Q COSTARICA — In Costa Rica, holidays carry a special kind of respect — they are celebrated right on their calendar day, not moved to create long weekends.
This tradition, deeply rooted in the country’s culture, sets Costa Rica apart from many other places where holiday dates are often moved to a Monday to extend the weekend.
For Costa Ricans, the exact date of a holiday— like Día de la Madres (Mother’s Day) on August 15 and Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) on September 15 — holds significance that goes beyond just a day off work.
Whether it’s Día de la Madres (Mother’s Day) on August 15, Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) on September 15 or the observance of Juan Santamaría Day on April 11, the country embraces the original date to honor history, culture, and tradition.
This practice ensures that the meaning behind each holiday isn’t diluted by convenience or calendar adjustments.
The decision to stick to the calendar dates reflects a broader cultural value in Costa Rica: a respect for heritage and historical memory. Each holiday marks a specific event or moment that shaped the nation, and celebrating it on the exact day keeps that connection alive in a way that a moved date might not.
This tradition also influences the rhythm of work and daily life. Instead of stretching holidays into extended weekends, Costa Ricans plan around the day itself, often returning to their routines the next day with a renewed sense of cultural pride.
For example, some years back, the then government decided to create a long weekend for Mother’s Day, changing the official date of August 15th since 1932 to the following Monday. That year, there were two Mother’s Days: the first on August 15, as always, and the other the following Monday. That is, people, though August 15 was not a legal holiday that year, took the day off work anyway.
Back in 2020, when the pandemic hit, Carlos Alvarado’s government shifted several holidays to either Friday or Monday, turning them into long weekends. But by 2024, all the holidays went back to being observed on their original dates.
Costa Ricans could once again enjoy long weekends
If a bill introduced by Pueblo Soberano (PPSO)—ruling party—legislator Wilson Jiménez in the Legislative Assembly moves forward.
Representative Wilson Jiménez, of the ruling Sovereign People’s Party (PPSO), proposes moving five holidays to the following Monday.
The proposal suggests moving the holidays of April 11, July 25, August 2, August 31, and December 1 to Monday. The first two would remain mandatory holidays, while the other three would retain their non-mandatory status.
The initiative maintains the holidays of January 1st, Holy Thursday and Good Friday, May 1st (Labor Day), August 15th (Mother’s Day), September 15th (Independence Day), and December 25th (Christmas).
The legislator pointed out that past years have shown clear benefits for businesses, startups, and tourism across various regions of the country. The proposal also highlights how extended weekends encourage rest, family bonding, and improve workers’ mental well-being.
Before moving on to debate and a vote in the legislature, the bill must first be reviewed by a legislative committee. If it passes with majority support, it will then be sent to the president for signing into law.
Support for the bill
Support for the bill, among others, is the Cámara Nacional de Turismo (Canatur)—National Chamber of Tourism.
The tourism sector believes the measure would have a positive impact on the national economy, especially in regions that depend on domestic tourism. According to industry studies and metrics, reservations and sales can increase by up to 40% on average during long weekends.
Canatur says the benefit would extend to hotels, restaurants, tour operators, shops, and other tourism-related businesses, while respecting the civic, cultural, and religious significance of the dates that could be affected by the legislative discussion.
Shirley Calvo, executive director of Canatur, noted that thousands of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises depend directly on domestic tourism.
Canatur considers it important to find a balance between traditions and the need to revitalize local economies, adding that increased visitor traffic helps sustain employment and strengthen national tourist destinations.