Costa Rica Welcomes Its Independence Day Babies

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Published on Monday, September 16, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

As Costa Rica commemorated the 205th anniversary of Independence Day, the Social Security Fund (CCSS) recognized the first eight babies born in the first hour of Sept. 15 in the maternity wards of public hospitals across the country.

Every Sept. 15, Costa Rica celebrates the signing of the Act of Independence of Central America in 1821. At the time, the Captaincy General of Guatemala, which included Guatemala, Chiapas, Comayagua, San Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, declared independence from Spain.

The celebrations brought a variety of patriotic traditions to communities across the country, including student and lantern parades, concerts, fireworks, traditional dances and folk music.

The so-called Independence Day babies, one girl and seven boys, were born shortly before 1 a.m. in the maternity wards of Dr. Rafael Ángel Calderón-Guardia Hospital in San José Province and Dr. Maximiliano Peralta-Jiménez Hospital in Cartago Province.

The tradition, carried out by maternity ward nurses, includes dressing the newborn Costa Rican citizens in traditional clothing and patriotic symbols. The babies also receive gifts from hospital staff.

The babies became the stars of a photo session, dressed in traditional Costa Rican clothing inspired by the country’s rural and Creole traditions and known for its bright, vivid colors.

The baby girls were dressed in blouses decorated with delicate lace or ruffles. They also wore colorful skirts decorated with ruffles along the bottom in the white, blue and red colors of the Costa Rican flag. A flower or colorful scarf was worn on their heads.

The baby boys were dressed in white shirts decorated with brightly colored details and made of manta fabric or lightweight cotton. They also wore white pants with a red fabric belt and the traditional hat known as a chonete, similar to a canvas sailor hat, with the words “Independence Day” written on it.

Among the gifts was a commemorative plaque recognizing the babies as the first children born on Independence Day.

The plaque includes information such as the baby’s date and time of birth, along with the message: “Dichosa la madre costarricense que sabe que su hijo, al nacer, jamás será soldado.”

The phrase means, “Blessed is the Costa Rican mother who knows that when her child is born, he/she will never be a soldier.”

The famous phrase was spoken by Ryoichi Sasakawa during one of his visits to Costa Rica. According to the Embassy of Japan in Costa Rica, Sasakawa was a well-known Japanese politician and philanthropist.

The saying recognizes that Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948. This year, the country will mark the 78th anniversary of that historic decision on Dec. 1.

The cost of making the traditional outfits and commemorative plaques was covered by hospital staff, as well as the babies’ parents and families.

The names of the babies and their parents were not released by authorities.

An average of about 130 children are born each day in Costa Rica, equivalent to just over 48,000 births recorded annually, according to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).

The CCSS is the state-run organization responsible for Costa Rica’s public health care system.

The TSE is an independent public institution that oversees all presidential elections and national referendums in Costa Rica.

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What tradition does your country have for recognizing the first babies born on Independence Day? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

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