horseback Riding,
  6. Sport

Do not hesitate to contact us for any question.

 

  • In 1991, the Maharajah of Jaipur in Rajasthan (India) touched our hearth when he cited this sentence during our stay in his hotel.