Cultures are often known for their importance to the constructs of a given society. Costa Rica is not an exception to this theory on culture. Costa Rica is rich with culture, and there are many different venues that Costa Rica has to offer which shows their culture. Costa Rica has a vast history of music, food, and morals. Music in Costa Rica is often associated to Spanish –style music. Spanish music is highly affluent in Costa Rica. Often times, the Spanish music is played with mariachis, and can be heard in restaurants, concert halls, and on the pedestrian lined streets. Costa Rican’s take pride in their food, which is evident in their cooking. There is a lot of passion and care that is placed into every meal, as the natives believe that every meal that is eaten should be satisfying. The foods that are offered are very flavorful, and have incorporated the spices of the land. Cumin, commonly referred to as cumino, and other spices such as chili powder, season every Costa Rican dish, and give it that extra bit of flare that Costa Rican meals offer.

A sense of family and religion are very important morals in the Costa Rican culture. Costa Ricans are known for their tight-knit families, and their deep devotions to their desired religion. The morals that are given in the Bible often dictate how a family operates inCosta Rica. Churches, commonly referred to as iglessias, are always packed every Sunday as mass is in session. Families convene into churches to worship, and carry on the morals of the culture that was passed down to them from previous generations. The Costa Rica culture is multi-faceted, but overall, there is a main thread of loving one another that is evident in the communities. Learning how one culture can learn from another is what Costa Rica offers. For those that are visiting, there are a lot of different backgrounds that can be appreciated in Costa Rica.

With a visit to Costa Rica you will find one of the most unlikely sources of amazing artwork: an oxcart. Up until the end of the 19th century oxcarts were widely used throughout the country to transport coffee beans. While they are rarely seen in use today, they are now seen as a common item decorated with liquid glazes all throughout the country.

These wooden oxcarts are internationally recognized symbol of Costa Rica. Back in the day when the oxcarts were at their peak usage, over 10,000 of them could be seen traversing the countryside. Before the Atlantic Railroad was completed, the carts were hauled on long journeys that could take up to 15 days. The oxcart had evolved over time to help adapt to changing weather conditions throughout the year. During the rainy season the Costa Ricans had to develop a better wheel that could manage the muddy terrain without becoming stuck.

The wheels of these oxcarts measure four or five feet in diameter and seemed to be a canvas in dire need of some ceramic paint. When a cart maker’s wife decided to brighten up her husband’s cart wheels with a starburst design painted with bright colors, the idea soon caught on. Before long oxcarts were being painted with flowers, pointed stars, faces, landscapes and any other sort of geometric pattern the artists could manage on this unique piece of art. These oxcarts have such a traditional appearance in Costa Rica that annual contests are held to reward the most creative artists. Even though farmers no longer use their oxcarts for actual work around their farms, they are still considered to be their pride and joy. With tractors and trucks making light of the work that oxcarts used to handle, the beautiful oxcarts are now only seen as decorative.

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica and are interested in learning more about this beautiful art, you can visit the Ox-cart Museum. Located in southern San Jose, the Museum boasts a collection of hand-painted oxcarts in an adobe house. When you are out and about in Costa Rica you will most likely see many of these oxcarts on display as you walk around the cities. These oxcarts might be an unlikely source of beautiful art, but the Costa Ricans are quite proud of their hardworking background.