Halloween In Costa Rica

Halloween is a major North American holiday and with Costa Rica’s growing number of US and Canadian born residents, the holiday has taken on a larger role throughout the country. In expat communities, traditional parties and trick or treaters can be found on the 31st of October. However, it coincides with Costa Rica’s traditional Masquerade Day. Both customs are tied to the Catholic holiday All Saints Day. Halloween is actually known as All Saints Eve. With both holidays involving colorful festive costumes and celebrations, the 31st through the 2nd of November in Costa Rica tends to be a lively time filled with celebration and paying homage to the departed.

Parades celebrating Masquerade Day are held throughout the country. Costa Ricans make large paper mache masks of mythical figures, famous people, and imaginary creatures that they wear similar to North Americans costumes. Groups of musicians referred to as Cimarronas, a term for self-taught musicians, play music as groups gather throughout town. People parade down the street celebrating, and local artists draw upon the tradition. For three days, Costa Ricans celebrate with festivities but the masks and parade really stands out as the main part of this long time tradition.

After the festive holiday on the eve before All Saints Day, November 1st through the 2nd, people throughout Costa Rica celebrate this Catholic holiday by decorating loved one’s graves with palms and flowers. Over the last 15 years, there’s been a big resurgence in the masquerade tradition. In part, due to the large number of North Americans celebrating holiday has fuelled a rediscovery of the country’s own different yet similar tradition. It’s another example of how Costa Rica is becoming a melting pelt of cultures from the around the world blending traditions and sharing histories. Happy Halloween and Masquerade Day!