Traditional Sport

Futbol, or also called soccer, is a major sport in Costa Rica. From an early age children kick a ball around on any spare patch of ground. Adults do much the same when they are not working. Matches are played regularly in San Jose’s Saprissa Stadium. Large crowds like to watch the futbol matches.

Traditional Clothing

The men’s clothing consists of a cummerbund, usually red, along with pants and a shirt which are commonly both white although they can vary in color. Men also wear straw hats and a red scarf worn around the neck. Women in Costa Rica wear tailored dresses that are bright colors. They also traditionally wear long bright skirts and white shirts.

Traditional Cuisine

Gallo Pinto is a traditional cuisine in Costa Rica. Gallo Pinto consists of mainly rice and beans. Sometimes Costa Ricans add fish, meat, or eggs to their rice and beans. Gallo Pinto means, “spotted rooster.” Many families eat Gallo Pinto, especially poor families. This is usually eaten for breakfast but can be eaten lunch or dinner.

Gallo Pinto Recipe

Ingredients:3 cups cooked rice2 cups freshly cooked black beans2 tablespoons onion, finely chopped1 tablespoon bell pepper, finely chopped2 tablespoon cilantro, finely choppedSalt and pepper to your taste2 tablespoons oil½ tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce½ tablespoon Tabasco sauce (optional)

Preparation:

Heat up the oil in a saucepan or skillet. Add onion and bell pepper. When they are lightly browned, add the beans and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the rice and mix well, cook for another 3 minutes. Add the Worcester sauce, Tabasco Sauce and the chopped cilantro. Again mix well and cook for another minute. Serve with salsa.

Traditional Crafts

The beautiful Chorotega pottery is famous in Guaitil on the peninsula de Nicoya is famed for its pottery. In Costa Rica, pottery is made in “Chorotega Indian style.” All the pottery is hand made and the secret has been passed down for 800 years. The sand in the clay for the pottery is from the mountains. The symbols represent the Chorotega Indians.

Chorotega Pottery