Weirdness of the Year - Holiday Differences

This is a photo of Quepos in the 50's

Here, fireworks start in the end of November and continue until new years.

Last year I found this odd and annoying, but this year I have embraced it and even decided to join the extremely long firework movement.

It all started when my friend began distracting me and then placing "bombetas" behind me or under my chair.  It was funny and after a few times, I got so used to it that I just lifted up my feet and just laughed.  The best was when she woke up the entire house by throwing a bombeta on the living room floor where we were all sleeping.  That's one way to get everyone up to start making tamales - a process that takes about 12 hours!

There are many weird things I noticed about fireworks and the holidays here.

1.  Small children can light off professional like fireworks from the streets in front of their houses.

2.  Christmas is a holiday that includes fireworks at midnight. 

3.  New years includes fireworks at midnight.  - now I can't even remember what holidays in the US include fireworks.  Just the 4th of July, right?

4.  Fireworks can be lit in houses.  I guess because the floors are concrete.

5.  As one could predict with "Tico Time" - the new years fireworks started at 12:02... and there was no countdown.  Nobody really knew when the new year arrived.  JAJAJAJAJA! Everyone was looking at their phone clocks and looking at each other and asking if it was the new year yet.  Typical event organization.  I would have expected nothing different.  :]

6.   New Years Eve is a family holiday where people bring even their babies and small children to ring in the new year at midnight.  I was trying to imagine people bringing their babies out for New Years in the states..... I couldn't.

7.  The disco (dance club) is open until 8am on January 1st.  I only stayed until 3am.  Then, I went to the beach. 

8.  The menu of Christmas week is:
Breakfast - Tamales
Lunch - Tamales
Coffee - Tamales
Dinner - Tamales
2nd Dinner - Tamales

Christmas gifts = tamales

mmmmmm.....

 8. My friend and I are taking bets about how long the Christmas tree in the center of town will be there.  She thinks until February 2nd.  I wouldn't be shocked if she were right.

Happy New Year!