Independence Day Festivities

September 15th is Costa Rica's Independence Day, which actually seems to be celebrated throughtout the week. Ticos adorn their houses, cars, and businesses with the national flag and it's corresponding colors. Flags of all sizes are sold on the streets by vendors. As the 15th actually approaches, a number of celebrations take place. Olivia attends a Costa Rican preschool which celebrated the day with a "parade" in a typical bus. All the kids dressed in their typical Costa Rican dresses and caballero clothes, climbed aboard a modified tour bus and waved to passersby as they drove around town. As you can see by the photos, Olivia thoroughly enjoyed greeting everyone as she yelled "Costa Rica" out the window!

The parades of the faroles (torches) start the day before on the 14th as children make their own laterns and torches and bring them to school. Below is a farol that Abby made for her school parade in the shape of a house. Students carry them to school and have parades in their schools as well as at night time. At 6 pm the Costa Ricans gather together in a central park, usually near the catholic church, and sing the national anthem. They light the faroles and have a parade of lights following the anthem, provided the rain doesn't put them out.

On the 15th, parades fill the streets as school percussion teams flood the air with rhythmic songs they have practiced all month long. Younger children dressed in typical costumes join in the celebration as they watch older brothers and sisters perform with their school bands. The bands are usually made up of percussion instruments only, like a drum corp, along with flag bearers and sometimes dancers as well.

We went to our local parade to see Kevin Salley, the son of our teammates Joanna and LaMar. After the kids waited patiently for 2 hours, we realized that as his school approached, the drummers were behind us and were joining up with the flag bearers farther down the road! With a bit of quick manuevering, I was able to get a couple of shots. At least one of us got to see him! Aidan, Abby, and Livy were ready to get back for lunch and didn't seem to mind the fact that they actually never got to see the one person they knew in the parade!

Abby, Matthew, Alexa, and Olivia waiting patiently for Kevin's school to pass by.
Kevin and his 10 lb. drum he lugged all the way down the parade route!