New Year in Costa Rica: history, public holiday and figures

1 January is one of Costa Rica's paid public holidays and the day new minimum wages take effect. Here is how the country welcomed the new year from the 19th century, what the law says and which official figures come with the turn of the year.

How Costa Rica welcomed the new year

19th-century official newspapers show that the end of the year was already a time for celebration. An article by a University of Costa Rica lecturer and researcher, published by La Nación in 2012, brings those records together.

1. 1
   1858, a celebration in La Sabana. President Juan Rafael Mora Porras awards medals to the Army members who fought the filibusters, at a ceremony in La Sabana on 28, 29 and 30 December.
2. 2
   1874, dances. The Boletín Oficial of 28 December reports dances organised by different groups for political, professional or charitable purposes.
3. 3
   Last decade of the 19th century, three days off. A decree makes the last three days of the year mandatory holidays.
4. 4
   1916, a city in festive mood. On 28 December, Actualidades describes the coming festivities, with masquerades and cars driving at speed.
5. 5
   Today, a paid public holiday. Article 148 of the Labour Code lists 1 January among the paid public holidays; 31 December is no longer a holiday.
6. 6
   1 January 2027, new wages. The general 1.70 % rise in private-sector minimum wages takes effect.

Timeline

The turn of the year in figures

On 28 October 2026 the National Wage Council unanimously approved a general 1.70 % rise for all private-sector minimum wages, which will take effect on 1 January 2027. According to that release, the domestic work category was still under review and would be agreed in the following days.

The year starts in high season: 298,475 tourists arrived in January 2025, almost as many as in January 2024 (299,194). The highest January in the ICT series was 2020, with 358,665, and the lowest was 2021, with 62,200.

Curious facts

• In the last 15 years, Costa Rica has not closed a single year with zero children burned by fireworks, although that is the national goal, according to the Ministry of Health and the National Children's Hospital (2025).
• Complaints about year-end traffic are not new: in 1916, Actualidades already wrote of “cars driving at speed” during the festivities.
• The 2027 minimum wage rise is the only one of the last three that the National Wage Council approved unanimously; those of 2025 and 2026 were approved by majority.
• In 1858 the year-end celebration was also a tribute: the medals Mora Porras awarded in La Sabana went to those who had fought the filibusters.

Frequently asked questions

Is 1 January a public holiday in Costa Rica?

Yes. It is a paid public holiday under article 148 of the Labour Code; in 2027 it falls on a Friday. According to the Ministry of Labour, nobody is required to work it and, if it is worked, the law provides for double pay.

Is 31 December a public holiday?

No. 31 December is not among the public holidays of article 148 of the Labour Code nor in the Ministry of Labour's official calendar.

When does the minimum wage go up?

The general 1.70 % rise agreed for 2027 will take effect on 1 January 2027, according to the Ministry of Labour's release of 28 October 2026.

Sources

• La Nación: “Turbas de gente alegre”, a history of year-end festivities in Costa Rica (23 December 2012).
• Ministry of Labour and Social Security: 2026 holiday calendar (4 December 2025).
• Ministry of Labour and Social Security: National Wage Council press releases of 30 October 2024, 27 October 2025 and 28 October 2026.
• Ministry of Health: “Hagamos de estas fiestas un tiempo seguro”, advice to prevent burns (15 December 2025).
• University of Costa Rica: news item on the 2014 Actualidades survey and year-end traditions (17 December 2014).
• La República: “Corridas de toros en Zapote regresan el 25 de diciembre” (27 October 2022).
• Costa Rican Tourism Institute: international tourist arrivals 2019-2025, table 11.