Between displeased sectors, threats of more protests, a difficult economy, Costa Rica celebrates this September 15, 198 years of independent life.

“We are capable of doing great things working with discipline and strength. It won’t be something external what leads us to development, it won’t be a gift from anyone, and it certainly won’t be the laziness and the privileges what will make us a developed country. Only hard work, smart and persistent will push Costa Rica forward and literally it is our future that is in our own hands”, said President Carlos Alvarado during the acts of celebration in Cartago.

Costa Rica used to be a colony of Spain along with Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, when Mexico declared its independence from Spain in 1821, Guatemala signed the Independence Act declaring the City of Guatemala as independent on September 15, 1821, date that is taken as the independence for the rest of the Central American colonies.

The actual independence declaration did not arrive in Costa Rica until October 13, 1821, after some deliberation Costa Rica finally confirmed its independence October 29, 1821.

Every year Costa Rica celebrates with the “independence torch” which is carried by foot through Central America, an act that concludes with its arrival to Cartago, Costa Rica, at 6 p.m. September 14. Parades the morning of September 15 close the activities.