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| Costa Rica Culture |
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Heritage and Culture
Costa Rican culture is in many ways a reflection of its racial diversity. The predominant influence has long been European, which is reflected in everything from the official language -- Spanish -- to the architecture of the country's churches and other historic buildings. The indigenous influence is less visible, but can be found in everything from the tortillas that make part of a typical Costa Rican meal, to the handmade ceramics sold at roadside stands.
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An important aspect of Costa Rica's cultural legacy is their love for peace and democracy. The Ticos like to stand out that their nation is the exception in Latin America, where military dictatorships have long dominated politics.
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They take pride in having more than one hundred years of democratic tradition, and almost half a century without an army. The army was abolished in 1948, and the money the country saves by not expending in military issues is invested in improving the Costa Ricans' standard of living, which has fostered a culture of social peace that makes it such a pleasant place to visit. | |
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The Ticos
The Ticos, as Costa Ricans are commonly known, are famous for their hospitality, and are quite happy to live up to their reputation. They are well-educated and hard working people, who are quick with a handshake and a smile. They are well aware of the special land they have, and most likely they will help foreigners when they get lost, even explaining things that might seem bizarre to foreigners, and making their stay as enjoyable as possible.
People say the Ticos are their nation's greatest asset, and once you've experienced their friendliness and spontaneity, you'll have no doubt to that regard .
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Demographics
The native Indian inhabitants of Costa Rica now number approximately 15,000 and make up 0.5 percent of the population, as opposed to 100 percent in 1502. Descendants of the numerous Indian tribes now call themselves Indigena (indigenous),but are | |
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mostly of mixed race following 500 years of contact with the white inhabitants. The word "Indio" is considered by many to be an insult.
Whites and Creoles descended from the original white settlers make up 87 percent of the population. This group also includes mestizos, descendants of mixed white and Indian parentage, who now make up seven percent of the population.
Blacks and Mulattos
Descendants of the 10 million African slaves brought to Costa Rica in the 18th and 19th centuries now make up approximately three percent of the population.
To this day 100,000 black and mulatto descendants still live in the Atlantic region. Despite the growing influence of the white population, the majority of Spanish-speaking inhabitants and the growing numbers of tourists, many of these black inhabitants still speak patois, a fascinating mixture of Spanish and English. Rice and beans, name (a spice made of roots that flavors many of their native dishes) and pan bom characterize their cuisine.
This minority, whose indigenous culture is unfortunately gradually disappearing, favors calypso and reggae music. They wear their hair in dreadlocks, and adhere to Rastifarian sects imported from Jamaica or the Obeah religion of the Caribbean. They often consume alcohol excessively and smoke ganja, or marijuana. In addition to the Indigenas, whites, mestizos, blacks and mulattos, Costa Rica is also home to thousands of Asians. Most of the Chinese and Indians now living in the country arrived during the 19th century as migrant workers, and many today run ethnic restaurants.
Another 250,000 foreigners have chosen Costa Rica as their long-term residence. These include pensioners from the United States and Canada who come to the country to enjoy the mild climate along the coast or in the highlands, the high standard of living and the many affordable leisure activities available to them. Smaller groups of Italian farmers (for example, in San Vito), German coffee planters and other European and North American hotel owners round out the population. | |
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Religion
The Roman Catholic faith has dominated Costa Rica ever since the arrival of Spanish missionaries during the colonial era.The majority of the population (89 percent) remain Catholic, eight percent are Protestant and three percent adhere to other religions and sects. |
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Ticos are, however, not as dependent on traditional religion as their Mexican neighbors. Their long democratic tradition and their disinclination to tolerate dictators and demagogues may account for the difference.
With the exception of a brief interlude in the 19th century, the Church has steadily lost influence in Costa Rica since the 18th century.
Protestant religious observance is barely noticeable in daily life. About onehalf of Costa Rica's 40,000 Protestants are black and live on the Atlantic coast. Their beliefs often combine elements of Afro-Caribbean religion.
Language
The official language of Costa Rica is Castellano (Spanish). The vast majority (Sa7 percent) of the population speaks the Costa Rican variety of Spanish, which has lost some of the grammatical forms of the language of the Spanish nobility and substituted expressions from indigenous and Afro-Caribbean dialects.
Blacks living along the Atlantic coast speak patois, a mixture of English and Spanish which bears great similarity to the pidgin English spoken in Jamaica. Few of the indigenous people of Costa Rica have retained their languages. Of the native population, only the Bribri, the Boruca and the Cabecar, who live in the Cordillera de Talamanca, speak their original languages.
Characteristics and Leisure Activities
Although it is dangerous to make generalizations about the common mentality or characteristics of a people, a journey through Costa Rica demonstrates certain traits. Most Ticos are extremely polite and like to maintain a polite distance. A sus ordenes! and Para servirle! (at your service) are two of the most often heard phrases and imply more than just a polite formality. Hospitalidad, or hospitality, takes top priority. Guests enjoy many more privileges and far more freedom than their hosts. The natural consequence of such an attitude is a very careful selection of guests.
The background of such hospitality is the unwritten law of the Ticos: Quedar biers - behave yourself well. An important maxim in Costa Rica is to make a good impression and it is almost universally followed.
Costa Ricans spend a great deal of time at home. Home is central to their lives, and their homes are very well taken care of. The saying "my home is my castle," or "mi casa es mi castillo," could have been invented in Costa Rica.
Costa Ricans are much more family oriented than their North American or European neighbors. Social occasions, such as the popular Sunday picnic lunch, usually involve large family gatherings. The only events that take place outside the family circle are the Sunday promenade through the town center and the weekend dances where young people gather. Single children usually live with their parents until their marriage, and they contribute a significant part of their earnings to their parents for room and board. Pre-marital sex is frowned upon and usually takes place in the darker corners of city parks, in cars borrowed from richer friends and in the dark anonymity of the cinema.
Part of the Costa Rican sense of hospitality and politeness expresses itself in the cheerful readiness of the native residents to be helpful to foreign guests. These attempts at courtesy can sometimes be irritating, especially when asking directions. A Tico would rather make something up than admit to a foreigner that he also doesn't know his way around. It is important in all situations to save face. Loss of face can lead to emotional outbreaks among Costa Ricans.
Costa Ricans are also extremely selfcritical, both individually and collectively. However, criticism from outsiders, especially from foreigners, is often not well accepted. It is better to avoid critical remarks and, when that is absolutely impossible, to formulate words of criticism in a polite and diplomatic way. The customary practice of keeping a polite distance is also very important in maintaining control over emotions. This is often not possible without a little help. According to a statistical report published in 1995, Costa Ricans resort to tranquilizers more often than any of their Latin American neighbors. Unfortunately, drivers in Costa Rica's major cities do not appear to use tranquilizers. Aggressive, offensive driving is the rule of the streets. Risky passing maneuvers and nerve-jangling use of the horn characterize native driving habits.
Poco a poco and despacio, despacio "little by little" and "not so fast" or "never too much at once" - are the sayings that often determine the pace of life in Costa Rica. Beneath such gentle warnings is a democratic and conservative attitude that favors the status quo over any kind of rash change. In leisure activities, unlike the attitude in public offices and businesses, time is generously dispensed.
When things occasionally go wrong the almost universal response is a shrug of the shoulders and the expression "Quien sabe," which translates to "who knows," a form of expression which is prevalent throughout the Latin American world. It is based on the supreme confidence that somewhere, someone will worry about the problem - hopefully not for another day or two.
A favorite response to almost any problem is "manana" (tomorrow). The national philosophy dictates that you should never rush ahead. Tomorrow is another day and problems seldom go away. Great value is placed on public and private festivities and visitors are often pleasantly surprised to be invited by a total stranger to a fiesta.
First time social or business meetings, whether accidental or planned, always end with an exchange of tarjetas (business or visiting cards). Unlike Europeans and Americans, who regard such exchanges as routine, Costa Ricans see them as a sign of respect and trust.
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Men and Women
The relationship between the sexes in Costa Rica has evolved over 500 years in which Spanish and native Indian culture became interwined | and inseparable. These cultures have given birth to expressions such as machismo and marianismo, which have entered even the international vocabulary of sexual relationships. Although the sharply defined roles of the sexes are changing among the younger generation, especially among the educated middle class, most Ticos still maintain macho values. "Este hombre es muy macho," (this man is very macho) is universally held to be a compliment. The opposite, borrowed from the moral integrity of the Virgin Mary, is the woman who offers herself for her husband, children and home. The more beautiful, delicate and vulnerable she appears, the closer she comes to the Costa Rican ideal for women.
The clear division of roles between the sexes is easily observed at family picnics in the city's parks. The women do what Costa Ricans call chinear - they fuss over their husbands continuously and anticipate their every wish. The husbands, meanwhile, enjoy themselves and condescend to making the occasional compliment or bestowing short bursts of attention upon their children.
Despite this public appearance of domestic harmony and romantic bliss, violence is on the rise in Costa Rican families. According to a study published in 1994, one out of three people admits having experienced violent outbreaks at the hands of their father. Jealousy and lack of respect can turn a volatile macho, especially under the influence of alcohol, into an unpredictable and dangerous man within seconds.
Before marriage, flirting is trumps. Dando cuerva (make eyes at someone) is a popular pastime. Young men call out provocative expressions like mi amor, machita or guapa (pretty), and both sexes in Costa Rica indulge in the sport of flirting. In fact, Ticos and Ticas are world champions at flirting; they have turned it into a high art and practice it regardless of age.
Young Ticas with long black hair, wearing skin-tight jeans, often with kneehigh leather boots, seem to ignore the remarks of their admirers. In reality, they never miss a word and know how to value such gallantry. For foreign women, especially if they are blonde and longlegged, the chorus of whistles can eventually become tiresome and annoying.
Flirting is often successful and can easily go beyond innocent remarks. Many married Costa Rican men have affairs with unmarried, divorced or widowed women. Wives, on the other hand, are expected to be eternally faithful to their partners and to tolerate the affairs of their husbands, as long as they bring home the paycheck and observe their duties at home. Extramarital sexual adventures account for the fact that 25 percent of all children born in Costa Rica are illegitimate, and five percent have no idea who their biological father is. |
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