Tropical Easter

Since we don't make the habit of keeping track of holidays, I am always surprised when they pop up here in Costa Rica. Easter you say? But where are the tulips and the predictions of a late season blizzard? Instead of dainty spring bulbs, it is boxes of dried cod showing their faces in the super market which brings my attention to the fact that Easter is approaching. The Easter bunny does not work Costa Rica. There is no shift to pastel packaging reminding us to stock up on chocolates and other sugary treats shaped like baby farm animals. The holiday is still very grounded in Catholic tradition.

Easter is the biggest holiday in Costa Rica, and it's not Easter Sunday that gets all the fuss, but Holy Week- Semana Santa, with Good Friday being the day that friends and family gather. The traditional meal is Cod soup served with rice and different relishes. When we have had the pleasure of accepting an invitation to an Easter party in the past, we have always been amazed to see the little kitchen serve the delicious meal to table after table of friends, family and strangers. No matter who drifts in, there is always enough to go around. In line with my culture, I would feel tacky showing up with extra guests without a call to the hosts to ask if it was ok first, but here it is not uncommon to bring an extra cousin, and his family to a party. Easter is no exception.

Being a holiday week, this is also a chance for mini vacations. People have time off of work, kids are out of school. For many it's a chance to pack up and head to the beach one last time before the rains begin again. To me, it feels more like the fourth of July, but with a ban on liquor sales. Actually, all of the holidays feel like fourth of July to me. It must be all of the sun. That's just life in the tropics.