Costa Rica Independence Day

The current design of the flag of Costa Rica was adopted in 1848.Independence Day, as in other Latin American countries, is celebrated on September 15.

Costa Rica did not fight against the colonial yoke, but gained independence automatically, thanks to the efforts of other great nations. But they celebrate this day here with no less fervor than elsewhere. They do parades and processions.

The day before, at 6 p.m. on September 14, children and their parents go to school for a procession with flashlights. The national anthem sounds, and everyone sings, standing at attention. 15th, parade.

Since there is no army here, children march. All schools and colleges open in the morning on the main streets of each city, town and town. Each school has its own "gang", that is, an orchestra consisting mainly of percussion instruments. The girls dress up as "bastoneras" in paramilitary uniforms with short skirts. The best students carry national flags.

All movements are rehearsed in advance, engaged, starting from July. At the head of the parade are always kids from kindergarten, some even carried in wheelchairs. All dressed up in national clothes: girls in long colorful skirts and with a red flower in their hair, and boys painted black mustaches. The whole parade dances, spins and jumps, only flag-bearers go military.

Around the children running mothers with bottles of water, all this lasts two or three hours, all the children are fried under the sun, red and tired, but happy. The whole population goes out to watch the parade, everyone greets and takes pictures of their children, grandchildren, brothers or neighbors.