The national symbols are those that represent the daring spirit of the people of Costa Rica, to be recognized not only in Costa Rica, but by other countries. Generally, these symbols are made from visual or verbal representations that aim to disseminate the values of history or famous people of the country.

Currently, Costa Rica has twelve national symbols, which are shown below:

* The National Anthem
* The National Flag
* The National Emblem
* The Guaria Morada – National Flower
* The Yigüirro – National Bird
* The Guanacaste Tree – National Tree
* Typical Oxcart – Symbol of Labor
* The White-tailed Deer – Symbol of National Wildlife
* The Costa Rica Typical Costumes
* The Marimba – Symbol of Culture and Tradition
* The Independence Torch – Symbol of Freedom
* The Chirripó Crestones Hills – Symbol of Natural Wealth
* The Manatee – The National Symbol of Costa Rica Marine Wildlife

Complete music downloadable mp3: Costa Rica National Anthem Music

The music of the National Anthem of Costa Rica dates back to June 1852. Its music was composed by Manuel María Gutiérrez Flores, director of the military band of San José, who dedicated the score to the French Gabriel-Pierre Lafond. The music was created for the reception of the diplomatic representatives of United Kingdom and United States in that year. It is said that the composer Manuel María Gutiérrez, had to compose the music for the anthem locked in jail after refusing the order of the president Juan Rafael Mora Porras to compose the anthem in 24 hours. The music had to wait 127 years for its formalization, and it was not until September 1979, with President Rodrigo Carazo, promulgated the decree in question.

The National Anthem has had several letters, the current was written for a competition called in 1903 to give the song lyrics that reflect the idea of being a Costa Rican, under the government of Mr. Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra. The competition was won by José María Zeledón Brenes, and was declared officially in 1949 under the government of José Figueres Ferrer.

Costa Rican National Flag was created on September 29th, 1848, together with the National Emblem. The story says that the conception and design of the current flag, since that year, went to Mrs. Pacífica Fernández  Oreamuno, wife of the then Head of State, Mr. José María Castro Madriz, inspired by the flag of France.

The tricolor flag is through five strips placed horizontally, one red in the center between two whites each of which follows a blue one. The width of each strip is the sixth part of the flag, except the red one that is two sixths, it means that the slots are in a 1:1:2:1:1 ratio.

The colors represent:
* Blue, the country sky.
* White, the peace.
* Red, the blood of the martyrs for freedom.

Costa Rica has changed flags from 1786 to 1848. The first was the flag of Spain decreed by Carlos III (1786-1821); the second one was the flag of Mexico (1822-1823), decreed by the then General Agustín de Iturbide. In 1823, after separation of the Mexican Empire, Costa Rica took a third flag, which was white with a red six-pointed star in the center. In 1824, acceding to the United Provinces of Central America, Costa Rica adopted the federal flag as the fourth one, which was inspired by the flag of Argentina and had three horizontal stripes, blue bottom and the top one and white the middle one.

Here in Costa Rica we have 2 different flags. One that is just the tricolor flag, and the other one is different because at the heart of the red band, on white embroidery, has the National Emblem known as the “Pabellón Nacional”.

The Costa Rica Coat of Arms or better known, Costa Rica National Emblem, enacted national symbol on September 29th, 1848 together with the current national flag, during the administration of Mr. José María Castro Madriz, President of the Republic.

It consists of a golden framework that represents the grain of gold (coffee). Within the framework there are three steaming green-blue volcanoes, symbolizing the three volcanoes and mountain ranges that cross over the country and a wide green clear valley between two blue oceans (Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, which bathes the shores of the west and east, respectively, like those of Central America). In each of these there are a merchant ship representing the country’s maritime history. On the horizon, left of the shield shows a rising old golden sun. Closed shield two palms myrtle united by a dark green ribbon with the inscription “Republic of Costa Rica” in gold letters. The seven stars of the silver arc represent the current provinces of the Republic. The auction is made clear that a blue ribbon serves as a crown with the legend Central America.

Originally had national flags on each side of the shield, a cornucopia and five stars, but in 1906, by Act number 18, on November 27th of that year, were removed the first two items and in 1964 added two more stars.

The emblem appears on the red stripe of the state and marine flags (with white background) and the civilian use is not listed, creating the national flag. Throughout its history, Costa Rica has had several coats of arm.

After their separation from Spain (1821), and because it was annexed in 1822 to the Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide, the first coat of Costa Rica was the Mexico coat of arms, representing a crowned eagle with a snake in its beak. In March 1824, after joined the United Provinces of Central America, Costa Rica adopted the coat of arms decreed in 1823 by the National Constituent Assembly of Central America, in an equilateral triangle contained five volcanoes representing the five provinces and one federal Phrygian cap. The elements of these weapons are essentially the same as used today in the El Salvador and Nicaragua national emblem.

The United Provinces of Central America emblem was replaced by another slightly different at the end of 1824, after became the United Provinces into the Federal Republic of Central America. For its part, each of the states of the federation adopted a coat of arms itself. The Costa Rica one, adopted in 1825, represented the naked torso of a man in a circle surrounded by mountains.

The State of Costa Rica separated from the Federation in November 1838, continued using the flag and coat of arms promulgated on August 21st, 1823 until 1840, and the first national coat of arms was adopted on November 2nd, 1824. In 1840, the head of state Mr. Braulio Carrillo Colina ordered a new emblem to Costa Rica, which was the first as a sovereign and independent, which center had a radiant star. This coat of arms was abolished in 1842 by the government of Francisco Morazán Quesada and again used the naked torso decreed in 1825.

The weapons were substantially amended by Law No. 18 on November 27th, 1906 which abolished the war he had. The official model of the coat of arm developed at that time was beyond, and changed the shape of the emblem and also deleted the national flags and the horn of plenty that it had.

In 1964 it suffered a more significant change when added two more stars to complete seven stars, one for each province, since the original broadcast in 1848, Puntarenas was a district and Limón current territory was part of the province of Cartago. The 1964 Law provided further that instead of Coat of Arms it has to be used exclusively to National Emblem expression.

On May 5th, 1998, by Executive Decree No. 26853-SP, published in “La Gaceta” # 85, that day is adopted as the official National Emblem the design that is characterized by the three volcanoes in the center. The current one can be used by members of the Supreme Powers of the State, the Ambassadors of Costa Rica or the Country’s Diplomatic Representatives and Consuls.

The Guaria Morada was decreed the national flower on June 15th, 1939 under the government of Mr. León Cortés Castro by the Secretary of State for Development and Agriculture, agreement No. 24. Subsequently, by Executive Agreement No. 24, on November 1972, it was establishing the second week of March as the Costa Rican Orchid Week, under the government of Mr. José Figueres Ferrer.

History tells that in 1939 in Argentina was founded a botanical garden called the Garden of Peace and asked to Costa Ricans to send its national flower, to show off with other flowers from different countries. Since then, the country did not have a national flower, so the government asked to the Garden Club and the Rotary Club to make a contest and to choose the flower that will represent Costa Rica from then on. In the competition were very appreciate Costa Ricans facts, as it originated in America and was very rooted in our customs. The winner was the Guarianthe skinneri orchid (Cattleya skinneri before), popularly known as the abode Guaria Morada.

It is the most cultivated orchid in Costa Rica. Its name was in honor of its discoverer, George Ure Skinner, who was an English trader who lived in Guatemala and sent plants from Central America and southern Mexico to Europe. This name was given in England, by the botanist James Bateman as a way to honor its discoverer. It is an epiphyte flower on trees, which bloom extends from February to March. It is called “Guaria Morada” (Purple Guaria) because of the reddish purple color of flowers, similar to blueberries. The appearance of flowers during the month of March, in addition to the appreciation that the Costa Rican have, makes this flower used for the decoration of altars during Lent and Holy Week celebrations.

Although the orchid is widespread throughout Central America, is in Guatemala (where it is also known as Candelaria Flower or San Sebastian Flower) and in Costa Rica where it is abundant and grows in greater proportion.

Today, the Guaria Morada decorates walls and gardens. Many fans of the flowers grow cultivated and make many statements of “Guarias” as the Ticos (Costa Ricans) call in orchids, where we can observe in all its glory, the beauty of their colors and varieties. Costa Rica has the privilege of having more than 1000 species of orchids; in fact Monteverde is the region with more density of orchids on the planet. It is not a parasite, but grows in walls and in trunks and branches of trees or in pots mossy scent and happy environment.

The Yigüirro was declared the national bird on January 3rd, 1977, under the government of Mr. Daniel Oduber Quirós.

It was declared  as a tribute to his powerful and melodious singing that accompanies the entry of the rainy season for the good of the crops. The Yigüirro or Clay-Colored Robin is a familiar and well known bird because it stays close to the houses and its name is mentioned often in the typical songs, stories and literary works of Costa Rican authorities; it was considered an important figure in the Costa Rican folklore.

Its scientific name is Turdus grayi. It may also be called Clay-Colored Thrush; it can reach up to approximately 22 to 24 cm and weighs approximately from 74 grams to 76. Both, the male and female, have identical plumage, a brown or yellowish brown and little clearer in the throat and stomach. The iris is reddish brown, yellow beak and feet are brown.

This bird lives especially in open places. It feeds on various kinds of fruit trees. Also go much digging in the ground to beak and collect earthworms, snails, worms, insects, etc. It has only been found in America, from northeastern Mexico to northern Colombia, and in some places get different names, for example, the cas-cas in Panama.

It was declared as the national tree of Costa Rica on August 31st, 1959, under the government of Mr. Mario Echandi Jimenez, by decree No. 7.

Guanacaste tree was chosen as a tribute to Guanacaste for its annexation to Costa Rica in 1824. It also was due to its immense beauty and greenery, whose shade is similar to the protection that the government offers to all Costa Ricans.

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Guanacaste is an Aztec language, Nahuatl, in which Guautil means tree and Nacaztli mean ear, so that our aborigines called it “ear tree” because its fruits are like the ears of people, a hard glossy pods brown shaped ear.

Its scientific name is Enterolobium Cyclocarpum, belonging to the family Fabaceae Mimosoideae. It is a type of deciduous tree and is considered a perennial tree, for its power and long life, ranging from 60 to 70 years. In their natural state. It is distributed on both coasts, the Pacific and the Atlantic, but is more common in the North Pacific, which is why it was assigned to the province of Guanacaste, with its name.

This tree has a very broad crown, with its extensive leafy branches and permanent greenery. Can reach 15 meters high and 4 meters in diameter; the trunk is thick, a light gray color with nuances. Its flower is white with long stamens; its fruit is a legume which serves as food for wildlife and livestock. The seeds are used to produce handicrafts, as its fruits. They were also used as feedstock for the manufacture of soap due to its high content of saponins. In Costa Rica generally blooms from November to March and produces fruit from January to May.

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The oxcart was declared a national symbol, on March 22nd, 1988, by Decree No. 18197-C, published in La Gaceta No. 131 on July 11, 1988 during the presidency of Mr. Óscar Arias Sánchez. It symbolizes the culture, peace and the work of Costa Ricans, in other words, humility, patience, sacrifice, and consistency in efforts to achieve the objectives.

Its history goes back to the mid-nineteenth century, when it was the extension of coffee, with roads full of mud and rugged slopes, during harvesting and hauling. The oxcart was indispensable for the transport in Costa Rica, especially for the exclusive use of carry coffee and the sacks of grain, as well as for transportation of fertilizers for coffee, but it was used for the entire cargo types such as sugar cane in sugar mills, candy cane, wood, river rocks, corn, beans, etc. The oxcart even made trips throughout the country, with families or friends. It was quite a spectacle to see the girls, beautifully dressed, accompanied by young gallant, strolling in oxcarts.

Then Costa Ricans began to give a preference to solid wheel carts, to prevent accumulation of mud between the radios. Its inspiration, according to several writers of the time, was born in a device used to mount the cannon artillery brought by the Spaniards, who called “cureña”.

Its use is not unique to Costa Rica because is used throughout Central America. However, the Costa Rican ox cart is the only one that is decorated with geometric shapes, flowers and animals. In fact, although the decorations are obvious similarities, there are no two exactly alike painted carts, because of the changes in the details and arrangement of the drawings.

Currently, because it is not useful in the work field, the Costa Rican Typical Oxcart has become a craft object, as much as there are workshops located in Sarchí in the province of Alajuela, engaged in the construction and sale of oxcarts craft. On November 24th, 2005, was declared a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

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Declared national symbol, by President José María Figueres Olsen, on May 2^nd, 1995, by law number 7497.

Its name comes from its short white tail. The White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is medium, thin and with long legs. Its color is brown and the inside is white. It is a mammal of the Artidactilus order, the Deer family.

It weighs from 55 kg to 242 kg and its height is from 1.05m to 1.55m. Gestation lasts 7 months and a half, and has one to two offspring. Their food consists of grass, leaves, shoots, twigs, fruits and flowers of various plants. The White-Tailed Deer can live for 10 years, and 20 in captivity. Their babies have white paints that passed by unnoticed and disappear during growth.

Can live at sea level or at the foot of the mountains, but the savannas of Guanacaste have been theirs home, especially the Santa Rosa National Park. It is usually seen in flocks or groups with about 6 familiar members at night, dawn and morning, but it can also be seen alone. When it detects the danger, he flees jumping nimbly strong, lifting his white tail to prevent the other members of the herd. It can reach a speed of 56 km/h, and it is also a good swimmer.

In Costa Rica it is difficult to see because it is an extinction threatened specie by poaching, as it is pursued for their meat, fur, and their antlers as a trophy on display. Also for urban development which has been shifting. Their most dangerous enemies, besides man, are the puma and the jaguar.

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The typical costumes represent one of the most important elements of the Costa Rican historical and cultural heritage. In Costa Rica several regions use this costumes, keeping always the features of the ancient tribes that settled in our country.

One of the most typical costumes used in Costa Rica is the one where the women uses a wide dress with a vivid color “gola” (skirt), sandals on her feet and a braid with a flower in the hair. The man uses a simple costume with vivid colors such as blue and yellow, a kerchief on his neck and a red belt , the belt is removed when the dance begins.

The typical costume of our countryman can be grouped into: Gamonal (ceremonial costume of the Indian chief), the work one, the party one, and the one who was appropriate according to the different occupations of women.

Every town or country, according to their development process, will cultivate a set of beliefs, behaviors and knowledge, which are transmitted from generation to generation. Costa Rica has an extraordinary wealth of cultural events redeemable as local traditions, legends, music, dance, local festivals, etc., as they constitute a vital part of this nation.

Currently the typical costume of Costa Rica was so widespread that changes occur in the combination of colors uses, but always with the predominant and vivid colors.

In women, the typical costume is with a white flounced or ruffled blouse with trimming in different color combinations, although the prevailing of the patriotic colors. A wide flounced or ruffled skirt, long to the ankles and bright colors. Leather sandals on their feet, flower adorns on her head, earrings and flower baskets. Some of them wear apron that match with theirs blouse.

Man pleads a white hat brim, with neckerchief with a knot in front, sometimes with a saddlebag on his shoulder, white or light colored shirt, like the long pants, a big belt as an adorn in his waist and some uses “machetes”. Footwear is leather sandals (Caite).

This typical costume is currently used for Costa Rican celebrations, festivities and cultural events. Ms. Emma Hütt de Montes de Oca, contributed to the promulgation of the decree by which it was established the “Punto Guanacaste” as the national dance.

Ms. Evangelina Quesada de Núñez was one of the persons who drove over the typical costume of Costa Rica. Since 1917 she began an invaluable work of redemption of the Costa Rican dances, with the sole purpose of saving from oblivion so we can preserve them for the next generations.

Description of the typical costumes of each province:

San José
The woman wore a flounced or ruffled skirt and blouse. The shirt bore a black ribbon. In the neck wore a black velvet ribbon dangling a gold locket and her hair were adorned with flowers.

Cartago
The women’s costume consisted of a blouse or “cotona”, adorned with fine lace, some brought in from United Kingdom.
The men wore a calico jacket. Beaver hats, which could be white or black. Men used linen tie, jackets or vests.

Alajuela
The typical attire used by the women consisted of a white cotton camisole with several little flounces or ruffles narrows, without any adornment, but lots of vivid colors. A soft colored silk skirt, with one or two flounces or ruffles width at the bottom. In the neck, they uses a little black velvet ribbon with a gold cross or medallion. Combing braids were decorated with ribbons, flowers and combs. Usually they were barefoot, but sometimes used patent leather boots.

The city man wears white cotton shirt or blanket with long sleeves, colored straight collar girdle and buttons in front, big red handkerchief around his neck with a knot. They wore a gold ring. The pants were blue jeans. Usually they were barefoot or with any kind of shoes.

Heredia
The lady dressed in black or other dark color. The shirt was of cotton cloth or silk and ultimately could have a fine printed silk; the neck was high and possessed fine buttons. The skirt was long, leaving bare the ends of the black patent leather booties. Moreover, it was wide, with gathered sides and a black silk towel behind his back.

Guanacaste
Costumes used by the inhabitants of this province has changed throughout its history. For the “Botijuela” dance, they were a dress with plentiful lace and flounces or ruffles; combed high and suede buttons. A distinction is made between older and younger women. The first ones were big scarf and the second ones were a mantilla or blanket. During the colony, the general costume for women consists of a white cotton skirt with an ornamented flounced or ruffled end up. The blouse was with a neck eyelet style and sleeve pants.

The man wears white cotton pant and a camisole. The sleeve camisole held straight without cuffs, neck trim or folded, glued to the front forced camisole but on a different color. They also wear a hat.

Puntarenas
Women wear traditional dresses, covered with thick flounces or ruffles. Above it they were a big Madrid style scarf. During Holy Week, this was used with sequins and colored flowers colorful muslin. They were pointed boots and leather boots or it could be of black patent leather. Another clothing range was a fan in their basic clothing.

Limón
Mainly to the late nineteenth and early twentieth century’s, women wore a cotton blouse with lace, color trims. Her skirt was with printed cloth. In other cases, they used dresses. They always wear an African turban. By 1960, they also wore the carnival dress.