History
A national milestone remembered through ceremonies and community participation.
BÖËNA ARTICLE
Patriotic Traditions
Lanterns, Music and the Stories That Bring Costa Rica Together
Every September, Costa Rica’s independence celebrations bring together history, creativity and community. Across Böëna’s lodges, guests, staff and local children joined in traditions that turn patriotism into a shared and deeply personal experience.
01 — September 15
A Country Celebrates Its Freedom
Costa Rica marked 202 years of freedom and independence on September 15, a date that remains one of the country’s most meaningful national celebrations.
Rather than being observed only through official ceremonies, Independence Day is expressed through schools, families and communities that fill the streets with music, food and handmade traditions.
Education
Schools play a central role in passing patriotic traditions to new generations.
Creativity
Children and families express national pride through handmade lanterns and decorations.
Community
Music, cuisine and shared activities bring people together across the country.
02 — The Lantern Parade
A Light Passed From One Generation to the Next
On the eve of Independence Day, communities throughout Costa Rica come alive with the traditional lantern parade.
Students proudly carry lanterns made by hand, transforming paper, cardboard and reused materials into glowing expressions of national identity.
The lantern is more than a festive object. It represents memory, creativity and the way national traditions remain alive through the participation of children.
03 — A Sustainable Celebration
Tradition Reimagined With Reusable Materials
All five Böëna lodges and the San José headquarters joined the celebration by creating lanterns from reusable materials.
The activity combined a beloved national custom with a more conscious approach to materials, showing that cultural traditions can evolve without losing their meaning.
Celebrating With Purpose
Reusing materials gave the lantern-making activity an environmental dimension, connecting national pride with Böëna’s broader commitment to sustainability.
04 — Guests Become Part of the Story
An Invitation to Participate
Guests were invited to help prepare lanterns rather than simply observe the celebration from a distance.
The experience created a natural exchange between visitors, lodge teams and local communities, allowing travelers to understand the tradition through participation.
Handmade Lanterns
Guests and staff worked together using reusable materials and traditional designs.
Costa Rican Cuisine
Traditional dishes added flavor and a deeper cultural connection to the evening.
Live Traditional Music
Local rhythms created the soundtrack for a celebration shared across generations.
05 — Celebrating With the Community
Children, Music and Shared Traditions
Children from neighboring schools joined the festivities, bringing even more energy and meaning to the occasion.
Live music, lanterns and traditional cuisine transformed the celebration into a genuine community gathering — one that guests could experience from within rather than from the outside.
Culture Through Experience
The most memorable cultural encounters are often the simplest: making something by hand, sharing a meal, listening to local music and celebrating alongside the people who keep the tradition alive.
A Tradition That Continues to Shine
Costa Rica’s lantern parade reminds us that national identity is preserved through everyday acts of creativity and participation.
At Böëna, the celebration became a bridge between guests, staff and local communities — illuminated by handmade lanterns and the shared pride of September.