LATE TO THE PARTY...

Ready to Celebrate

By Anne-Marie Mascaro

Costa Rica is a country that seems to operate on its own relaxed rhythm. It’s a place where “mañana” is the word for tomorrow but it could take longer, and “Pura Vida” is more than just a catchphrase, it’s a way of life. The famously easygoing national spirit has roots deeper than the beaches, volcanoes, and tropical fruit. In fact, Costa Rica’s laid-back attitude may go all the way back to its very independence…news of which arrived fashionably late.

Let’s rewind to 1821. At the time, Central America was still under Spanish rule, but the empire was crumbling fast. Spain was weakened by the Napoleonic Wars, internal revolts, and a growing wave of independence movements that had already swept through Latin America, from Argentina to Mexico. The colonial administration, headquartered in Guatemala City, struggled to control provinces that were growing restless and eager for change.

Costa Rica, though technically part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala, was already something of an outlier. Primarily agricultural both culturally as well as economically, Costa Rica was the most isolated of the provinces. There were no grand colonial cities, no major ports, and no significant military presence. Towns like Cartago, San José, Heredia, and Alajuela were more like sleepy agricultural villages than revolutionary strongholds. Most people were peaceable farmers, focused on growing cacao, tobacco, sugarcane, maize, and coffee was just beginning to take root.

Then came September 15, 1821, when the provinces of the Captaincy General: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, declared independence from Spain. The news was met with parades, speeches, and likely a healthy dose of celebratory rum. Central America, from Chiapas to Panama, was technically free.

Except...Costa Ricans didn’t hear the news at the time.

Back then, news had to travel by courier on horseback, making its way south over rugged mountains, through tropical rain, muddy trails, and thick rainforest. Costa Rica’s remote geography and long-standing neglect from Spanish authorities meant that the country had always been cut off from the colonial core. And now, even news of its independence was delayed!

It wasn’t until sometime in October, that Costa Ricans finally learned they were no longer under Spanish rule. The reaction? Understated. There were no riots, no flag burnings, and no fiery speeches. Most people simply continued with daily life, tending crops, trading goods, and casually debating whether to align with Mexico as a state of Federal Republic of Central America, or form their own republic.

In fact, the real political conflict wasn’t with Spain, but within Costa Rica. The city of Cartago, a conservative stronghold, favored annexation to the newly independent Mexican Empire under Agustín de Iturbide. But the more liberal-minded towns of San José, Heredia, and Alajuela leaned toward republican ideals and independence. Tensions brewed but compared to the bloody independence wars recently waged across Latin America, Costa Rica’s experience was … relaxed.

Fast forward to today, and that slow-but-steady pace still defines much of Costa Rican life. The postal service is a bit more reliable than once upon a time, but “Tico Time” remains a cultural staple. Appointments start late, and don’t expect an answer to an email, better to drop in if you want to chat.

And isn’t that fitting? While other nations mark their independence with stories of revolution, war, and national heroes, Costa Rica’s story is more like: “Oh hey, turns out we’re independent. Cool.”

That attitude has worked in their favor. With no standing army since 1948, one of the happiest populations in the world, and a landscape bursting with biodiversity, Costa Rica proves that slow and steady really can win the race. When I once asked a friend why he thought Costa Ricans were so happy, he simply said: “The absence of war.”

So, the next time you’re thinking something you are waiting for is taking too darn long, just smile. This is a country that waited weeks to find out it was free…and liked it that way.

Pura Vida, indeed.

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Anne-Marie Mascaro is a freelance writer and founder of Monkeyfriendly.com, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects scientists and non-scientists to collaborate on wildlife projects. She launched an educational initiative bringing wildlife education to local schools in Costa Rica. Want to get your school involved? Email: info@monkeyfriendly.com ***

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