Jack Donnelly: The origin of the Costa Rican expression, “Upe”

The Virgin of Guadalupe is taken on procession in Nicoya. (Jack Donnelly for Inside Costa Rica)

By Jack Donnelly

June 2nd, 2015 (InsideCostaRica.com) In Costa Rica there is an unusual way of announcing oneself at a home or any type of private space, even an office. It is customary to knock and say “upe.” The purpose of this pronouncement is to elicit a response like someone coming to the door or perhaps saying “pase adelante,” come on in.

Many people are unaware of the origin of this expression. I have even seen language articles claiming nobody knows for certain the source or the meaning.

Upe comes from Nicoya, Guanacaste where people would make themselves known as benevolent visitors by saying “Nuestra  Señorita (Señora) la Virgen de Guadalupe.” It was shortened over time to just the last syllable, upe. Presumably, no evil doer would dare utter this holy name before assaulting a household.

Members of the Cofradía Nuestra Señorita Virgen de Guadalupe (a religious brotherhood dedicated to organizing the celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12^th) take great pleasure in recounting how a big-wheel academic from the University of Costa Rica traveled to Nicoya to conduct research on the origin of the expression. They relate with relish how they simply sat him down and explained it to him.

I use this term commonly when I visit Tico friends. I think even the dogs appreciate the convention.

Read more by Jack Donnelly:

Christmas Tamales – an essential part of Costa Rica’s holiday tradition

Archaeological sites worth visiting in Costa Rica

Jack Donnelly

Jack Donnelly has been a life-long enthusiast of Latin American folk culture. As a young man, during the 1960s, he studied cultural anthropology at the Universidad de las Américas in Mexico City. He went on to volunteer with the U. S. Peace Corps in Guatemala.

Now, Donnelly lives in Heredia, Costa Rica. He travels around the country investigating and documenting folkloric events.

Donnelly is the author of COSTA RICA: Folk Culture, Traditions, and Cuisine which is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.