The Chinese community in Costa Rica marked the approach of the Lunar New Year with a public celebration on February 14 in the Barrio Chino of San José. The main date of the festival falls on February 17, which begins the Year of the Fire Horse.
The event took place along the Paseo de los Estudiantes, from the Plazoleta de la Soledad onward. Organizers from the Asociación Colonia China en Costa Rica, working with the Municipality of San José and the Chinese Embassy, opened the gathering to the public at no cost.
Attendees watched the traditional lion dance, which performers carry out to bring prosperity and good fortune. They also saw kung fu demonstrations, music performances, displays of regional Chinese costumes, and Bian Lian, the quick face-changing art. Stalls offered Chinese dishes alongside Costa Rican food options. Some visitors tried basic Chinese calligraphy and received their names written in Chinese characters.
Isabel Yung, a representative of the Asociación Colonia China, noted that the occasion allows the community to share its traditions and strengthen ties with Costa Rican society. The two nations, she said, have worked together in harmony for decades.
The Chinese community has lived in Costa Rica since the first arrivals in 1855. Today it includes thousands of residents and descendants who contribute to commerce, restaurants and cultural life across the country. The Barrio Chino, officially opened in 2012 as the first of its kind in Central America, stands as a visible center for these activities.
For members of the Asian community in Costa Rica, especially those of Chinese descent, the Lunar New Year serves as a time to gather, share meals and look ahead. In Costa Rica the large public events in San José supplement family observances and give locals a chance to take part.
The Year of the Fire Horse runs until February 2027. Festivities will continue until the Lantern Festival on March 3.
