Juan Santamaria Day

Monument to Juan Santamaria in Alajuela, Costa RicaJuan Santamaria Day is a historic holiday, in honor of the war of 1856 against American filibusters. It is celebrated on April 11, mainly in schools and colleges, make a solemn event with the introduction of flags, singing hymns and recitation of poems.

Young schoolchildren stage Juan’s heroic feat, when he ran with a lighted torch, set fire to the house in which the enemies hid, and then died the death of the brave.