This is the list of the main holidays in Costa Rica
January 1st: New Year’s Day, celebrated with a big dance in San Jose’s Parque Central.
March 19th: St. Joseph’s Day, patron saint of San Jose and San Jose province.
Easter: Holy Week, Semana Santa. Dates vary annually but businesses will often close for the entire week preceding Easter weekend.
Easter is a perfect opportunity to see colorful religious processions. Individual towns also celebrate their patron saint’s day: highlights usually include a procession, plus bullfights, rodeos, dancing, and other parades. Fireworks and firecrackers are a popular part of local fiestas and church celebrations.
April 11th: Juan Santamaria Day. Public holiday to commemorate the national hero who fought at the battle of Rivas against the American invader William Walker in 1856.
May 1st: Labor Day. Dia de los Trabajadores.
June: Corpus Christi
June 29th: St. Peter and St. Paul’s Day
July 25th: Guanacaste Day. To mark the annexation of Guanacaste from Nicaragua in 1824.
August 2nd: Virgin de los Angeles Day. Patron saint of Costa Rica.
August 15th: Mother’s Day and Assumption Day
September 15th: Independence Day, with big patriotic parades celebrates Costa Rica’s independence from Spain in 1821.
October 12th: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day). Limon province only, marked by carnival, which take place in the week prior to October 12.
November 2nd: All soul’s Day
December 8th: Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
December 25th: Christmas Day. Family-oriented celebrations with trips to the beach.
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Below are listed Public Holidays for 2008 - 2009 period.
2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
21-24 Mar Easter.
14 Apr Juan Santamaría’s Day.
1 May Labour Day.
25 Jul Guanacaste Annexation.
2 Aug Virgin of Los Angeles, Feast of Patroness of Costa Rica.
15 Aug Mothers’ Day and Assumption.
15 Sep Independence Day.
12 Oct Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
10-13 Apr Easter.
11 Apr Juan Santamaría’s Day.
1 May Labour Day.
25 Jul Guanacaste Annexation.
2 Aug Virgin of Los Angeles, Feast of Patroness of Costa Rica.
15 Aug Mothers’ Day and Assumption.
15 Sep Independence Day.
12 Oct Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
Note
Most businesses close for the whole of Holy Week and between Christmas and New Year.
