The colors of the Costa Rican flag represent different aspects of Costa Rica. The color blue represents the sky, intellectual thinking, perseverance, eternity, and ideals of the religious and spiritual desires. The color white symbolizes clear thinking, happiness, wisdom, peace and the initiative to search for new endeavors. The color red represents the warmth of the Costa Rican people, their love of life and their blood shed for freedom.
History of the Flag
On November 27, 1906, the Costa Rican flag was created to be the sybol of a great nation. However, the flag was designed over 50 years earlier by Costa Rica's First Lady, Pacifica Fernandez Oreamuno, in 1848. It was drafted after the ideals of the French Revolution and bared the colors of the French National Flag.
Fun Facts
History of the Flag
On November 27, 1906, the Costa Rican flag was created to be the sybol of a great nation. However, the flag was designed over 50 years earlier by Costa Rica's First Lady, Pacifica Fernandez Oreamuno, in 1848. It was drafted after the ideals of the French Revolution and bared the colors of the French National Flag.
Fun Facts
- A native Costa Rican is also referred to as a "Tico"
- Costa Rican law forbids citizens from flying the country's flags other than on national holidays, but this law is not strictly enforced.
Geography
Located in Central America, Costa Rica has coastlines on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. They share boarders with Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south.
Demographics
Costa Rica is a very diverse nation with many ethnicities and religious perspectives that all coexist in the same area.
Ethnic BACKGROUND
White or Mestizo 83.6%
Mulato 6.7%
Indigenous 2.4%
Black 1.1%
Other 1.1%
Unspecified 5.1%
Mulato 6.7%
Indigenous 2.4%
Black 1.1%
Other 1.1%
Unspecified 5.1%
Language
The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish. Although everyone there speaks the Spanish language, about 1/5 of the country speaks English. You may find a few French, Italian or German speakers in the country, however there are not enough of them combined to make up even 1% of the population.
Religion
Roman Catholic 76.3%
Evangelical 13.7%
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%
Protestant 0.7%
Other 4.8%
None 3.2%
Evangelical 13.7%
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%
Protestant 0.7%
Other 4.8%
None 3.2%
Age & Gender
The following Chart shows the relationship between age and gender in the country of Costa Rica.
http://www.indexmundi.com/graphs/population-pyramids/costa-rica-population-pyramid-2014.gif
Historical Timeline
1500s
- (1502) Christopher Columbus came to visit the area. He named it "Costa Rica", meaning Rich Coast.
- (1522) Gil Dávila converted thousands of natives to Christianity. Those who refused were murdered and sold into slavery. ( This played a huge role in the expansion if imperialism and colonialism )
- (1524) The 1st Spanish settlement was founded by Francisco Fernández
- (1540's) Costa Rica was deemed a sector of vice-royalty of Spain
- (1723) Irazú volcano had a massive eruption which destroyed Cartago. Hundreds killed and thousands left without homes.
- (1808) Coffee from Cuba was introduced and it became the primary crop of Costa Rica
- (1821) Central America gained independence from Spain ( Boosted moral across the whole region )
- (1823) Costa Rica joined United Provinces of Central America with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
- (1838) Costa Rica gained its independance from the Central American States
- (1855) A US explorer, William Walker, took over Nicaragua failing to continue the conquest and take Costa Rica ( Sparked racism against white people )
- (1874) Cultivation of banana trees started
- (1910) Catastrophic earthquake caused the decimation of Cartago for the second time in history, killing over 700 people
- (1917) Frederico Tinoco murdered and stole the position of President Alfredo Gonzalez ( Caused the government to be very unstable, also leading to Religious Strife )
- (1919) the United States, opposed to this action, sent Marines to invade Costa Rica
- (1940's) US Navydecided they wanted a piece of Costa Rica, so they spent $1.4 million and bought a significant part of the island of Vieques
- (1948) Civil war over disputed presidential election lasted six weeks, more than 2,000 dead
- (1949) New constitutional law came into effect. Now women and people of African descent were given the right to vote. The introduction of a national bank helped thousands financially.
- (1978) Economy sharply deteriorated
- (2000) Costa Rica and Nicaragua settled a border dispute, marking the end of their respective territories along San Juan River
- (2005) 13,000 forced from their homes due to flooding caused by heavy rains along the Caribbean coastline
- (2005) 30-hour hostage standoff after a bank robbery attempt that resulted in nine people killed, including five bank customers
- (2009) Costa Rica and Cuba resolve issues and form a conditional friendship after 48 years of animosity
- (2010) Laura Chinchilla elected first woman president
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/camerica/costarica/crtimeln.htm
Government The best way to describe the government of Costa Rica is a Constitutional Republic. A Constitutional Republic is a form of government in which a "Head of State" and a group of other officials are the primary team of representatives to meet the needs of the people. Executive, Judicial and Legislative powers are broken down into distinct branches of the government.
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Cultural Features
Spanish culture has always been a large influence on Central and South American culture. Costa Ricans are of primarily Spanish ancestry with minorities of Dutch, German, French, British and Italian background.
Music
Many of Costa Rica's musical traditions date back to colonial times, when the Spanish brought European rhythms to the country's shores. Over time, Spanish beats harmonized with indigenous tempos to create folkloric music unique to Costa Rica. This is called Guanacaste.
Guanacaste
calypso
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad among slaves who used the music as a means to communicate and tell stories. Though not indigenous to Costa Rica, Calypso is a very popular music form.
Reggae
First developed in Jamaica in the 1960s, Reggae is very popular in Costa Rica, especially along the Caribbean coast. In 2011, Damian Marley honored Costa Rica as the only Central American country to make his tour list. Reggaeton blends urban beats with Jamaican dancehall and Latin rhythms to create Spanish-language songs popular among the nation's teenagers and dance club regulars.
Art
European people had the biggest influence on the art of Costa Rica. It was not until the beggining of the 19th century that European travelers shared with the Costa Ricans the ideas of modern art. Current renowned Costa Rican painters such as Gonzalo Morales Suarez and Fernando Carballo have mastered the techniques brought to the country long ago.
Traditions
Costa Ricans have many traditions that define who they are as a group. Some of these traditions align with world wide holidays, but others are unique to their culture.
holidays & festivals
Palmares Fiestas: Two weeks of concerts, bullfighting, folklore dancing and general debauchery. First week of January.
Sun Festival: An annual celebration of the Mayan New Year on February 25 that culminates in a fire ceremony and a gathering to promote solar power. Last week of February.
National Orchid Show: More than 300 species of orchids are on display every year in San Jose; the best win a coveted first place ribbon. Mid-March.
Juan Santamaria Day: Parades, music and dancing to honor the nation’s hero, Juan Santamaria, who helped Costa Rica defeat William Walker and the invading Filibusters. Celebrations are held throughout the country. April 11.
Labor Day: Country-wide processions accompany a day off from work for most of the country and a presidential speech honoring the day. May 1.
Independence Day: Parties and festivals are held throughout the country celebrating Costa Rica's independence from Spain. Traveling south from Guatemala, the flame of independence arrives in Cartago on this day. September 15
Sun Festival: An annual celebration of the Mayan New Year on February 25 that culminates in a fire ceremony and a gathering to promote solar power. Last week of February.
National Orchid Show: More than 300 species of orchids are on display every year in San Jose; the best win a coveted first place ribbon. Mid-March.
Juan Santamaria Day: Parades, music and dancing to honor the nation’s hero, Juan Santamaria, who helped Costa Rica defeat William Walker and the invading Filibusters. Celebrations are held throughout the country. April 11.
Labor Day: Country-wide processions accompany a day off from work for most of the country and a presidential speech honoring the day. May 1.
Independence Day: Parties and festivals are held throughout the country celebrating Costa Rica's independence from Spain. Traveling south from Guatemala, the flame of independence arrives in Cartago on this day. September 15
customs & ETIQUETTE
Greetings: It is common to say hello and goodbye to friends and acquaintances with a light kiss on the cheek – or an air kiss accompanied by a kissing sound. Note that women kiss women and women kiss men, but men do not kiss men; instead, they either shake hands or give each other a one-armed hug. In formal or business settings, a firm handshake is the typical greeting.
Taboos/Unacceptable Behavior: Costa Rica is a Catholic country, and religious values are respected, if not always observed. Topics such as pre-marital sex, abortion, and gay marriage are generally avoided. Costa Ricans are very polite, so be sure not to put your feet on furniture; always say please and thank you, and try not raise your voice in anger, at least in public.
Taboos/Unacceptable Behavior: Costa Rica is a Catholic country, and religious values are respected, if not always observed. Topics such as pre-marital sex, abortion, and gay marriage are generally avoided. Costa Ricans are very polite, so be sure not to put your feet on furniture; always say please and thank you, and try not raise your voice in anger, at least in public.