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    - Photo via Ministry of Public Education -
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Published on Monday, April 10,
2023
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Today the country observes the national hero Juan Santamaría holiday.
Although the official holiday has been marked traditionally on April 11, this year the government issued a decree to move the celebration to Monday. The idea to join the Holy Week days off was to promote tourism.
Juan Santamaría, born in August 1831 in Rivas, Nicaragua, was officially recognized as a national hero in 2011 when Congress approved the proposal to celebrate the official day of one of the most remembered Nicaraguans in Costa Rica's history.
According to the Ministry of Public Education, Juan Santamaría represents the sacrifice of the people that fought for independence.
He was a drummer in the Costa Rican army recognized as a national hero for his actions in the Second Battle of Rivas, which took place on April 8, 1856, in Rivas, Nicaragua.
The battle was against the
invading troops of the Nicaraguan army
led by U.S. citizen William Walker (May
8, 1824 – September 12, 1860). Walker
organized a military expedition into
Mexico and Central America intending to
establish private colonies.
Santamaría
died in the battle carrying a torch
he used to light the enemy
stronghold on fire, achieving a
victory for Costa Rica. In
September 1891, a bronze statue was
created in his honor made by the
French sculptor Aristide Croisy. It
was inaugurated in the Juan
Santamaría Park in Alajuela
Province. In
1971, during the presidency of
Daniel Oduber Quirós, the name of
the hero was given to Alajuela
international airport. Three years
later, in 1974 the Juan Santamaría
Cultural Historical Museum was
founded, located in Alajuela City,
in Alajuela Province. The
museum exhibits a large collection
of writings, paintings, old drawings
and numerous historical studies on
the feat of Juan Santamaría and what
that meant for the development of
the country. --------------------
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