Some of the events related to the festival of Christmas in Costa Rica are:
- Christmas Tree - The traditional Christmas tree, is a big evergreen branch, a small cypress tree or dried coffee branches. The traditional Christmas tree is painted in white and is adorned with brightly colored strips of paper, lights, small colored balls small figures and lace. The gold star that is placed on the tree symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem.
- Portal- The Portal is a nativity scene constructed of mosses and grass, colored sawdust, cypress twigs, black paper, silver glitter and figurines that represent the birth of Jesus in the manger along with the figures of Mary, Joseph, Melchior, Gasper and Balthazar (the three wise men), the ox and the mule. The figure of Baby Jesus is placed in the Portal at midnight on December twenty-fourth and at the same time the adults open their gifts.
- Posadas- The Posadas takes place nine days before Christmas and it consists of performances related to the pilgrimage of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem by neighbors who perform in groups at different people’s house each day. This is accompanied by singing and praying, snacks of the season, and lots of tamales (corn flour dough stuffed with potatoes, vegetables and pork or chicken, then boiled in plantain leave).
- Misa de Gallo Christmas Mass- This mass takes place at the midnight of 25th December.
In Costa Rica throughout the month of December parades, carnivals, parties, religious processions take place. Learn about the other events of Christmas in Costa Rica from
Christmas Carnivals.
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