There are 12 public holidays in Costa Rica in 2023, two of which fall on weekends.
New Year's Day
New Year Holiday, celebrated on January 1, 2023, is the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar, and it is one of the most popular holidays in the world.
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter, an important Christian holiday commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles and the Washing of the Feet. It falls on April 06, 2023.
Good Friday
Good Friday is a Christian holiday celebrating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed on Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday, April 7, 2023.
Juan Santamaria Day
Juan Santamaria Day is a public holiday in Costa Rica, observed on April 11, 2023. The holiday commemorates the anniversary when Juan Santamaria Rodríguez died on April 10, 1856 in the Second Battle of Rivas.
Labour Day
Labour Day is observed on May 1, 2023, and it celebrates the achievements of workers. The holiday originates in the eight-hour day movement, which is eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
Guanacaste Day
Guanacaste Day, observed on July 24, 2023, commemorates the annexation of the Guanacaste province in 1824. Most of the current Guanacaste was the territory of Nicoya, which consists of 3 cities: Nicoya, Santa Cruz, and Liberia.
Feast of Our Lady of the Angels
Our Lady of the Angels is Costa Rica's patron saint. According to the legend, a native woman found the small statue representing the Virgin Mary on August 2, 1635. When the woman tried to take the statue with her, it reappeared twice where she had found it. This convinced people to build a shine in the spot. The holiday falls on August 2, 2023, a non-mandatory payment holiday.
Mother's Day
Christians celebrate Mother's Day, or Assumption Day, an important religious festival. It commemorates the day of the bodily taking up of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, into Heaven. Ascension day is important to Christians because they believe this is a symbol of promise from Jesus to all enduring Christians that they will also be taking up to Heaven. It falls on August 14, 2023.
Black Peoples and Afro-Costa Rican Culture Day
The holiday's official date is August 31, but the celebration events are held on the following Sunday, September 3, 2023. The holiday recognizes the important sociocultural contribution of the Afro-Caribbean community. The holiday is a non-mandatory payment holiday.
Independence Day
Independence Day commemorates the independence of Central America from the Spanish empire in 1821. The holiday falls on September 15, 2023.
Abolition of the Army Day
The Abolition of the Army Day marks the Abolition of the National Army in 1948. The holiday falls on December 1, 2023, and it is a non-mandatory payment holiday.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25, 2023, and commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Christmas Day is a holiday of sharing. People exchange Christmas gifts and cards with families and friends.
The following is the list of public holidays in Costa Rica 2023.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 01, 2023 | Sunday | Public Holiday |
| Maundy Thursday | Apr 06, 2023 | Thursday | Public Holiday |
| Good Friday | Apr 07, 2023 | Friday | Public Holiday |
| Juan Santamaria Day | Apr 10, 2023 | Monday | Public Holiday |
| Labour Day | May 01, 2023 | Monday | Public Holiday |
| Guanacaste Day | Jul 24, 2023 | Monday | Public Holiday |
| Feast of Our Lady of the Angels | Aug 02, 2023 | Wednesday | non-mandatory |
| Mother's Day | Aug 14, 2023 | Monday | Public Holiday |
| Black People and Afro-Costa Rican Culture Day | Sep 03, 2023 | Sunday | non-mandatory |
| Independence Day | Sep 15, 2023 | Friday | Public Holiday |
| Abolition of the Army Day | Dec 01, 2023 | Friday | non-mandatory |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25, 2023 | Monday | Public Holiday |
Please also check the working days in Costa Rica in 2023.