Like in the U.S., December in Costa Rica is a time for celebration! The holidays include Christmas, New Year's, my birthday and the end of the school year since schools here run from February to December. This year, I couldn't be with my friends and family in the U.S., which made me sad, but I'm happy that I got to learn new traditions here!
A few weeks ago, I went to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, for Festival de la Luz. It's similar to some of the big parades we have in the U.S. like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. There are floats, bands, dancers and fireworks. Over one million people attend every year, but you can also watch it on TV if you can't make it in person. My host sister even got to be on a robot-themed float – she dressed up and danced. How cool is that?
The parade marks the official beginning of the Christmas season and helps get people into the holiday spirit. Since most ticos (the name for Costa Ricans) are Christian, Christmas is a big deal here. For Christmas, people exchange gifts and cook traditional food like tamales.
