Culture of Costa Rica
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Costa Rican culture is heavily influenced by Spanish culture, with the exception of Limón, which is predominantly Black Jamaicans, and the Cordillera de Talamanca.[citation needed]
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When the Spanish conquerors arrived in the 16th century, most of the settlements and cities were established in the southern-central part of the country that were less densely populated than the north, and where the European descendants became predominant. Although the actual population of Costa Rica is generally of mixed origins, the different makeups of these two regions is still evident. The northern plains (Guatuso) and the southern mountains (Talamanca) were relatively untouched during colonial times. In the 19th century, the Caribbean region of Costa Rica received a considerable number of immigrants that came first as workers during the construction of the railroads to the eastern coast and later settled in the area. Most of them were blacks that came from the English-speaking Caribbean who gave a distinctive cultural and ethnic identity to the region. There was also an important number of Chinese immigrants, who came first to the port-towns of Limon and Puntarenas, later spreading in small numbers to most cities in the country. Immigrants from other areas, mainly Europe (Spain, Italy, Germany) and Lebanon, arrived during the early 20th century, causing a significant impact, mainly on the country's political and economic elite. All of these influences have developed the extremely varied ethnicity of the country.
[edit] Language
Costa Ricans speak Spanish, but they, like most other Latin American countries, over the years have developed distinct patterns in their language.
Costa Ricans usually utilize the respectful "Usted" form when addressing one another, this is somewhat formal and surprises some Spanish-speaking foreigners when they arrive. Also, when they do use the familiar form, they often use vos rather than "tú", which is used in most other Latin American countries. Unlike most Latin American countries the use of the word tú is considered obnoxious and impolite and the usage of the word is frowned upon by the majority of the population, regardless of social status
Costa Ricans also have an accent very similar to that of Colombians and are often confused with them based on their accent.
[edit] Ticos/Ticas
Costa Ricans have long called themselves Ticos, in reference to the use of diminutives particular to Costa Rican speech. In Spanish it's common to make diminutives by suffixing the -ito/ita morpheme [gender varies with: "o" or "a"]. This helps soften speech and appear more approachable when interacting with others.
[edit] Religion
Catholicism is recognized as the official religion in Costa Rica and even though many Costa Ricans are Catholic, devotion varies among the population.[citation needed]
A common practice among Latin American countries is the presence of a "Patrona". This represents a variation of the Virgin Mary and is unique for most countries. The "patrona" of Costa Rica is the "Virgen de los Angeles" also known as "La Negrita" (Little Black one). The Virgin is one of the most important Catholic symbols because it is country-specific and allows common people to identify with religion and feel a sense of direct contact with a saint to whom they can pray.
There are several religious festivals in the country but the most important[citation needed] is the tradition known as La Romería in which some people from all over the country walk from their home to a cathedral dedicated to the Virgin in the city of Cartago on August 2. When they arrive, followers visit a dark stone shaped like the Virgin Mary that appeared in the 16th Century to a young girl on a hill located in Cartago, the same place where the Cathedral was built.
Other religions in Costa Rica include Jehovah's Witness, Judaism, Islam, Hare Krishna and other smaller groups that practice traditions of their ancestry. Protestant forms of Christianity are common in Costa Rica, and make up 14% of Costa Rica's Christian population.[citation needed]
[edit] Education
Education is highly regarded in Costa Rica by most of the population. 6% of the country's resources are dedicated to education,[citation needed] and it has been proved to have positive results as 96% of the population is literate. Primary (1st-6th grade) and secondary (7th-11th or 12th) are mandatory for all; public schools are free. Those who can afford it often opt to send their children to private institutions.[citation needed]
The country has four major public universities: The University of Costa Rica (UCR), the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR), The Universidad Nacional (UNA) and the Universidad de Educacion a Distancia (UNED), a correspondence institution.
[edit] Painting
During the beginning of the 19th century, wealthy Costa Ricans used to have their portraits painted by famous foreigners, usually European, who went to the country for holidays[1]. It was not until some of these painters, like Bigot, Henry Etheridge, or Santiago Paramo settled in the country that Costa Ricans were taught techniques for drawing, oil painting and sculpture.[1] These teachers directly influenced artists who lived in Costa Rica, such as Jose Maria Figueroa, Faustino Montes de Oca, or Felipe Valentini.
Later, at the end of the 19th century some local artists started to come out and became the basis of what Costa Rican painting is now. Some of these painters are Ezequiel Jimenez, Wenceslao de la Guardia, and Enrique Echandi. Current renown Costa Rican painters include Gonzalo Morales Sáurez, Rafa Fernandez, Fernando Carballo.
A unique expression of paint was expressed in the typical bullock carts.
[edit] Music
Most of the music and representative folklore comes from the north of the country (the part that once had Mayan influence), including the Nicoya Peninsula, and the Atlantic coast (Afro-Caribbean culture). Costa Rican music a rhythm known as tambito as well a distinctive musical genre known as punto. Two examples are the punto guanacasteco, which hails from Guanacaste Province, and the sancarleño, from San Carlos in Alajuela Province.
Nowadays, funk music is very popular.[citation needed] The Costa Rican funk movement started around the 70's - 80's and bands today enjoy some popularity, especially among young people. Bands such as Gandhi and Evolucion (among others) are quite popular. This movement started in the early 80's with the pioneer work of the band Café con Leche and José Capmany.[citation needed]
[edit] Cuisine
Costa Rican cuisine is a combination of Spanish, American, Caribbean and Southern American influences. This style of cuisine is shared by most of entral America, although local variations have appeared in each of the country.
One national dish is Gallo Pinto ("spotted rooster"), although the name has no relation to the ingredients. It is mainly a combination of black beans and white rice and is spiced with cilantro, onions, garlic, salt and a local condiment called Salsa Lizano (although not always). It is typically eaten at breakfast with eggs and sometimes natilla (sour cream). Fried plantains and either corn tortillas or bread are also common. Gallo pinto is a common and typical dish in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, being widely consumed in both countries. The origin of the dish has been debated for many years.
Another typical dish is "Arroz con pollo" ("rice with chicken"). This dish basically consists of bite size chicken chunks mixed with rice and diced vegetables that include carrots, peas, corn and garbanzo beans (chickpeas).
"Olla de Carne" is another typical dish which is mainly prepared on weekends.[citation needed] It is basically a broth corn prepared by boiling water, meat and whole-to large sized vegetable pieces, with spices. Eating the soup usually requires a bowl with the broth, and separate plates for the vegetables and rice. Because preparation of the vegetables is tiresome and the size of the plate obligates using a large pot, it is prepared for family meetings and was usually prepared on Sundays after church.[citation needed]
"Casados" are also a typical dish. A casado is basically a one-plate meal, that at least includes black beans, rice, a meat and one or more side dishes. The meat can vary from chicken or beef, fish, tongue, liver, or hamburger patties. The side dishes can range from pasta salads, vegetable salads, fried eggs, potatoes, spaghetti, or "barbudos" (green beans wrapped in egg batter). Finally most casados include fried plantains.
A very common practice when sitting down to eat is to drink a fruit drink of some kind. These are called "refrescos", "frescos", "refrescos naturales" or "batidos" (smoothies). They are made with either water or milk and come in an endless variety: cantaloupe, strawberry, tamarind, mango, papaya, lemon, blackberry (mora), guanabana, fruit punch, horchata, and a local favorite, cas.
There are some regional differences. The Caribbean side of the country, because of its roots, enjoys Gallo pinto but adding Coconut milk. This is called "Rice an' Beans". This region also has "Pati", "Plantain tarts", "Rondon" and "Pan bon".[citation needed] The north-western part of the country, has a strong tendency towards corn products and is famous for large, cheese filled tortillas, corn snacks and other dishes.
[edit] Pura Vida
Based on research, this expression, which is used widely all throughout Costa Rica Pura Vida, literally translated means "Pure Life" but means contextually something approximate to "Full of Life", "Purified life", "This is living!", "Going great", or "Cool!"[2] It can be used as a greeting, as a word of farewell, to express satisfaction, and in some instances to politely express indifference when describing something.[2] The phrase has become widely known; this highly flexible statement is used by many Costa Ricans (and expatriates) since 1956.[3] Some foreigners view the phrase as an expression of a leisurely lifestyle, of disregard for time and wanton friendliness. However, Costa Ricans use the phrase to express something akin to a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, resilience in overcoming difficulties with good spirits, and enjoying life slowly and celebrating good fortune of magnitudes small and large alike.
[edit] References
- ^ a b http://www.infocostarica.com/culture/painting.html
- ^ a b Dictionary of Latin American Terms, http://www.asihablamos.com/word/palabra/Pura%20vida.php
- ^ http://www.costarica.com/Home/Culture/National_Symbols/National_Motto
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