A Tropical Yuletide: How Costa Rica Does Christmas with Humor and Heat

In Costa Rica, we kick off our Christmas celebrations sometime around when the Halloween decorations are still lurking around. You know the festive season is in full swing when every nook and cranny of the town park is bedecked in Christmas lights, and the Festival de Luces is just around the corner.

The Peculiar Charm of a Tropical Christmas

Celebrating Christmas in Costa Rica is an experience that blends the traditional jingles with a good dose of tropical sweat. Here, ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Silent Night’ are the soundtracks to a season where the rain is bidding adieu, and the sun is turning up the heat to ensure that everything is a vibrant shade of green.

The Season of Smiles and Aguinaldo

The holiday season in Costa Rica is synonymous with smiles wider than the Chirripó River – all thanks to a magical word: Aguinaldo. It’s the time when paychecks double, schools break for summer, and the air is thick with the spirit of fiestas. This is when the Gordo lottery grips everyone’s attention (spoiler: I never win).

A Word of Caution: Beware the Grifters

With the festive cheer, also come the grifters and pickpockets, ready to make a quick colón or two. So, while you’re reveling in the holiday spirit, don’t forget to clutch your aguinaldo tight – the local radio stations won’t let you forget it, with their never-ending public service announcements.

Tradition Meets Modernity: Nativity and Tinsel

Once upon a time, a traditional Costa Rican house at Christmas was all about the Nativity scene. Fast forward to now, and you’ll see a quirky mix of the solemn creche, a glitzy Christmas tree, and a Santa Claus figurine, perhaps contemplating the meaning of life beside baby Jesus.

The Tamale Dilemma: Love It or Courtesy Eat It

Ah, tamales! The staple of Costa Rican Christmas cuisine. While most Ticos might salivate at the thought, I’m the odd one out. To me, unwrapping a tamale feels like opening a gift, only to find it’s not really for you. Inside the banana leaf wrapping lies a modest offering: a piece of chicken that’s seen better days, a lonely rice grain, a carrot slice playing hide and seek, a green bean, and a timid bell pepper. And let’s not talk about the corn meal, which sits in my stomach like a lead balloon.

Family Galore and More

My wife’s family is vast – she’s one of 14, and the family tree extends far and wide. Trying to remember everyone’s name is my annual Christmas challenge (I once joked with my wife about her extensive family, but hey, the more, the merrier, right?).

Singing in the Sun

So, as we gear up for pig roasts, toast with Rompope, and set off fireworks that make you question their legality, we’ll be singing ‘Let it Snow’ under the scorching sun on a beach somewhere. That’s Christmas in Costa Rica for you.

Christmas Eve in Costa Rica is a juxtaposition of serene church services and vibrant barrio fireworks. It’s a celebration that’s uniquely ours – where tamales are abundant (more for you since I’ll pass), and the spirit of Christmas is as warm as our December sun. So, here’s to a tropical Christmas – sunburns, tamales, and all.