Costa Rica Training #3 Geography History Culture Religion
Beyond the Surface What do you REALLY know about Costa Rica?
What does the name Costa Rica mean in English? Rich coast
What is the capital of Costa Rica? San Jose
What are the colors of the national flag? Red, white, & blue
Which Spanish explorer discovered Costa Rica? Christopher Columbus
When did Costa Rica become an independent country? 1838
Which currency is used in Costa Rica? The Colón 1 US dollar = 550.96 Costa Rican Colón
T/F - The President of Costa Rica is commander-in-chief of its armed forces. False - Costa Rica doesn t have a standing army. It was abolished in 1948 by President Jose Figueres.
Historical Timeline In 1502 Christopher Columbus s fourth Atlantic voyage brought him to the shores of Costa Rica. Relations with the native people became friendly enough that they brought him a number of items of gold, possibly prompting Columbus to name the land Rich Coast. In 1821 Costa Rica gains its independence from Spain and joins the Mexican Empire. In 1823 the Mexican Empire dissolves; Costa Rica joins El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua as the United Provinces of Central America (UPCA). In 1838 Costa Rica becomes a fully independent country after severing ties with the UPCA. In 1948 the Costa Rican Civil War occurred (lasting 44 days). The conflict was precipitated by the vote of the Costa Rican Legislature, dominated by pro-government representatives, to annul the results of the presidential elections held in February, alleging that the triumph of opposition candidate Otilio Ulate had been achieved by fraud. In 1949 the military is abolished and a new constitution is formed. In 1987 President Oscar Arias Sánchez wins the Nobel Peace Prize for helping end civil wars in El Salvador & Nicaragua. In 2010 Laura Chinchilla becomes Costa Rica s first woman President.
Culture/Customs Family-oriented: extended family, friends, their family members all included Gender differences: machismo system- men and women are expected to act differently from each other and to respect their roles; more tame than other Latin American countries Conscious of self-image: avoid embarrassment, appearing rude exceedingly courteous and hospitable, act with humility
Culture/Customs Costa Ricans, in general, are very friendly people. They are very affectionate people so it is normal for them to hug, even to people that they first meet. One thing that is important is to be careful on how we look at the people since their extreme poverty situation makes them more sensitive. It is normal sometimes to see them and feel sorry for them but it is very important not to transmit that feeling. The goal is for them to feel loved not that we feel sorry for them. In general the most important thing is to remember that we are there to love and serve.
Religion The national religion is Catholicism About 76% of the population is Roman Catholic. Only 45% of Catholics describe themselves as practicing, and the rest are essentially Catholic by default - their parents are Catholic, and they themselves were baptized Catholic. Non-practicing Catholics attend Mass only for the high holidays (Christmas and Easter), and for Sacraments like baptism, first communion, confirmation, and marriage. Town names often begin with San or Santa; familiar expressions include "If God wishes it" and "God bless," and every city has a Catholic church. While Catholicism is no doubt the prevalent religion, the country is considered one of the most secular in Latin America.
Religion Costa Rica observes many holy days and feasts. Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - The Catholic Church in each town organizes traditional masses and processions which take place Holy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. most of the towns suspend business for several days of ceremonies and parades Virgen de los Angeles (The Virgin of Los Angeles Day) On August 2, Costa Ricans from around the country make their way to Cartago Basilica by foot. Once there, the faithful crawl on their knees to the altar to pay their respects to the Virgin Mary
Q&A w/ Luis!!!