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Costa Rica Festivals and Celebrations

January

Fiestas de Zapote

During the last week of December and the first week of January each year. The event that everyone goes for is the Costa Rica  "Pura Vida" bullfights. The bulls are not injured or killed when participants (anyone who wants to) get into the ring with each other to tease the bull. They run by and try to touch or slap the bull. Many a "bullfighter" is gored in the process, sometimes very badly. The rest of the fiesta area is carnival rides and food stalls that are serving up typical Costa Rican fare.

                                      Fiestas de Palmares

 During the first two weeks of January the city of Palmares in Alajuela hosts a fantastic party, or maybe it's better to call it a series of fiestas that include Topes (rodeos), bullfights (non-lethal) that have a bull placed in a ring and allowing people (anyone crazy, or drunk enough) to get in the ring and try to slap the bull and run, concerts of both traditional and modern music by some big international acts, a parade, traditional food and dance, and fireworks.

                     Día de Santo Cristo de Esquipulas
​          (The Black Christ of Esquipulas) in Alajuelita

In Alajuelita de San Jose, people celebrate this religious festival with fiestas and dancing. traditional oxcarts are paraded, along with prize steers, to a cross on the mountain above the city of Alajuelita to be blessed. 

                    Día de Santo Cristo de Esquipulas
​        (The Black Christ of Esquipulas) - Santa Cruz

In Santa Cruz, during the week of January 15, people celebrate with typical traditional costumes, dancing and food as well as the typical "run from the bull" bullfights. ​

                   Copa de Cafe/Coffe Cup Tennis Tournament

An annual week long Juniors tennis tournament held during the first week of January at the Costa Rica Country Club in Escazu de San Jose. ​​