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    - Photo via Ministry of Culture -
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Published on Wednesday, September 13,
2023
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Costa Ricans are days away from commemorating their 202nd Independence Day on Sept. 15.
During Independence Week, it is typical for public and private schools to celebrate with various civic events.
One of the
most important topics for individuals to
understand is their country's history.
Costa Rica has declared national symbols
to symbolize its culture, flora, and
fauna throughout its history, according
to the Ministry of Culture.
The National Anthem (Himno Nacional de Costa Rica) was created by Manuel Mara Gutiérrez (1829-1887) in 1852. He was the director of the Marching Band at the time.
The Guaria
Morada (Cattleya
skinneri) is the
National Flower representing the flora.
This is a purple native plant to the
American continent that grows freely
throughout the country.
The
National Tree is the Guanacaste Tree (Enterolobium
ciclocarpum), which is
native to the Americas' tropical
regions. It is notable for its huge
size, frequently spherical crown, and
unusually formed seed pods. This tree
grows in abundance, particularly in the
Guanacaste Province.
The
National Bird is the Yiguirro (Turdus
grayi), or
clay-colored thrush species that can be
found in North America as far north as
South Texas and as far south as northern
Colombia in South America. It was
designated a national symbol in 1977
because of its powerful and melodic
song, which always appears at the start
of the rainy season.
The Costa
Rican ox-cart (carreta
típica Costarricense) was
designated as the country's work symbol
in 1988. During the colonial period, ox
carts were utilized to transport sugar
cane, tobacco, and coffee. The piece of
equipment was critical in the
development of Costa Rica's agricultural
industry. The ox cart is now one of the
most recognizable handcrafted pieces of
art in Costa Rican culture.
In 1995,
the White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus
virginianus) was
designated as a Costa Rican National
Wildlife Symbol. It can be found on the
back of the Costa Rican 1,000 colón
note.
In 1996,
the marimba was designated as a National
Musical Instrument. It is the instrument
most associated with Costa Rica's
traditional events. The marimba's
construction has been handed down from
generation to generation by oral
tradition.
In 2005, the National Torch was designated as a national symbol, symbolizing regional togetherness and commemorating the historic events of independence, freedom, and democracy.
To promote tourism, the Crestones of Chirripó National Park were designated as a national symbol in 2011. Mount Chirripó, at an elevation of 12,536 feet, is Costa Rica's highest point.
In 2014,
the manatee (genus
Trichechus) was
designated as Costa Rica's national
symbol of marine biodiversity. The
decision was made on the initiative of
two first-grade kids who were
concerned about the conservation of
natural resources on national
territory.
When the
United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) designated the collection of
pre-Columbian cacical communities with
stone spheres of Diqus as a World
Heritage Site in 2014, the
pre-Columbian Indigenous Spheres were
deemed a national symbol.
In 2018,
the National Theater was designated as
a national symbol for being one of the
most significant buildings in American
history and our crowning architectural
achievement. The National Theater's
construction began in 1891. The
theater was finished in 1987.
In 2020,
Costa Rican coffee was designated as a
national symbol, signifying economic,
social, and cultural development.
Throughout history, it has been
referred to as the "gold seed" of
Costa Rica. This natural resource has
long been an important component of
the national and local economies.
As part
of efforts to safeguard the species
and its environment, the sloth became
a national wildlife symbol. Costa Rica
is home to two sloth species: the
two-toed sloth (Choleopus
hoffman) and the
three-toed sloth (Barypus
variegatus), which
get their names from their lethargic
movements.
The
boyero, who steers the oxcart, has
been designated as a national symbol
of labor. National Boyero Day is an
annual celebration held on the second
Sunday of March. The boyero traces
back to colonial times when farmers
transported their crops to San José
using oxcarts.
The
Morpho butterfly (Helennor
narcissus), often
known as the Blue Morpho butterfly due
to its magnificent blue tints and
wingspan of up to 15 centimeters, has
been formally designated as Costa
Rica's national symbol in April 2022.
In
October 2022, the Mascaradas were
designated as a National Symbol. Costa
Ricans experience traditional
Mascaradas in community celebrations,
through marimba music, dancing, masks,
and a lot of colors.
The
National Flag was designed when Costa
Rica became a sovereign nation in
September 1848. It was made up of five
horizontal stripes. Blue dominates the
first and fifth stripes, while white
dominates the second and fourth. In
the center, a red stripe doubles the
breadth of each of the other four
stripes.
The National Emblem is included in the flag. It has three volcanoes and a long valley that stretches between two oceans. There is a commerce ship in each ocean and a riding sun between the blue sky and the blue water on the horizon. On the national seal, two wreaths of myrtle leaves are united by a ribbon with the words "República de Costa Rica." The seven stars create an arch to represent the seven provinces of Costa Rica: San José, Cartago, Heredia, Alajuela, Puntarenas and Guanacaste. The crown is made of a blue ribbon with the words "América Central."
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