It`s the biggest cultural event in the country. It was iniciated in 1992 when it was transformed from the International Costa Rican Theater Festival. It offers a showcase of domestic artists one year, and international artists the next. There are organized the art shows linked with religious elements and with publicity of national cuisin.

Limon is noted for celebrating the biggest in Costa Rica carnival. It`s held on every year on 10-15 October (so called the Day of Culture - the anniversary of discovering America by Cristopher Columb). The idea was first brought to Limon from Panama by a local man named Arthur King. Through the main town streets come colorfull parades. There are sophisticated constructions set on platforms, dancers groups, choirs, music bands and crowds of clothes changers. On Vargas Park are held concerts and different competitions (for instance for the most crazy head-dress). The first carnival took place in 1949. Six times during its history was canceled. The last time in 1991 due to the catastrophic earthquake in Limon province.

In 1930 was made the first Costa Rican movie. It was called "El Retorno". Its main stars were Rodrigo Tinoco and Maria Eugenia del Barco. It was filmed by Walter Bolandi and directed by A.F.Bertoni. It was firstly showed in Cine Variedades.

San Jose has more theater companies (15) than any comparably sized city in the world (Costa Rica has the biggest number theater companies per capita in the world). Founded in 1949, "the Little Theater Group" is the oldest-established English language community theater in Latin America. In 1960`s, Costa Rica was the only country of Central America with the theater in use.

Calypso music was introduced to Limon province at the end of XIX century by Jamaican immigrants, who preserved their cultural traditions. Calypso is a form of dance music. Its name derives from Calypso islet. The main feature is a accepting of non-existe words, incomprehensible in any languages.

Premio Magon is the most important National Cultural Prize named after Manuel Gonzalez Zeledon. It was started in 1961. In National Center of Culture in San Jose (CENAC) there is a room dedicated to all Magon`s winners with their gallery.

On October 1958 was decided about creating television in Costa Rica. On May 9th of 1960 was the first television broadcasting and in 1963 was introduced the first TV programm on live. In 1973 was introduced the color TV.

In the beginning of December, front yards, living rooms and other parts of the houses become transformed into the elaborate manger scenes. They are called portales and are decorated with moss and sawdust. They placed in the most prominent place in the house. They feature pasito figures (the Holy Family, Three Kings and animals). According to the tradition the figure of Jesus should be added on midnight hour of December 24th. S (they are taught He brings them the gifts when they sleep). me portales fill a whole room and include tiny villages, lakes, bridges and paths. The biggest portal in the country is put in front of the Nacional Theater. It`s believed that young pairs who don`t have a home must use a portals that has been received as a gift - then the Holy family will help them to get a house of their own.

It`s out of circulation. It`s considered to be a masterpiece in monetary art and is still sold for its artistic value at a price far beyond its actual monetary value.

Annually in Cine of Variedades in San Jose is held the Festival of Movies. There are granted the statuettes of pelicans (in honour of the first Reserve National of Cabo Blanco in the country) that are made by Renan Calvo. The first movie in Costa Rica was made by the family of Jinesta Urbini in 1930. It was titled "Retorno" and said about the love story in big coffee plantation.

Jurassic Park - The plot of that movie takes place in non-existing Isla Nublar, off the coast of Costa Rica. Dr. Alan Grant is lured by John Hammond into his fateful journey to Jurassic Park by the promise of Grant money to continue his research into the history of dinosaurs. The park was to be an unique tourist atraction, where people could interact with genetically engineered dinosaurs. But things didn`t work. Many of the island`s inhabitants become dino snacks and Grant and Settler barely escaped with their lives.

Treasure Island - Book written by Robert Lewis Stevenson. They say, its plot takes place in Costa Rica Cocos Island.

Punta Guanacasteco - The national dance of Costa Rica. It dates back to the turn of the century when it was composed in jail by Leandro Cabelceta Brau. It`s performed to the accompaniament of guitars and marimbas, in national dresses during different celebrations, schools fiestas and in Guanacaste province in the anniversary of its annexion from Nicaragua (25. VII). It`s danced also during fiesta of Black Christ of Esquipulas in Santa Cruz (15. I.).

El Punto - A typical dance for province of Guanacaste. Partners don`t hold one another, but walk side by side, turn around each other and so.

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