The Culture of

Why I chose Costa RicaI thought by researching Costa Rica, I could

better understand my mother and learn more about my background

Brief Background Costa Ricans, also known as Ticos, are generally regarded

as gentle, spirited, friendly, educated, polite people

Costa Ricans commonly refer themselves as Ticos, a nickname given by their Spanish-speaking neighbors

The males are called Ticos while the females are called Ticas and a mixed group of Costa Ricans is called Ticos

The Costa Rican culture is historically “machismo,” or male-dominant. Machismo defines the family and social structures in Costa Rica

Fortunately, over the last several decades, Costa Rica has made vast progress towards gender equality. While machismo and gender differences still exist, sexism and gender inequality are no longer as acceptable as they once were

Birth and Childhood Costa Ricans consider the birth of a child to be extremely important…

due to the fact that Costa Rica is rich in the Roman Catholic heritage, the most prevalent tradition associated with newborns is baptism

Costa Rican parents attempt to provide for their children at all costs and as a result, they consistently indulge them

The majority of children in Costa Rica begin to attend school at the age of six. Both male and female children receive equal educational opportunities

Child labor is a major issue in Costa Rica, particularly in the informal region

While other forms of child labor have declined over the past few years, due to strict legislation, the exploitation of minors for commercial purposes has dramatically increased. Sadly, Costa Rica has emerged as a source and transit country for child traffickers

Dating and Courtship Dating in the Costa Rican culture use to be very traditional

However, the dating styles in Costa Rica are becoming more similar to the American and western European dating styles

People in Costa Rica generally begin to date at a very young age, sometimes even as young as 12 years old

Popular Costa Rican dating venues consist of disco bars, picnics, movie theaters, December bullfights and yearly carnivals

Couples generally date from a few months to a couple of years before they decide to get married. Despite the pervasive Roman Catholic influence, religion does not play a major role in the Costa Rican dating practices

MarriageCosta Rica holds one of the

highest marriage rates in all of Latin America

On average, women marry at the age of 21, while men usually marry at the age of 24

Many Costa Rican couples prefer to ride traditional painted oxcarts with a rosary placed on them to symbolize their love. The two ox pulling the cart together symbolize the idea that it is necessary for the couple to be united at all costs in order for the marriage to succeed

Marriage Costa Rica’s Family Code provides men and women equal

rights and responsibilities in all areas of marriage

Latin American “machismo” categorizes a double standard which men are allowed to work, drink and sleep around while women are expected to do all housework and remain true to their husbands

Costa Rican marriages reflect traditionally stereotyped gender roles with the male as the ultimate head of the household and the female deferring to her husbands at all times. Many Costa Rican wives still accept these traditional roles to this day

A divorce can be filed by mutual consent or by one of the spouses. Women retain many rights in the event of a divorce, including automatic custody of the children

Family and ParentingDue to the high rate of birth control

consumption, the size of a typical Costa Rican family has become much smaller

Parents expect their children to care for them after they grow old

Despite the high marriage rates, Costa Rica is also ranked among the ten top countries with the highest divorce rates

Work and Professional LifeThe age at which a Costa Rican begins

employment is dependent upon his or hers socio-economic status

The Costa Rican law requires equal treatment of both men and women and equal access to jobs

Costa Rica’s machismo culture continues, to deny women fair treatment in the job market

On average, Costa Rican women retire at the age of 59, and men retire at the age of 61

Women in the CultureCosta Rican women have always participated as

workers in the agricultural sector, particularly in banana, cacao and coffee plantations. They also engage in the making and selling of handicrafts for the tourist industry.

Over the last few years, Costa Rican women have become increasingly more educated and are now able to work in professional fields

on February 7, 2010 Costa Rica nominated their first female president Laura Chinchilla Miranda. Chinchilla was the eighth woman president from Latin America.

Laura Chinchilla Miranda

Women in the CultureWomen in Costa Rica are able to choose their

life partners

The average age for a woman to get married is 21 and the average age for a man to get married is 24

Workingwomen are still expected to carry out all the duties of a household, including cooking, childcare and other household duties.

Costa Rican culture typically looks down upon childless women

Religion Roman Catholicism is the official state religion in

Costa Rica, which comprises more that 76 percent of the population

Religion generally has an impact on everyday life in Costa Rica

Freedom of religion is provided for all citizens and the government tires to uphold this right at all levels

SportsCosta Ricans have a reputation for being avid

sports fans.

The country’s most popular traditional sport is bullfighting, a remnant from Spanish colonial rule

Soccer is the one sport that Costa Ricans compulsively follow, which is popular with locals of all ages and sexes

Bull Fighting

Soccer

Music and DanceCosta Ricans love to dance

The city of San Jose offers a very diverse music scene. As the capital city and trendsetter for Costa Rica’s nightlife, San José attracts a young and fashionable crowd to its many clubs

Traditional folk music has its roots in the Guanacaste province. This is an upbeat dance with lots of rhythmical foot stomping and an entertaining rhyming verse

In the province of Limon, there is a distinctly different taste to the music. Since the seventeenth century, Limon has populated a large African population and therefore a long tradition of Afro-Caribbean music

Punto Guanacasteo

Greetings In the Costa Rican culture it is common to say

hello and goodbye to friends and acquaintances with a light kiss on the cheek, or an air kiss accompanied by a kissing sound.

Women will kiss women and women kiss men, but men do not kiss men. Instead, men either shake hands or give each other a one-armed hug.

TimelinessCosta Ricans are famous for observing Tico time,

locally know as "la hora tica”

Costa Ricans habitually arrive late, often by 30 minutes or more, to dinner, appointments and get-togethers

They will never arrive late to the movies or for appointments at the public health clinics

Pura VidaCosta Ricans use the term “pura vida” to say

hello, to say goodbye, to say everything’s great, to say everything’s cool

Pura Vida is the way of life for Costa Ricans.

Costa Rica has been named one of the happiest countries in the world, mostly because the residents do not stress about things the way most foreigners do

Costa Ricans have a very relaxed, simple way of looking at life

Religious Perspective 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”