No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeEventsCosta Rica prepares for 50th anniversary of Fiestas de Zapote

Costa Rica prepares for 50th anniversary of Fiestas de Zapote

In December, Costa Rica will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its iconic Fiestas de Zapote.

The week-long celebration — part carnival, part parade and part Tico-style bullfight — begins on Dec. 25 and will end on Jan. 5, 2020.

The end-of-year event will include the “Tope Nacional,” the country’s biggest horse parade. A holiday tradition for many Ticos, it hosts approximately 5,000 riders decked out (as are their equine companions) in their finest, and more than one million viewers.

During the event, the most common outfit is blue jeans, a cowboy hat, boots and a plaid shirt.

Meanwhile, at the Campo Ferial in the eastern San José district of Zapote, organizers say there will be more than 30 different mechanical rides to complement the myriad food stands, bars, tamale vendors and other attractions.

For many, the biggest attraction is “toros a la Tica” — a Costa Rican style of bullfighting.

Costa Ricans pack the stands (and watch on national TV) as brave members of the public who have signed up as amateur bullfighters, or improvisados, provoke the bull, dodge attacks and compete for prizes — and recognition from the crowd.

While it is illegal in Costa Rica to kill or physically hurt the animal, activists say bullfighting is a tradition steeped in violence and that the events are still harmful to the bulls.

The bullfights in Costa Rica go back to the colonial era, when they emerged together with the development of livestock and Spanish influence.

 

Popular Articles

Bérénice Béjo Stars in “Mexico 86” as a Revolutionary Guatemalan Mother

“Mother can also fight, rifle in hand, when democracy is in danger,” declares French actress Bérénice Béjo, who plays a Guatemalan activist in “Mexico...

Costa Rica to Launch Online Driver’s License Renewal Service in October

Starting October 2025, renewing or replacing a driver’s license in Costa Rica will be as simple as a few clicks, thanks to a new...

5,000-Year-Old Woman’s Remains Discovered in Peru’s Ancient Caral Civilization

Archaeologists announced Thursday the discovery of the remains of a woman who lived approximately 5,000 years ago and is believed to have belonged to...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles