The document summarizes key aspects of Costa Rican culture. It discusses how the phrase "Pura Vida" reflects the Costa Rican philosophy of community, perseverance, and enjoying life's pleasures. It also outlines the country's religious demographics and constitution protecting freedom of religion. Popular music genres and famous musicians are mentioned. Typical foods like gallo pinto and casados are described along with drinks like refrescos. The development of Costa Rican art is briefly outlined.

1. Larry Nguyen Costa Rican Culture

3. Literal translation:

4. Pura – Pure

5. Vida – Life

6. Real meaning: “Plenty of life", “full of life“, "this is living!”

7. Phrase reflects Costa Rican’s philosophy of:

8. Strong community

9. Perseverance

10. Resilience in overcoming difficulties with good spirits

11. Enjoying life slowly

13. 44.9% practicing & 25.6% non-practicing

14. 13.8% state they are Evangelical Protestants

15. 11.3% report that they do not have a religion

16. 4.3% declare that they belong to "another religion"Basilica Los Angeles in Cartago, Costa Rica

18. Provides for freedom of religion

19. The country’s government generally respects this right in practice

20. The US government found no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice in 2007

21. However, it is widely acknowledged the Catholic Church is one of the most powerful, and wealthy, organizations in the country and that their social views heavily influence policy-makingARTICLE 75. The Roman Catholic and Apostolic Religion is the religion of the State, which contributes to its maintenance, without preventing the free exercise in the Republic of other forms of worship that are not opposed to universal morality or good customs.

23. Disco

24. American and British rock and roll and pop (especially among urban youth)

25. Dance-oriented genres (soca, salsa, merengue, cumbia and Tex-Mex)

26. Mexican musicPopular Calypso musician Walter Ferguson of Cahuita, Costa Rica Dancing at one of Cuba’s most popular dance club, Castro’s

28. The Universidad de Costa Rica has a concert band and an orchestra

29. The National University, Universidad Nacional, has a resident string quartet and a Symphony Orchestra

30. Some well-known groups and performers include:

31. El Café Chorale

32. Three time winner of “The National Prize of Music”, the highest honor in the Arts in Costa Rica

33. Pianist Ismael Pacheco

35. A Casado is a typical Costa Rican meal consisting of rice and black beans (served side by side), plantains, salad, a tortilla, and some type of meat (carne asada, fish, pork chop or chicken)

36. Arroz con Pollo (rice with chicken) is another popular dish and is usually served with a Russian Salad (a salad made with beets, potatoes, hard boiled eggs and mayo)Gallo pinto (left), casodo (middle), and arroz con pollo (right)

38. The traditional drinks for lunch are called “refrescos”, or “frescos “for short, and consist of liquefied fruits diluted in either water or milk and sweetened to taste

39. Granizado, a slush drink made of finely shaved ice and flavored syrup, is also a popular drink

40. The most popular flavor is kola, a fruity cherry flavored syrup, and It is usually served with evaporated, condensed milk, or both on top

41. The national liquor of Costa Rica, guaro, is made from sugarcaneRefresco (above) and Granizado (below)

43. Soon, some of these painters settled in the country and began teaching the natives techniques for drawing, oil painting, and sculpture

44. Current renowned Costa Rican painters include Gonzalo Morales Sáurez, Rafa Fernandez, and Fernando Carballo

45. Famous sculptors include Ibo Bonilla, Max Jimenez, and Mario Parra“Girl in front of Mirror” by Gonzalo Morales Saurez Sculpture by Ibo Bonilla

46. Sources Content: Slide 2 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Costa_Rica Slides 3+4 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Costa_Rica Slide 4 Quote – http://www.costaricalaw.com/legalnet/constitutional_law/engtit6.html Slides 5+6 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rican_music Slides 7+8 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rican_cuisine Slide 9 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Costa_Rica Images: Slide 1 – http://www.33ff.com/flags/XL_flags/Costa-Rica_flag.gif Slide 2 – (Above)http://www.learn-spanish.com/images/a12.jpg (Bottom left) http://organicprocess.com/media/uploads/Image/2007_pura_vida_no_pro_269cmp.jpg (Bottom right) http://www.palmscostarica.com/images/thecostaricanpeople.jpg Slide 3 – (Left)http://www.costarica-net-guide.com/procesion.jpg (Right) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/46/Basilica_los_Angeles.jpg

47. Sources Images: Slide 5 – (Left) http://www.vueltaenu.co.cr/contenidos/reemplazos/20090511/VU11-acam.JPG (Right)http://www.exploredance.com/upload/gallery/8/86_521.jpg Slide 7 – (Left)http://costaricainfoblog.com/ (Middle) http://www.costaricapages.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/casado.jpg (Right) http://www.examiner.com/affordable-travel-in-dallas/memoirs-of-costa-rica-part-2-the-food Slide 8– (Top) http://gimmesomeoven.com/watermelon-lemonade/ (Bottom) http://mm.sabores.com/%2FEspa%C3%B1ol%2FMujeres%2FRecetas%2FRecetas_de_postres%2F31453/235granizad0.jpg Slide 9 – (Top) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ni%C3%B1a_con_espejo.JPG (Bottom) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Escultura-_Amar(3)_escultor-_Ibo_Bonilla_Costa_Rica.jpg