Monteverde's Independence Day Celebration
Costa Rica celebrates its independence day on September 15. The national holiday is marked by patriotic parades, the hoisting of the flag and performances by local students.
Community parades are a must-see event. Regional schools perform the national anthem and dance routines, carry the flag, and twirl batons along a central street that is packed with onlookers. If you happen to be in the country during this time of the year, mark the date on your calendar and arrive along the chosen street at a prudent hour!
All other Central American countries celebrate their independence day on September 15th as well, a day that marks the declaration of independence from Spain in 1821. Following this declaration, Costa Rica became a state in the Federal Republic of Central America, which included Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Costa Rica remained in this alliance until the breakup of the federation in 1839, and proclaimed itself a sovereign nation shortly thereafter.
