Published on Monday, October 12, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rica celebrates Culture Day on Oct. 12 to recognize the country’s multicultural and multiethnic identity and the diverse cultural heritages that have shaped the Americas.

Known in Spanish as Día de las Culturas, or Day of the Cultures, the observance highlights the contributions of Indigenous, European, African and Asian peoples to Costa Rican identity, according to the Ministry of Public Education (MEP).

The observance coincides with Columbus Day in the United States and Canada and the Day of the Americas in several Latin American countries.

Culture Day is not a public holiday in Costa Rica, so government institutions and private businesses generally maintain their regular operating schedules.

 

However, some diplomatic missions, including the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, observe the U.S. federal holiday of Columbus Day, which falls on the second Monday in October.


The date also commemorates Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas on Oct. 12, 1492. Born in Italy, Columbus sailed on behalf of the Spanish Crown.


Columbus arrived in Costa Rica on Sept. 18, 1502, during his fourth and final voyage to the Americas. He anchored near Uvita Island off the Caribbean coast, close to present-day Puerto Limón.


Since the first Columbus Day celebration in 1892, the observance has faced opposition from groups who argue that it overlooks the suffering and deaths of Indigenous peoples during European colonization of the Americas. The colonization that followed Columbus’ arrival in the Americas resulted in widespread violence, disease, displacement and population decline among Indigenous communities.

In 2019, Costa Rica established Oct. 12 as the Day of the Cultures to honor the development and preservation of national identity. The observance recognizes the cultural heritage of Indigenous, European, African and Asian peoples as part of Costa Rica’s cultural makeup.


Schools mark the occasion with activities designed to promote cultural awareness and preserve patriotic values among students.


According to education authorities, schools organize educational and recreational events that showcase Costa Rica’s cultural diversity.


These activities include multicultural and culinary fairs, where classrooms and common areas are transformed to represent different countries, regions and ethnic groups. Students share traditional foods and costumes associated with Indigenous, African, European and Asian heritage.

Other events feature traditional dances, theatrical performances, poetry recitals and cultural presentations highlighting the country’s different regions and ethnic communities.

Research fairs also allow students to present their findings on the historical roots of different cultures and their contributions to Costa Rican society.

Schools also organize talks to encourage respect, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and appreciation of the differences among the country’s ethnic groups.

The MEP oversees Costa Rica's public education system and implements policies and programs to ensure access to free basic public education nationwide.

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