When is Annexation of Nicoya?
In 2026, Annexation of Nicoya falls on Saturday, July 25, 2026. It is a Costa Rican statutory holiday with mandatory pay under Article 148 of the Labour Code.
History of Annexation of Nicoya
Annexation of Nicoya Day on July 25 commemorates the 1824 incorporation of the Partido de Nicoya into Costa Rica. After Central America’s independence from Spain, Nicoya and Santa Cruz chose in an open council to join Costa Rica, a decision often expressed through the phrase “de la patria por nuestra voluntad” — part of the homeland by our own will.
The decision came from a complex local setting. Historical ties, trade routes, political stability and the needs of the communities all mattered, while Guanacaste (then often called Liberia) did not initially take the same position. The Federal Republic of Central America later confirmed the incorporation in 1825.
The anniversary is both national and profoundly Guanacastecan. Article 148 lists July 25 as a statutory holiday with mandatory pay, while communities across Guanacaste foreground their own music, food, dance and regional identity.
Costa Rica’s cultural-heritage account emphasizes that the July 1824 open council in Nicoya was a political decision taken in a period of regional uncertainty, not a simple modern referendum by the whole present-day province. Remembering the different positions of Nicoya, Santa Cruz and Guanacaste makes the history more accurate and helps explain why local identity remains central to the commemoration.
How Annexation of Nicoya is observed
July 25 is a statutory holiday with mandatory pay. Guanacaste celebrations often feature folk music, dance, local food and civic ceremonies.
Traditions of Annexation of Nicoya
Guanacastecan music and dance
Marimba music, folk dance and local performers bring regional culture into school and municipal celebrations across Guanacaste and the wider country.
Traditional food
Corn-based dishes, coffee, sweets and regional recipes appear at family tables and public festivals, with each community adding its own specialties.
Civic ceremonies
Municipalities and schools mark the anniversary with flags, speeches and programs that emphasize the historical decision made in Nicoya in 1824.
Rodeo and local festivities
Some communities include tope, horse, cattle or folk festival traditions. Their form and timing are local rather than a single national requirement.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Costa Rica Ministry of Labour holiday guidance. Pay treatment depends on the worker’s pay modality; public-sector vacation directives and employer schedules may differ.
History sources: Costa Rica Cultural Heritage: Incorporation of the Partido de Nicoya, Costa Rica Ministry of Labour: public-holiday guidance.
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