1. Semana santa
In Costa Rica

2. What is semana santa?
Semana Santa is one of the most important religious holiday seasons of the year
Also called Easter Holy Week
It is the week leading up to Easter Sunday
Most schools and government offices are closed the entire week between Palm Sunday and Easter
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are government mandated holidays during the week of Semana Santa

3. How is semana santa celebrated?
Rich culture is displayed during this holiday
It is a week long celebration
Throughout the country religious processions are held recreating the last days of Jesus’ life
Some other festivities include: bullfights, rodeos, fireworks, festivals and parades
Because Semana Santa is supposed to be a week of rest and celebration, preparation begins well in advance
The actual holiday is celebrated on the Thursday and Friday before Easter Sunday, but most people take the whole week off

4. celebrations

5. What are the religious processions?
From Holy Wednesday until Easter Sunday, every town’s Catholic church organizes festivities
The religious processions are parades reenacting Jesus’ journey through Jerusalem, the crucifixion, and His eventual resurrection
Parade participants dress up to perform key roles
These include Roman soldiers, the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Saint Joseph
The procession typically use effigies, but sometimes have live actors instead
During the processions, people line the streets to watch, or join in and walk with the procession

6. Religious processions (cont.)
Two of the most important processions are held in Tres Rios in Cartago and San Joaquin de Flores in Heredia
The procession in San Joaquin de Flores is also televised

7. religious processions

8. What are typical foods eaten during semana santa?
The tradition is to eat seafood during Semana Santa
Also eating meat on Good Friday is typically prohibited
Popular dishes include rice and shrimp, ceviche and fried fish
Another dish often eaten during Semana Santa is empanadas de chiverre
Chiverre is a squash-like fruit in season during Semana Santa

9. Traditional foods

10. Other ways to celebrate semana santa
In addition to the processions, many people will also take the week off to just travel
It is most popular to vacation on the beach
Semana Santa is typically when the beaches are most crowded in Costa Rica and usually when the country has its busiest traffic

11. vacation

12. Other information about semana santa
Most shops and some businesses are closed beginning Thursday of Semana Santa until Monday of the next week
Banks are closed Thursday and Friday of Semana Santa
Transportation is limited during this time
However, the tourism industry is normal as Semana Santa is a very popular time to visit Costa Rica, as well as locals traveling to the coast
Also during Semana Santa they have a Dry Law, where it is illegal to sell alcohol from Wednesaday to Friday
Because of this many people buy their alcohol the week before

13. More festivities

14. And processional floats

15. References:
Farris, Lynn. "Semana Santa or Easter Week in Costa Rica." Examiner.com. N.p., 2 Apr Web. 10 Feb
Bram. "Semana Santa in Costa Rica!" Tropical Adventures. N.p., 26 Mar Web. 10 Feb
Emma. "Costa Rica." - Semana Santa Easter Traditions. N.p., 14 Apr Web. 10 Feb
TCRN Staff. "Semana Santa in Costa Rica." The Costa Rica News. The Costa Rica News, 25 Mar Web. 10 Feb
Baker, Adam. "Semana Santa." Costa Rica Vacations. Costa Rica Vacations, n.d. Web Feb
Villalobos, Nuria. "Holy Week the Costa Rican Way." PocketCultures RSS. Pocket Cultures, 6 Apr Web. 07 Feb