The Costa Rica Public Holidays

If nothing else, Costa Ricans love a good holiday! No work, get paid, have fun. Many are based on religious holidays, so many holidays are extremely important to those who take their religion seriously. During these public holidays, all banks, post offices, museums and government offices are closed. So is the entire judicial system. Many businesses likewise are closed or are working but with substantially less staff.

Semana Santa (Easter Holy week from Holy Thursday until after Easter), but in reality,

The week (more or less) between Christmas and New Years Day. Do not expect to do any business here during that time and you may find nobody answering phone calls or returning email. Tourist businesses are the exception of course as these are the two most heavily traveled periods in that industry. The courts will not re-open until mid January.

Holiday	Fixed Date	For 2006	Comments
New Year’s Day	January 1		All closed
Maundy Thursday			Holy Thursday
Good Friday			All Closed
Juan Santamaria Day	Apr 11
Labor Day	May 1		All Closed - Sunday in 2005
Guanacaste Day	July 25	Aug 2	Annexation of Guanacaste
Mother's Day	Aug 15		All Closed - Mothers are taken seriously here!
Independence Day	Sep 15	Oct 12	All Closed - Lots of celebrations going on
Christmas Eve**	Dec 24		4 hour day only -Nochebuena
Christmas Day	Dec 25		All Closed
* These are the true holidays. There are several more, but these are the ones that effect everyone nationally.
** Costa Ricans celebrate Christmas on the 24th, but this is not a holiday as some banks may be open.

Note: The following two holidays are not public holidays as they are not mandatory. Hourly employees may get the day off, but is not required to pay them.

Aug 2 - Virgin de Los Angeles Day

Oct 12 - Columbus Day

Changes!

Holidays falling on weekdays will soon move to Mondays

The Legislative Assembly recently approved a law that would change holidays that occur during the week to the following Monday.

The new law would move holidays like the that of April 11, July 25, August 15 (Dia de la Madre), September 15 (Independence Day) to the following Monday if they should fall during the week.

This year the April, July and August holidays fall on a Monday.

The law goes into force once it is published in the official legal notice newspaper La Gaceta. This should be the first week of April, 2005.

Public Holidays - Costa Rica