Seven Stars Shine

Before the much anticipated job at the Nature Reserve, there were other pressing matters in Paolo’s life. First and foremost was history class. Sra. Tagubase stood at the front of class, pointing to maps and drawing diagrams in a rainbow of chalk colors.
“Pupilitos,” she said, “Quien sabe que es Sabado?”
All of the children raised their hands.
“Sabado es el Dia de Juan Santamaría,” answered a student.
“Bien! Es correcto!”
Indeed, this Saturday was the day Costa Ricans celebrated their national hero – Juan Santamaria.
“Who knows why why he was famous?”
All of the children raised their hands again.
“He was a soldier,” said one.
“He was the torch-bearer,” said another.
“You’re both correct. In 1856, a confederate soldier from America named William Walker attacked Nicaragua. After he defeated the Nicaraguans, he attacked Costa Rica. The president of Costa Rica formed an army of Ticos. They chased Walker and his army back to Nicaragua. The Americans hid in a fort. After several attempts at getting Walker and his men out, Juan Santamaria volunteered to set their fort on fire. As he ran towards the fort, with a torch in hand, he was shot several times. Heroically, he still reached the fort and set it ablaze. Walker and his troops fled the fort, never to be seen again.”
“I guess that’s what it truly means to be a Tico,” said Paolo.
“I suppose you’re right. We stick together in both good and bad times.”
Sra. Tagubase continued lecturing until the school bell rang. She assigned another report – this one about Juan Santamaria. Luckily, Paolo and his family were going to Alajuela this weekend. Alajuela was the birthplace of Juan Santamaria.
When Saturday arrived, Paolo and his family loaded into the family car and rode to Alajuela. After Sr. Vasquez parked the car, the family walked to Parque Juan Santamaria. They passed many buildings along the way. The most striking was the Cathedral of Alajuela.
The Cathedral walls were made of plaster. The roof was covered with red tiles. Most of the other buildings were one story high, but still had the same plaster walls and red tiled roofs.
“Why do all the buildings in Costa Rica look the same?”
“They were modeled after the Spanish Missions. When the Spanish came to the Americas, they brought their religion, too. The missionaries constructed villages in the same style as architecture from Spain.”
A marimba and steel drum band played on the stage at one end of the park. Groups of children played football on the green spaces near the Field House at the other end. A statue of Juan Santamaria stood in the center of the park.
“Can we go listen to the band?” asked Pilar.
“I want to visit the field house. Why don’t you take your brother and sister with you?” said mother.
“Okay,” replied Pilar.
She grabbed each sibling by the hand as they tagged along. The melodic sounds of percussion instruments, wooden and metallic, filled the air.
Paolo looked around him as he stood near the sound stage. A wide variety of people filled the Parque de Juan Santamaria.
“Pilar, why is there such a wide variety of people?”
“Pato, it’s part of our heritage. When the Spanish came looking for gold, they brought slaves from Jamaica. Also, some of the Europeans stayed behind. It’s the ‘stew of Costa Rica.’ People from all over the earth live in Costa Rica. That’s the Tico way.”
Paolo nodded.
“What about the music?”
“I think Slaves from the islands brought most of the music to Costa Rica. Marimbas and steel drums both come from Africa.”
Paolo watched a couple dancing on the stage. They danced the Cumbia.
“Is the Cumbia from Africa, too?”
“That’s pure Latin America. Slaves in Columbia danced the Cumbia as a sign of defiance to the their Spanish captors, It’s famous in the south, in the province of Puntarenas,” said his sister, “You want to give it a whirl?”
“Me?”
“Of course you,” said Pilar.
“I don’t know how to dance.”
“Just follow me,” she said.
“What about me?” asked Caprina.
“You can join us, too.”
Pilar took her brother and sister by the hand again and began dancing. The Cumbia resembled a cowboy’s folk dance. Onlookers clapped to the rhythm of the music as a guitar strummed a Spanish melody. With each step, the Vasquez children bounced and swirled.
The dance not only had slave roots, but the Cumbia was often danced wherever a large group of people gathered. Usually, it was a wedding or a barn dance. Today, it was Juan Santamaria Day.
Meanwhile, father and mother enjoyed arts and crafts in the Field House. Women from the mountain towns of the Alajuela province sold hand-made shawls. Musicians from the coastal towns of San Jose province demonstrated hand-carved marimbas. Sra. Vasquez noticed an old couple selling Nicoya Pottery.
“Hola, Senor” said Sra. Vasquez.
“Hola, Senora, Como puedo te ayudar?”
“Me gusta su ceramicas. Cuantos colones?”
The vendor investigated the ceramic vase held in her hands. Like most Nicoya pottery, this vase was made in the mountains near Nicaragua. Drawings called petroglyphs decorated the exterior. Mesoamerican pottery often celebrated the Costa Rican farmer. Unlike their ‘Indian’ neighbors, Costa Ricans were farmers and craftsmen.
“Seiscientos.”
“Seiscientos? Ay, yi, yi!” exclaimed Sra. Vasquez.
“Cincocientos?’ said the vendor.
“Esta bien, gracias.”
Sra. Vasquez handed the vendor a 500-colon note. He gave the vase to Sr. Vasquez, who tucked it under his arm.
“Mama, are you hungry? I’m in the mood for a burrito.”
“I saw a man selling gallos outside,” replied mother.
“That sounds good to me, too. Let’s see if we can find the children.”
Sr. and Sra. Vasquez strolled around the parque until they found Pilar, Paolo, and Caprina dancing near the sound stage. The family went to the vendor’s area, near the center of the park.
“Here it is,” said Sra. Vasquez.
Everyone waited in line, but Sr. Vasquez placed the order. He purchased gallos for everyone. The vendor loaded a large cafeteria tray with soft tortillas, onions, cheese, hamburger, and rice. He then carried the tray to a table in the square.
“Here you go,” said Sr. Vasquez.
Everyone filled a soft tortilla with toppings and ate their creation, whether the final product was shaped like a burro, a taco, or chilito.
“Papi?”
“Si, mi hijo?”
“Why do they call them gallos if there’s no chicken inside. Why don’t they call them vacas, for cows?”
“Maybe they originally filled them with chicken.”
Everyone continued eating until the tortillas were gone.
Afterwards, they visited the statue and the Juan Santamaria Museum. There were statues and exhibits celebrating the second battle of Rivas.
Juan Santamaria wasn’t the only Costa Rican hero, though.
A woman nicknamed ‘Pancho’ gathered bullets in her apron and grabbed a rifle. She showed the retreating men of the Costa Rican militia the true meaning of bravery.
After Santamaria was killed, there was still the matter of enemy soldiers hiding in the fort. Another man charged the house and cleared out the enemy.
Another group of men wanted to chase and destroy the enemy. Unfortunately, Costa Rica’s President refused their request. Instead, he thought the Costa Ricans had another responsibility.
After the battle, Cholera plagued all seven provinces. Nevertheless, people from all seven provinces joined together to fight the epidemic. Just like the battle, the Costa Ricans prevailed.At the end of the day, Paolo and his family returned to Puero Limon. Although the festival was fun, Paolo was eager to go to work.