How do we celebrate Christmas?

Bright, tropical flowers highlight decorations for the Christmas season in Costa Rica. The nativity scene known as Pasito or Portal is decorated with brilliant flowers along with colorful fresh fruit. Some of these scenes are family projects that take weeks to set up and can fill up an entire room in the house. They are a tribute to creativity: not only does one see the figures of the Holy Family; people add small houses, all types of animals, shepherds, the Magi, and just about anything that will make their Pasito unique.

Christmas wreaths of cypress trimmed with red coffee berries and ribbons are very popular. Most homes throughout the country, as well as stores and public buildings, are decorated with strings of multi-colored lights.

On Christmas Eve, everyone gets out their finest clothes and prepares for "Misa de Gallo" or Midnight Mass. Following the Mass the supper will include chicken and pork tamales that have been wrapped for cooking in plantain leaves, and accompanied by egg nog and rum punch.

The Christmas season continues through the rest of December and into January with fiestas, parades, rodeos, choral and dance festivals, street fairs, and bull runs. The highlights of these fiestas include a horseback parade, known as the Tope, on December 26th and another parade featuring dance ensembles and floats along the main streets on December 27th called Carnaval.

Starting December, 5th until January 2nd, see the schedule below.

This course consists of 11 days, or two, three or four weeks of Spanish and cultural lessons (20 lessons per week) and is designed to accommodate those who may wish to utilize their holiday time studying, experimenting another culture, and having fun!. The course also includes excursions and cultural activities such as visits to typical Costa Rican Christmas scenes, nativity exhibitions as well as different parades. There are always lots of typical Christmas activities in which you can participate that allow a full immersion in Spanish culture and the traditions of the season.

Includes:

.Pick up from the airport
.Homestay. Room, and three meals per day. Laundry service.
.Spanish lessons (Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 m.d.)
.Excursions:
.. Heredia Central Market
.. Different Pasitos
.. Costa Rican Christmas Bull Runs
.. Christmas Fireworks
.. Zapote: Costa Rican Biggest Christmas Fair
.. Light Parade
.. Tope (Horseback Parade)
.. Carnival
.. Avenidazo (A walk in San Jose Downtown for a Confetti Party, lots of fun!)
.. Coffee Tour
.Activities:
.. Making Tamales
.. Latino Dancing Lessons
.. Cultural activities
.. Costa Rican Christmas Dinner with your host family
.. New Year's eve party.

Eleven days (Dec, 23rd to January 2nd) $599

Two weeks (Dec, 19th to January 2nd) $1099

Three weeks (Dec, 12th to January 2nd) $1699

Four weeks (Dec, 5th to January 2nd) $1999

Ask for further information contacts@amistadinstitute.net