Costa Rican Culture

History of Costa Rica

When the Spanish conquerors arrived in the 16th century, they established almost all of their settlements and towns in the southern-central part of the country which was less densely populated than the north. The european descendants became predominant in these regions. Although the actual population of Costa Rica is normally of mixed origins, the different make-ups of these two regions are still obvious. In the 19th century, the Caribbean area of Costa Rica received a substantial number of immigrants that came first as employees in the construction of the railroads to the eastern coast and later settled in the area. Many of them were blacks that came from the English-speaking Caribbean who gave a distinctive cultural and ethnic identity to the area. There was also an important number of Chinese immigrants, who came first to the port-towns of Limon and Puntarenas, and who later spread in small numbers to most cities in the country. All these influences have developed the intensely varied ethnic affiliation of the country.

Language of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Spanish

Costa Rican people talk Spanish, but over the years they have, like most other Latin American states, developed distinct patterns in their language. Costa Ricans usually use the respectful usted form when addressing one another ; this is somewhat formal and surprises some Spanish-speaking foreigners when they arrive. Also, when the familiar form is employed, they often use vos instead of t, which is employed in most other South American countries. Unlike most Latin American countries the usage of the word t is considered obnoxious and rude and the use of the word is scowled upon by the bulk of the population, regardless of social standing.

Costa Rican Education

6% of the states’s gross domestic product is devoted to education, which has had positive results as 96% of the populace is literate. Public schools are free, and those who can afford it frequently opt to send their youngsters to personal institutions.

The country has five major public universities : the university of Costa Rica ( UCR ), the Instituto Tecnolgico de Costa Rica ( ITCR ), the Universidad Nacional ( UNA ), the Universidad Tcnica Nacional, and the Universidad de Educacion a Distancia ( UNED ).

During the start of the 19th century, well off Costa Ricans used to have their portraits painted by famous foreigners, usually EU, who went to the country for holidays. It was not until a few 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. These teachers directly influenced artists who lived in Costa Rica, for example Jose Maria Figueroa, Faustino Montes de Oca, or Felipe Valentini. later on at the end of the 19th century, some local artists started to come out and became the foundation of modern Costa Rican painting. Some of these painters are Ezequiel Jimenez, Wenceslao de la Guardia, and Enrique Echandi. Current famous Costa Rican painters include Gonzalo Morales Surez, Rafa Fernandez, and Fernando Carballo.

Music of Costa Rica

The majority of the music and representative folklore comes from the north of the country, including the Nicoya Peninsula and the Atlantic coast. Costa Rican music is suggested by a rhythm known as Tambito as well a distinctive musical brand known as Punto. 2 examples are the Punto Guanacasteco from Guanacaste Province, and the San Carleo from San Carlos in Alajuela Province. today, funk music is very popular.  The Costa Rican funk movement started around the 70’s and 80’s with the pioneer work of the bands Caf Con Leche and Jos Capmany, which today enjoy some renown, particularly among younger people. Bands like Gandhi and Evolucion ( among others ) are also quite popular.

Costa Rican Cuisine

Costa Rican cuisine is a mix of Spanish, American, Caribbean and Southern American influences. This style of cuisine is shared by almost all of Central America, although local diversifications have appeared in every one of the country.

One countrywide dish is Gallo Pinto (’spotted rooster’ ), though the name has no relation to the ingredients.  It is a fusion of black beans and white rice and is flavored with cilantro, onions, garlic, salt, and a local condiment called Salsa Lizano. It is usually eaten at breakfast with eggs, and infrequently natilla (sour cream). Fried plantains and either corn tortillas or bread are also common. Other typical dishes are arroz con pollo, olla de carne, and casados.  Arroz con pollo ( rice with chicken ) consists of bite size chicken pieces blended with rice and sliced plants that include carrots, peas, corn, and garbanzo beans. Olla de carne is mainly prepared on weekends.  It’s a broth of corn prepared by boiling water, meat, and whole-to large sized vegetable pieces, with spices. The soup is eaten in a bowl with the broth and separate plates for the veggies and rice. Because of the preparation style and the vegetables sizes, the plate obligates employing a huge pot, it is prepared for family meetings and is usually prepared on Sundays after church.  A casado is an one-plate meal that includes black beans, rice, a beef, fried plantains, and one or two side plates. A very common practice when sitting to eat is to drink a fruit drink of some sort. These are called refrescos, frescos, refrescos naturales, or batidos ( smoothies ).

There are some regional differences.