Christmas and New Years are one of the most popular times to visit Costa Rica, and while spending Christmas Day on the beach with a piña colada can be exciting and exotic, it’s natural to yearn for a little yuletide spirit and eggnog. But fear not, Christmas is a major holiday in Costa Rica, and Ticos love creating a festive atmosphere that may even go beyond what you’re used to from home. Trying out local customs is also a great way to make your Christmas vacation in Costa Rica extra memorable. So, let’s take a look at how to celebrate Christmas the Costa Rican way.

What does a traditional Christmas in Costa Rica look like?

Many Christmas traditions in Costa Rica will be similar to those in your home country, but with a special Tico twist. People adorn their homes with Christmas lights and decorations, using seasonal tropical flowers instead of holly or mistletoe. Instead of pine, cypress trees are used as Christmas trees, which are brightly decorated with ornaments, pinecones, garlands and lights. Wreaths, too, are made from cypress and decorated with festive red coffee berries and ribbons. Public places are also decorated with lights and towering Christmas trees.

Another popular decoration, particularly for Roman-Catholic families, is the portal, or nativity scene. While Santa has started to make inroads in recent years, in Costa Rica presents are traditionally placed beneath the tree on Christmas Eve by el Niño Dios (God child or baby Jesus).

How do Costa Ricans Celebrate Christmas?

The festive season gets going from around the second week in December when the long summer school holiday begins. Families take the opportunity to spend time together and do a little vacationing themselves, flocking to beaches, forests, etc. This is also when San Jose hosts the renowned Festival de la Luz, a parade of incredible floats decorated with lights and flanked by dancers, bands, and fireworks.

In Costa Rica the main Christmas celebration takes place on December 24th. Being a largely Catholic country, the thing to do is put on your Sunday best and head to Misa de Gallo, or “Mass of the Rooster”—the local name for midnight Mass. After Mass comes the big Christmas dinner, although families that don’t go to Mass will eat their Christmas dinner earlier on the 24th.

Although you’d be otherwise hard pressed to find the streets not full of activity in the land of Pura Vida, Christmas Day on December 25th is the one time of the year when things are quiet. The day is usually spent with family, playing with the gifts brought by el Niño and going to Christmas Day services. If people are out and about in San Jose, it’s likely to visit Fiestas de Zapote, the largest seasonal fair in the city.

From December 26th Ticos are back in their usual form and ready for some serious partying. On Boxing Day, towns hold a tope horseback parade, and running from the 27th right through New Year’s and into January, you will find loads of parades, street parties and other festivals.

What do Costa Ricans Eat for Christmas Dinner?

So enough with the mundane details, now comes the real question: What is there to eat for Christmas dinner in Costa Rica? While you’ll need to let go of your dreams of plump goose or honeybaked ham, the centerpiece of a traditional Christmas dinner is delicious pierna de cerdo asada (roast pork leg) served with classics like vegetables, mashed potatoes, rice and beans.

Another quintessential Costa Rican Christmas food is el tamal navideño. While tamales are now served all year round, they’re a traditional Christmas staple prepared by families starting from the first weekend in December. They’re stuffed with meat, cornmeal, rice, carrots, sweet pepper and other vegetables, and are of course served with Salsa Lizano, a Tico’s favorite tangy sauce.

And what kind of holiday would it be without a Christmas cake? Here they take the form of el queque navideño, which are made with rum and candied fruit and not unlike the kind you may be familiar with. Other popular seasonal sweets include candied apples (manzanas escarchadas), candied peanuts (maní garapiñado), and churros. Grapes, and particularly apples, are the traditional fruits of Christmas, and you’ll see them for sale everywhere.

All this is washed down with copious amounts of eggnog—yes, eggnog! Called rompope, it’s similar to the eggnog you’re probably familiar with but given a tropical twist with dark rum and coconut. You can buy it premade in supermarkets in a pinch, but it’s best enjoyed homemade either with a kit (also available in stores), or with the help of your friendly Costa Rican neighbors at your Tamarindo vacation rental.

If all this sounds right up your alley but you’re not quite ready to go native for the holidays, check out our post on why Tamarindo could be the best Christmas destination ever. Feliz navidad!