If this is your first-time spending Christmas in Costa Rica you will certainly love the excellent weather conditions this time a year, downside to this season in Costa Rica, like in any other, is that traffic gets worse than usual in San Jose in the days leading to Christmas and after Christmas the beaches can get really crowded.

Costa Ricans celebrate Christmas much like other countries in America, the families get together for dinner, exchange gifts, pray; there are Christmas trees and plenty of lights, but clearly Christmas in Costa Rica has a “tico” flavor to it, starting with the traditional tamales.

Tamales, which are also common in different versions in other Latin American countries, are an essential part of the Costa Rican gastronomy during this festivity. This meal consists in corn dough mixed with different condiments and a little fat, they are then filled with rice, bell pepper, meat (pork or chicken), peas, chickpeas, or any other combination depending on the preferences of each family, these are wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in boiling water. Certainly the best part of tamales is the fact that it becomes a family activity, everyone helps prepare them.

Eggnog and Christmas cake are also essential ingredients this time a year.

At midnight in Christmas Eve the family gathers around the nativity scene “portal” to pray together.

The day after Christmas the celebration continues with different events such as the Zapote fair, which includes carrousels, different food stands and the “tico-style” bullfights, the fair kicks-off December 25th and extends through January 1st.

The “Tope” or horse parade takes place December 26 in downtown San Jose.

The days leading to the end of the year most people try to spend time with family and friends, others, however, take advantage of the vacation days and beautiful weather to escape to the beach or other touristic sites.