Costa Rica, along with the majority of Central America, celebrates its independence on the 15th of September. Each year this day is marked by parades in the early part of the day where school bands march and middle and high school girls wearing the country’s colors  (blue, white and red) twirl batons. Often times faroles (lanterns) are also carried by participants of the parade. The faroles symbolize the journey messengers made from Guatemala to Costa Rica carrying a torch in the year 1821 to announce the liberation of many Central American nations. Check out these great photos from the desfile (parade) in Cartago on Saturday taken by our Tri-Country Semester students. Viva Costa Rica!