Every country has its cherished symbols that represent the country’s identity on the world stage. These are more commonly the national flag, anthem, coat of arms, or some other iconic seal that is unique to the country such as an indigenous flower, tree, wood, or animal, to mention some. Costa Rica has these symbols to exemplify the essential character of the nation, its culture, history, and traditions that serve to invoke a sense of patriotism and national pride while providing a unique presence in the global community of nations.
Costa Rica’s National Flag
The national symbols of Costa Rica start with its National flag displayed with respect, dignity, and pride during national events as well as in the international arena. It has five horizontal stripes with the color of blue symmetrically at the edge, a wider red stripe at the center with the Coat of Arms towards the left side, and white stripes of equal width separating the blue stripes from the middle red stripe. Adopted on the 27th of November 1906, the national flag was designed by Pacifica Fernandez Oreamuno, the nation’s First Lady of then-President Jose Maria Castro Madriz in 1848. The design took inspiration from the French Flag.
The stripes are not randomly designed but governed by dimensional rules. With the exception of the middle red stripe which is 2/6th of the flag’s total width, each stripe must be 1/6th of the total flag width. The Coat of Arms on the red strip has a 3-to-5 width-to-length ratio. and is located off-center along the horizontal and towards the left of the flag.
Costa Rica’s National Anthem
Equally valued with the national flag is Costa Rica’s national anthem entitled “Noble motherland, your beautiful flag” (Noble Patria, Tu Hermosa Bandera). Its lyrics were written by Jose Maria Zeledon Brenes and set to music be Manual Maria Gutierrez. The original anthem was sung in Spanish, the country’s official language.
Costa Rica’s National Bird
The country’s national bird is the Yiguirro designated on November, 1976 and is now among the national symbols of Costa Rica. More commonly known as the Clay-colored Thrush and formerly identified as the clay-colored Robin until 2010 when it was renamed, the Yiguirro is not indigenous to Costa Rica but is a common Central American bird species (Turdus grayi) of the thrush family which can be found from Southern Texas to Colombia’s northern regions. To Costa Ricans, the Yiguirro was voted its national bid over other more colorful birds unique to the country due mainly to the bird’s melodious singing that heralds the start of the rainy season which the locals consider as symbolic of the rain fertilizing the country’s rich soil. Photo by dominic sherony [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
Costa Rica’s National Flower
The Guaria Morada or Guarianthe Skinneri (formerly known as the Catleya Skinneri) was made the country’s national flower on 15 June 1939 after conducting a flower contest. Named by the English botanist James Bateman in honor of a British trader George Ure Skinner who had lived in Guatemala and sent live orchid samples to Europe via Mexico, the pink-purple orchid has been the most cultivated orchid in the country, adorning Costa Rican homes for centuries and is often associated with the beautiful local women. Moreover native Indian traditions regard the Guaria Morada as a bringer of good fortune in homes. Photo by MadriCR CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
Costa Rica’s National Tree
A native Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) tree was declared the national tree on 31 August, 1959. Indigenous to the coastal plans of Central America, the lowlands of the Antilles, and in Cuba, the tree was chosen to honor the province of Guanacaste which was annexed to the country in 1824. But more than that, the choice recognized the tree’s overall beauty whose thick foliage and expansive green shade represents not just stability and prosperity but also the concern of the government over its citizens. Photo By user:Flicka (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
Costa Rica’s Coat of Arms
The nation emblem or Coat of Arms, along with the national flag was enacted by legislative fiat in September 29, 1848 under the term of President Jose Maria Castro Madriz. The various elements include the two branches of myrtle symbolizing peace, while the seven stars overarching the three volcanoes represent the nation’s seven provinces. The three volcanoes clearly stand for the three mountain ranges while the rising sun i the background symbolizes the country’s rising prosperity. The blue waters fore and aft of the three volcanoes represent the Pacific and Atlantic waters while the golden frame stands for the coffee grain which has been the main produce of the country for centuries.
Costa Rica’s Symbol of Labor
Among the other nationals symbols of Costa Rica decreed as one on March 22, 1988 under President Oscar Arias Sanchez is the oxcart. The lowly two-wheeled oxcart represents the work of Costa Ricans characterized by patience, self-sacrifice, humility and perseverance in achieving economic goals. Historically, the oxcart has been the indispensable mode of transport that brought coffee beans, grains, sugar cane, and other produce from plantations to the market or manufacturer as were fertilizers to farms. Photo by Crsoccer08 [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Costa Rica’s Symbol of National Wildlife
Declared as the national wildlife symbol on May 22, 1995 under the term of President Jose Maria Figueres Olsen, the elegant and regal white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has been on the extinction-threatened list of species and are rarely seen in their natural habitat. Their natural enemies are the
puma, jaguar and man who has been poaching on the poor creature for its meat, antlers and fur and whose head makes for an excellent trophy for display. Photo by D. Gordon E. Robertson [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Costa Rica’s Symbol of Culture and Tradition
The country’s culture emblem is the marimba, a historic musical instrument that has been enjoyed for centuries in the Meso-American cultures and was introduced to Costa Rica from Guatemala only during the colonial years of the 18th century. Decreed as the national instrument in September 1996 by President Olsen, the marimba has given the country a rich colonial heritage in its town fiestas, entertainment, and religious events where the instrument figures prominently to accompany folk dances and music, and is now one of the main percussive instruments in Latin jazz music performed throughout the world.
Costa Rica’s Symbol of Freedom
President Chinchilla with Independence torch.
Declared a national emblem on September 14, 2005, during the term of President Abdel Pachero de la Espriella, the Independence Torch historically commemorated the 1821 independence of Central American nations from Spanish colonial rule. It now symbolizes the national aspiration for the light to perpetually shine over a free and sovereign nation and further represents the ideals of freedom and independence that Costa Rica holds dear as a beacon over the rest of Central American countries.
Costa Rica’s Symbol of Natural Wealth
Among the national symbols of Costa Rica, the Crestone Hills in the Chirripo National Park is the only one that represents the natural wealth of the nation which is among the richest countries on earth in terms of natural geographic formations, pristine forests, and its highly dense biodiversity. This is also the first time ever that a tourist site has become a national symbol. Decreed as a national symbol on April 6, 2011, by legislation, Los Crestones hills is a breathtaking natural wonder shaped by the folding of the earth’s crust to resemble giant fingers of rock up to 60 m high. The local education ministry has incorporated this symbol in its curricula to widen the knowledge of students to the country’s natural beauty, environmental values, and their moral responsibility to preserve the nation’s cultural heritage.