Is
August 2 a Holiday?
The answer is simple.
Yes. And, No. It all
depends on who you ask.
For instance, both the
private and state banks
have decided that today
is a holiday. Government
agencies however are
divided on the issue,
some are open while
others are closed.
Autonomous agencies like
ICE and the AyA are
closed, while others,
like the Banco Central
de Costa Rica (BCCR) -
the Central Bank ,
are open.
Private business is
divided as well. Many
have decided to give
their employees the day
off, while at others
business is as usual.
Companies like Amnet,
the cable provider, have
confused the issue even
more. Amnet has decided
to keep its Central
Valley offices closed,
but is keep open its
offices in places like
Guanacaste.
August 2nd - El
Dia de La Virgen de los
Angeles - is a national
holiday, but not a legal
one, leaving it up to
the employers if they
want to give their
employees the day off or
not, as it is a day of
"pago no obligatorio".
That is employers are
not required to pay
employees given the day
off or pay extra for
those required to work
today.
Many private businesses
and state agencies
decided to close their
doors knowing full well
that a majority of their
employees would not show
up for work, taking time
off calling in sick, a
family emergency or
whatever excuse that
would work to their
benefit.
The Virgen or "La
Negrita" as she is
affectionately known as
was declared the patron
of Costa Rica on
Thursday 23 July 1824 by
the Constitutional
Assembly of the day led
by Don Juan Mora
Porras.
The decree read as
follows:
" El Gefe Supremo del
Estado de Costa Rica.
Por quanto el Congreso
Constituyente del mismo
Estado ha decretado lo
siguiente:
:
"El Congreso
Constituyente del Estado
de Costa Rica ha tenido
a bien decretar y
decreta:
La Virgen de los Angeles
Madre de Dios y Señora
nuestra, es, y será en
lo sucesivo la Patrona
del Estado de Costa
Rica."
Since then the Virgen
has been recognized as
such by all Costa Rican
Catholics and though
there still is much
doubt about the Virgen's
appearance and
miraculous powers, more
than 2 million Costa
Ricans this year will
make their way, on foot
and then on their knees
for the last several
metres, to the Basilica
de Los Angeles in
Cartago to pay homage.
The day since has become
a tradition but never
made into the law books
being declared a legal
holiday.
If you are still
confused on where this
day is a holiday or not,
welcome to Costa Rica!
PS. The next legal
holiday in Costa Rica is
August 15 - Mother's
Day. But thanks to the
wisdom of legislators,
the "legal"
holiday will be
celebrated on August 20.
Now try to explain that
one to your mother on
August 15.
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"La Negrita" the patron of Costa Rica. |
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