Juan Santanmaria Day
12/04/14 05:39
Costa Rica is a fascinating country in many ways. Part of what makes it fascinating is its unique geography and climate. Sitting near the equator not far north of the connection point between North and South America, there is a lot of diversity in a small area. Pacific and Caribbean coasts, rain forests, desert, volcanoes and more all in an area about half the size of the state of South Dakota.
The country has a unique history as well that shapes its present reality. Costa Rica has had no standing army since 1948. The country is officially neutral in the conflicts between other countries and has played a significant role in negotiating peace in its conflict-ridden neighbors such as Nicaragua.
Costa Rica does, however, have a military past and on April 11 each year, it remembers and celebrates the bravery of one soldier. Juan Santamaria Day is a national festival with parades, bands, and lots of music. To tell the story of the celebration requires a look back at the history of the mid-nineteenth century. Even before large companies began to dominate Central American politics in their quest for bananas and rubber, there were people who sought to exploit the region for personal profit.
William Walker was a US citizen who raised a mercenary army and headed through Central America in hopes of setting up a slave-trade empire. His troops succeeded in overthrowing the government of Nicaragua and, in 1856, had its sights set firmly on Costa Rica. The Costa Rican government sent army troops to Nicaragua to head off the invasion by Walker’s troops.
As the two sides made contact at the Battle of Rivas, it seemed unlikely that the Costa Rican troops could prevail. Walker’s mercenaries were far better equipped and they were battle-hardened. By contrast the Costa Ricans were a bit disorganized and lacked sufficient guns and ammunition. Juan Santamaria, sometimes reported as a very young soldier and sometimes as a drummer boy, snuck into a hostel where Walker’s troops were staying and set fire to the place. The fire worked and many of Walker’s troops were killed in the blaze. Santamaria was also killed in the fire. Some reports are that he was killed by enemy fire, other storytellers report that he expired in the blaze. Most of the stories report that he asked other soldiers to care for his mother if he should die before volunteering for the dangerous mission.
Like many battles, there are differences in the stories that are told, depending on your perspective. The battle did little so slow down the apirations of Walker. He went on to become the president of Nicaragua in a rigged election. It was then that the power went to his head and he made the political mistake that was to bring about his eventual downfall. He nationalized Accessory Transit Company. The company, owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, had provided the weapons and cash required by Walker’s army. Vanderbilt responded by providing guns, cash and leaders to the Costa Rican Army. The second battle of Rivas ended in a cholera epidemic, which was carried back to San Jose where thousands died. Estimates are that as many as 10% of the population of the country was killed by the cholera. Walker eventually surrendered to the US after having been president of Nicaragua for about a year. The corporations continued to exercise their power and Central America continued to be exploited by its northern neighbors for natural resources. The slave trade, however, was coming to an end.
In Costa Rica, Santamaria day is celebrated as the end of Walker’s advances, even though it took more than a year after that first battle before Costa Rica’s sovereignty was assured. Every year, on April 11, there is a parade and a celebration in Alajuela, Santamaria’s home town.
Yesterday’s celebrations included drum corps, dancers, stilt walkers, clowns, dancers, guiro players, baton twirlers and jugglers. Costa Rica’s Culture Minister Manuel Obregon played his accordion. Thousands of red, white and blue balloons were released by the gathered crowds, filling the clear sky with the colors of the Costa Rican flag.
A military celebration in a country with no standing army and a very modest military history is different that such a celebration might be here in the States. There are no military bands and no persons in military uniforms. School groups wear their uniforms and schools often have troops of synchronized dancers who march in the parade. The bands sometimes have uniforms and sometimes do not. A white shirt, a yellow scarf and a blue hat often suffices to represent the military uniforms of the past. A few gold braids around the shoulder are added for the flag bearers and others. It is believed that Costa Rican soldiers of the mid-nineteenth century wore uniforms of French design because military officers were trained in France at that time.
Mostly Juan Santamaria day is an excuse for a party and Costa Ricans don’t need much of an excuse to have a good time with music, dancing, and food.
The name of Juan Santamaria lives on in Costa Rica. In addition to the statue and the park with is name in Alajuela, the main international airport in San Jose bears his name. Each time we travel to and from the country, we go through Juan Santamaria International Airport. It would be hard to find much information about Juan Santamaria anywhere in the airport.
Officially Roman Catholic, religious celebrations and holidays figure prominently in Costa Rican life. This year Juan Santamaria day marked the beginning of several weeks of festivals and celebrations as Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week tomorrow and Easter is commonly marked by at least a week of feasts and celebrations.
It is another unique feature of a unique country that there is a military holiday each spring in a nation with no military. The hero who is celebrated may or may not have been a hero. The battle may or may not have been decisive. it all depends on whose stories you believe.
The celebration, however, is genuine and the people are enjoying good times in Costa Rica.
The country has a unique history as well that shapes its present reality. Costa Rica has had no standing army since 1948. The country is officially neutral in the conflicts between other countries and has played a significant role in negotiating peace in its conflict-ridden neighbors such as Nicaragua.
Costa Rica does, however, have a military past and on April 11 each year, it remembers and celebrates the bravery of one soldier. Juan Santamaria Day is a national festival with parades, bands, and lots of music. To tell the story of the celebration requires a look back at the history of the mid-nineteenth century. Even before large companies began to dominate Central American politics in their quest for bananas and rubber, there were people who sought to exploit the region for personal profit.
William Walker was a US citizen who raised a mercenary army and headed through Central America in hopes of setting up a slave-trade empire. His troops succeeded in overthrowing the government of Nicaragua and, in 1856, had its sights set firmly on Costa Rica. The Costa Rican government sent army troops to Nicaragua to head off the invasion by Walker’s troops.
As the two sides made contact at the Battle of Rivas, it seemed unlikely that the Costa Rican troops could prevail. Walker’s mercenaries were far better equipped and they were battle-hardened. By contrast the Costa Ricans were a bit disorganized and lacked sufficient guns and ammunition. Juan Santamaria, sometimes reported as a very young soldier and sometimes as a drummer boy, snuck into a hostel where Walker’s troops were staying and set fire to the place. The fire worked and many of Walker’s troops were killed in the blaze. Santamaria was also killed in the fire. Some reports are that he was killed by enemy fire, other storytellers report that he expired in the blaze. Most of the stories report that he asked other soldiers to care for his mother if he should die before volunteering for the dangerous mission.
Like many battles, there are differences in the stories that are told, depending on your perspective. The battle did little so slow down the apirations of Walker. He went on to become the president of Nicaragua in a rigged election. It was then that the power went to his head and he made the political mistake that was to bring about his eventual downfall. He nationalized Accessory Transit Company. The company, owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, had provided the weapons and cash required by Walker’s army. Vanderbilt responded by providing guns, cash and leaders to the Costa Rican Army. The second battle of Rivas ended in a cholera epidemic, which was carried back to San Jose where thousands died. Estimates are that as many as 10% of the population of the country was killed by the cholera. Walker eventually surrendered to the US after having been president of Nicaragua for about a year. The corporations continued to exercise their power and Central America continued to be exploited by its northern neighbors for natural resources. The slave trade, however, was coming to an end.
In Costa Rica, Santamaria day is celebrated as the end of Walker’s advances, even though it took more than a year after that first battle before Costa Rica’s sovereignty was assured. Every year, on April 11, there is a parade and a celebration in Alajuela, Santamaria’s home town.
Yesterday’s celebrations included drum corps, dancers, stilt walkers, clowns, dancers, guiro players, baton twirlers and jugglers. Costa Rica’s Culture Minister Manuel Obregon played his accordion. Thousands of red, white and blue balloons were released by the gathered crowds, filling the clear sky with the colors of the Costa Rican flag.
A military celebration in a country with no standing army and a very modest military history is different that such a celebration might be here in the States. There are no military bands and no persons in military uniforms. School groups wear their uniforms and schools often have troops of synchronized dancers who march in the parade. The bands sometimes have uniforms and sometimes do not. A white shirt, a yellow scarf and a blue hat often suffices to represent the military uniforms of the past. A few gold braids around the shoulder are added for the flag bearers and others. It is believed that Costa Rican soldiers of the mid-nineteenth century wore uniforms of French design because military officers were trained in France at that time.
Mostly Juan Santamaria day is an excuse for a party and Costa Ricans don’t need much of an excuse to have a good time with music, dancing, and food.
The name of Juan Santamaria lives on in Costa Rica. In addition to the statue and the park with is name in Alajuela, the main international airport in San Jose bears his name. Each time we travel to and from the country, we go through Juan Santamaria International Airport. It would be hard to find much information about Juan Santamaria anywhere in the airport.
Officially Roman Catholic, religious celebrations and holidays figure prominently in Costa Rican life. This year Juan Santamaria day marked the beginning of several weeks of festivals and celebrations as Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week tomorrow and Easter is commonly marked by at least a week of feasts and celebrations.
It is another unique feature of a unique country that there is a military holiday each spring in a nation with no military. The hero who is celebrated may or may not have been a hero. The battle may or may not have been decisive. it all depends on whose stories you believe.
The celebration, however, is genuine and the people are enjoying good times in Costa Rica.