In Puntarenas except general national holidays, there are local holidays which encompass among others so called festejos (the days of saint patrons of individual towns). Then are organized family meetings and parties. There are held bullfightings, rodeos, processions, dances and parades.
January
New Year`s Day
Three Wise Men – three kings
The January 6th, a day of three Wise Men is a equivalent of polish day of Three Kings. Families and neighbours meet each other and pray.
Playa Grande and the turtles
On playa Grande the letherback turtles lay their eggs.
Coffee
The coffee picking continues.
Purple parrots
On January begins the laying the eggs by purple parrots.
Humbak Whales
In the vicinity of Cano island appeared the humbak whales.
Carnival in Puntarenas
In the last week of February the carnival in Puntarenas is held.
The music festival in Monteverde
On every year (since 1993) in Monteverde is organized the music festival in Monteverde. There are national and international artists that performe of different music styles.
February
Coffee
The last month of picking the coffee.
Playa Grande and the turtles
The last month of laying the eggs by the leatherback turtles in Playa Grande.
The scarlet macaws
The scarlet macaws continue of laying the eggs.
Humbak whales
The humbak whales appear nearby the Cano island.
Fiesta of devils
It`s held at the end of February in Rey Curre in Boruca Indian Reserve. There is a stage adaptation of historical fightings between Indians (Diablitos), and Spaniards (Bull). Indians wear the colorful costumes and the wooden masks. The traditional Indians goods are offered for sale and there are the fireworks shows.
March
Quetzals
The beginning of the Quetzals incubation period.
The scarlet macaws
The scarlet macaws continue of laying the eggs.
Humbak whales
The humbak whales appear nearby the Cano island.
The National Orchid Festival
It`s held on every March 15th. The tipical endemic species as well as from the rest of the world are put for show.
April
The Easter Time
During the Easter Time, the religious precessions are moving through the entire country. The inhabitants disguise themselves for the religious figures. The most spectacular procession is considered to be organized in San Joaguin de Flores. It`s the free week used by Ticos for going out to the beaches. In Cartago vicinity from the pumpkin-like Chiverre vegetables are prepared the Easter`s jams and preserves.
The University Week
It`s a kind of students rejoicings during the free week.
The day of Juan Santamaria
On April 11th in Alajuela is celebrated the Day of National Hero – Juan Santamaria. The parades and dances are organized around the Central Park.
Quetzals
The continuation of the Quetzals incubation period.
Scarlet macaws
The last month of laying the eggs by scarlet macaws.
Humbak whales
The humbal whales appear nearby the Cano island.
May
Quetzals
The continuation of the Quetzals incubation period.
The Labour Day
It`s held on May 1st.
The San Juan marathon
It`s held on May 17th in the day of Saint John. It`s the biggest marathon in Costa Rica. Its participants have to run through the distance of 22,5 kilometres.
June
Quetzals
The end of Quetzals incubation period.
The green turtles in Gandoca-Manzanillo Reserve
In Gandoca-Manzanillo the green turtles lay their eggs.
Yacht competitions in Flamingo
On every year in Flamingo, the International Yacht Competitions take place.
July
Fiesta of Virgin of the Sea
On every year, on the closest saturday to July 16th in Puntarenas takes place so called Fiesta of the Virgin of the Sea. It consists of parade of boats decorated with lights and flags as well as yachts in Nicoya Bay. It`s supported by special masses, concerts, dances and fireworks. For the first time it was organized in 1913.
The anniversary of Guanacaste annexation
On every year, on July 25th there is celebrated the anniversary of Guanacaste annexation. There are bulls fightings, rodeos, fireworks shows, horses and cattles fairs and the concerts of marimbas.
Nancite fruits
On July, in the vegetable markets appeare the nancite fruits.
The Gandoca-Manzanillo Reserve and the turtles
In Gandoca-Manzanillo Reserve the green turtles lay their eggs.
The Olive Ridley turtles in Ostional Reserve
In Ostional Nacional Reserve the olive ridley turtles lay their eggs.
August
The pilgrimage of Virgin La Negrita
The biggest pilgrimage on Costa Rica. It`s held on the August 2nd and is devoted for the patron nacional – Virgin of La negrita. The pilgrims walk on the distance San Jose – Cartago. The last stage within the borders of Cartago they cross on knees.
The Mothers Day
In Costa Rica, on the Augoust 15th is celebrated the Mothers Day.
The Tortuguero National Park and the green turtles
The green turtles continue laying the eggs in the Tortuguero Nacional Park.
Nancite fruits
It`s the second month when on vegetable markets are offered the nancite fruits.
The olive ridley turtles in Ostional Reserve
In Ostional Reserve the olive ridley turtles continue laying the eggs.
September
The Independence Day
It`s celebrated on every year on September 15th and commemorates the Costa Rica independence from Spain. The ceremony starts on September 14th at 6 p.m.
It`s called also “the day of fiestas and lanterns”. It`s tradition that on the evening, the children go out from the houses and and have in their hands the lanterns painted in national colours. It recalls the events when the arrival of independence was announced with bells. So people lighted their way from home with lanterns and candles to hear the news.
The olive ridley turtles in Ostional Reserve
In Ostional Reserve the olive ridley turtles continue laying their eggs.
October
The Day of Culture
On October 12th takes place “the Day of the Culture” (it used to be named “the Day of Columbus” or “Day of Races). It`s names thus in recognition of Costa Rica`s multicultural legacy.
It`s held on the anniversary, when the Columbus discovered in 1492 the first island of America. It commemorates the diverse of cultures and traditions in Costa Rica. It consists of traditional Indians dances and ceremonies. There are festivals and conferences.
The thunderbolts in Cano island
On October begins the thunderstorms season around the Cano island.
The turtles in Playa Grande
The letherback turtles starts laying the eggs on the Playa Grande.
The turtles in Playa Nancite
In Playa Nancite )within the Santa Rosa National Park) the olive ridley turtles begins laying their eggs.
The olive ridley turtles in Ostional Reserve
In Ostional Reserve the olive ridley turtles continue laying their eggs.
November
The thunderbolts in Cano island
On the November the Cano island is still bombed by unusual number (even in whole Central America) the thunderbolts.
The turtles in Playa Nancite
On the November in Playa Nancite (within the Santa Rosa National Park) appear the olive ridley turtles in order of laying the eggs.
The turtles in Playa Grande
The letherback turtles continue laying the eggs in Playa Grande
The olive ridley turtles in Ostional Reserve
In Ostional Reserve the olive ridley turtles lay the eggs.
December
The picking of coffee
It`s the beginning of picking the red riped coffee fruits.
The humbak whales
From Alaska to the vicinity of Cano island come the humbak whales.
The thunderbolts in Cano island
On the December the cano island is still bombed by the unusual number of thunderbolts.
The turtles in Playa Nancite
On Playa Nancite the olive turtles continue laying the eggs
The turtles in Playa Grande
The letherback turtles continue laying their eggs on Playa Grande
The Day of Immaculate Concepcion
It`s celebrated on December 8th. It used to be the main nacional holiday. Girls are on the habit of going out with white, starched skirts.
Fiesta in Boruca
It`s held on December 8th in Boruca Indian village (in the Indian reserve of the same name). The old Indians traditions are mixed with the celebration in honour of the virgin of Immaculate Conception. It`s distinguished by traditional costumes, dances and music (drums and flutes).
Fiesta of Yeguita
It`s held around the December 12th in Nicoya. It`s mixed of old Indians rituals with the honouring of the Virgin of Guadelupe. The inhabitants with the whistles, flutes and drums accompanimet, carry the figure of Virgin of Guadelupe. It`s celebrated with concerts, fireworks and local dishes.
The race of “vuelta de Costa Rica”
On December takes place the 12-days long bicycle race around Costa Rica.
The preX-mas time
In the second week of December Ticos decorate their houses with the strings of colorful lights and cypress twigs. More or less in that period the government offers to the laborer the special bonuses (so called. aguinaldo) for the X-mas gifts. (For the first time in Costa Rica the X-mas were celebrated in 1601, when off that time governor Gonzalo Vasquez de Coronado called for the national plays).
Inhabitants are on the habit of making so called “portales” (cribs) that feature the scenes from the Jesus Christ birth. They are usually put in the centre part of the rooms.
Posadas
On December 16th (10 days before the X-mas Eve), the neighbours get together and play the Joseph and Marias way to Bethlehem. They sing the carrols, eat tamales and drink alcoholic liquor rompopo.
The portales competition
On December 22th there is organized the competition for the most beautiful portales (crib).
Jesus brings the gifts
Under the X-mas Tree (the cypress or dry coffee twigs) are put the cribs and the gifts (Costa Rican children believe that the gifts are brought by the Jesus). They are opened in the midnight. In the craddles of cribs the figure of Jesus is put.
The X-mas Eve
On December 25th Ticos eat large numbers of apples and grapefruits. There is the traditional, solemn supper. On that day, at the midnight some people participate in the “mass of cock” (misa de gallo).