In the U.S. our calenders have a day marked Columbus day and during Thanksgiving the schools present our youth a picture of friendship between the Pilgrims and Indians. In Costa Rica they celebrate a day, formally called El día de la raza, "Day of the People," and now renamed El día de las culturas, "Day of the Cultures," in remembrance of Christopher Columbus's arrival near Limón on October 18, 1502.
The change of name for the celebration is due to disparate feelings amongst the people towards Columbus. Rather than, as in the U.S., forcing a holiday on its people that is received with disparity (and frankly rather overlooked by many Americans), Costa Rica has uncovered a universal likeness for the occasion of the merging of the cultures.
The Costa Rican government models the effectiveness of flexibility in their policies beyond holidays and to more serious issues such as conservation, health care, and education. It is important as a people to be able to change policies that have promise for better outcomes. Celebrating the "Day of the Cultures" allows Costa Ricans to celebrate the ultimate result of Columbus's "discovery" rather than simply a victory for Europeans.
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