The culture and the people of Costa Rica

• The vast majority of Costa Rican people are White, mainly of Spanish decent. Less than 2% of the population is Black, except in the thinly populated Caribbean province of Limón. Here, about 33% of the inhabitants trace their ancestry to either the early days of slavery in Costa Rica or to the immigration of labor forces from Jamaica to build the railways and work the banana plantations in the late 1800's.
  
  
  Indigenous Tribes
  A small number of Indians remain, making up less than 1% of the population. Note that the literal translation of Indian is indio which is an insulting term to Costa Rica's indigenous inhabitants. They prefer the term indigena, which means native inhabitant.) Estimates of the Indian population vary from 5,000 to 30,000- the higher end is the most likely if one includes non pure-blooded Indians. Many Indians have integrated to the extent that they are more or less indistinguishable from other Costa Ricans.
  
  Small populations of culturally distinct tribes include the Bribri from the Talamanca area near the south-eastern coast and Panamanian border, the from the Talamanca area near the south-eastern coast and Panamanian border, the Borucas in the southern Pacific coastal areas and the in the southern Pacific coastal areas and the Guayami straddling the Panamanian border. Other groups- the Chorotegas, Cabecares, Terrabas and others- have been wither assimilated into the Costa Rican way of life or wiped out soon after conquest. straddling the Panamanian border. Other groups- the Chorotegas, Cabecares, Terrabas and others- have been wither assimilated into the Costa Rican way of life or wiped out soon after conquest.
  
  There are 22 Indian reservations in Costa Rica but, for the most part, these are of little interest to travelers who often may not even know they are within a reservation. A few reservations discourage visitation and a few have perhaps a store selling some local crafts (along with the usual country-store items like cans of sardines and bottles of soft drinks).
  
  As with other Caribbean Blacks, many of them speak a lively dialect of English. They were actively discriminated against in the early 1900's, not even being allowed to spend a night in the highlands, but since the 1949 constitution, they have had equal rights.
  
  
  
  Ticos
  The Costa Rican People call themselves Ticos or Ticas (male and female). This supposedly stems from their love of the use of diminutives such as chico (small) becoming chiquito or chiquitico. You don't hear the tico ending as much as you used to, though one of my last memories of my most recent trip was of the waiter at the airport café telling me he'd be with me in a momentico.
  
  I find them the most friendly, polite and helpful people I have met. Visitors are constantly surprised at the warmth of the Costa Rican people. This is still a very family-oriented society, however, and the friendliness and politeness tends to form somewhat of a shell over their true personalities. It is easy to make friends with a Tico, but is much more difficult to form deeper relationships. I have met. Visitors are constantly surprised at the warmth of the Costa Rican people. This is still a very family-oriented society, however, and the friendliness and politeness tends to form somewhat of a shell over their true personalities. It is easy to make friends with a Tico, but is much more difficult to form deeper relationships.
  
  
  
  Culture
  Because of the overwhelmingly European populations, there is very little indigenous cultural influence. And because the country was a poor subsistence-agriculture nation until the middle of the 19th century, cultural activities have really only blossomed in the last 100 years. And because the country was a poor subsistence-agriculture nation until the middle of the 19th century, cultural activities have really only blossomed in the last 100 years.
  
  Costa Rica is famous for its natural beauty and friendly people, rather than its culture. Ticos consider San José to be the cultural center of the country, and it is here that the most important museums are found. It is also the center of a thriving acting community, and theater is one of the favorite cultural activities in Costa Rica.
  
  The National Theater
  The most famous theater in the country is the Teatro Nacional (National Theater), built between 1890 and 1897. The story goes that a noted European opera company featuring the talented singer, Adelina Patti, was on a Latin American tour but declined to perform in Costa Rica for lack of a suitable hall. Immediately, the coffee elite put a special cultural tax on coffee exports to enable a world-class theater to be built
  
  The Teatro Nacional in the heart of San José is now the venue for plays, opera, performances by the National Symphony, ballet, poetry readings and other cultural events. It is also an architectural work in its own right and is a landmark in any city tour of San José.

  17 May 2007, 05:43 Aaron

Replies

• Ticos

  You repeat in that paragraph! i would like to know more about their freindly ways that hides their true self!

  KK 20 May 2008, 05:47 - Report

• LEARN SPANISH IN COSTA RICA

  Do you want to learn Spanish?
  Learn Spanish in Costa Rica.
  Enjoy the tourism and know new friends.
  More information:www.famst.com

  FAMST 09 Jul 2008, 07:55 - Report

• cracker

  he's a parrot!

  sdfdsfsdsdf 26 Feb 2009, 09:41 - Report