Mother's Day in Costa Rica: History, Traditions, and Fun Facts
Why Costa Rica celebrates its mothers on August 15, and what the day feels like on the ground.
Mother's Day in Costa Rica, known as Dia de la Madre, is celebrated every year on August 15, the Catholic Feast of the Assumption. It has been an official holiday since 1932, and today it is a paid national holiday under the labor code. Families across the country gather for long lunches, church services, and beach days.
When is Mother's Day in Costa Rica?
Always August 15. Unlike the United States and Canada, where Mother's Day floats to the second Sunday of May, Costa Rica fixes the date. It does not move to the nearest Monday, and it is not shuffled around for long weekends. In 2026, August 15 falls on a Saturday, and the holiday is observed on that exact day.
For expats, this creates a nice quirk: you get two Mother's Days a year. Many families here with mixed Tico and North American roots celebrate both, a video call in May and a full family lunch in August.
Why August 15? The history behind the date
Costa Rica made Mother's Day official in 1932, when President Ricardo Jimenez Oreamuno signed Law No. 79 on August 10 of that year. According to The Tico Times, the push came from educator Evangelina Solis Salvatierra, and the country had already experimented with earlier tributes, including a "Fiesta de las Madres" in October 1923.
The choice of August 15 was deliberate. It is the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, one of the most important dates on the Catholic calendar. Tying the celebration of mothers to the celebration of Mary reflected Costa Rica's deep Catholic heritage, and it gave the day a weight that a floating Sunday in May never quite carries. More than ninety years later, the two celebrations are still intertwined: many families attend a special Mass in the morning before the eating begins.
How do Ticos celebrate Dia de la Madre?
The short answer: with family, food, and plenty of time. The day is less about expensive gifts and more about showing up. Common traditions include:
- The big family meal. Adult children travel across the country to eat with their mothers. The table often features arroz con pollo, tamales, olla de carne, or a tres leches cake. Restaurants fill up fast, so Ticos who eat out book days in advance.
- Mass and church services. Because the date doubles as the Feast of the Assumption, morning Mass is part of the day for many families, honoring both their own mothers and the Virgin Mary.
- School performances. In the weeks before August 15, schoolchildren rehearse songs, poems, and dances for mothers' assemblies. If you have kids in a local school, expect an invitation.
- Beach and pool days. Plenty of families skip the formal lunch and head to the coast instead. Here in Guanacaste, the beaches noticeably fill with Tico families on Mother's Day weekend.
- Cemetery visits. Families who have lost their mothers bring flowers to the cemetery, a quiet tradition that says a lot about how seriously the day is taken.
Is Mother's Day a public holiday in Costa Rica?
Yes, and a strong one. August 15 is a "feriado de pago obligatorio," a mandatory paid holiday under Costa Rica's Labor Code. Employees are not obligated to work that day, and those who do work must receive double pay under the rules Costa Rican legal outlet Delfino.cr laid out in its 2026 guide to the holiday. Government offices and banks close, and many small businesses shut their doors so the owners can celebrate too.
That legal status tells you where mothers rank in Costa Rican culture. Very few countries make Mother's Day a full statutory holiday. Costa Rica puts it on the same legal footing as Christmas Day and Independence Day.
Fun facts about Mother's Day in Costa Rica
- It is one of the biggest shopping dates of the year. Costa Rica's Chamber of Commerce projected roughly 50 billion colones in Mother's Day sales for 2026, about 5 percent more than the year before. That makes it the country's third biggest commercial date, behind only the Christmas season and Black Friday.
- Perfume beats flowers. The most popular gift categories in 2026 are fragrances and personal care products, followed by clothing, technology, and home appliances. Flowers still matter, but Ticos tend to pair them with something more substantial.
- San Jose lifts its driving restrictions. The capital's weekday license plate restrictions do not apply on August 15, which makes it easier for families to drive across town, or across the country, to see their mothers.
- It is a double celebration. Because the date is also the Feast of the Assumption, the day carries both family and religious meaning, something the May version of the holiday does not have.
- The travel rush is real. The days around August 15 are among the busiest on Costa Rica's roads, as children and grandchildren head home. If you are driving between Liberia and the coast that weekend, leave earlier than you think you need to.
What does Mother's Day look like in Playas del Coco?
Coco gets a distinctly local flavor on Mother's Day. Because August falls in the green season, the town is quieter on the tourism side, and the holiday belongs mostly to Tico families. Expect the beach to fill up with multi-generation groups from Sardinal, Liberia, and the surrounding towns, coolers and folding chairs included. Restaurants along the main street and the beachfront run Mother's Day specials, and the good ones are fully booked by the Thursday before.
If you live here, our advice is simple: reserve your table early, or do what many local families do and celebrate at home or on the sand. August afternoons usually bring rain, so morning beach time and a long early lunch is the classic play. It is also one of the best days of the year to see what community life in a Costa Rican beach town actually looks like, which is worth remembering if you are still deciding whether Playas del Coco is the right fit for you.
Making the day your own as an expat
You do not need Tico in-laws to take part. Wish every mother you meet a "feliz dia" on August 15, expect slower service and closed offices, and lean into the family-first rhythm of the day. It is one of several holidays here that reward joining in rather than observing from a distance, much like Guanacaste Day in July and Children's Day in September. If you are new to the country, our post on cultural differences between the United States and Costa Rica covers more of these rhythms.
We have celebrated a lot of Mother's Days in Coco, and it never stops being one of our favorite days on the calendar. If you are thinking about making this community your home, browse our current listings or send us a message. We are happy to share what daily life here is really like, holidays included.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Mother's Day in Costa Rica on August 15?
Costa Rica fixed the date by law in 1932, choosing August 15 because it is the Catholic Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Linking mothers to Mary reflected the country's strong Catholic tradition. The date never moves, so Mother's Day falls on a different day of the week each year.
Is Mother's Day a public holiday in Costa Rica?
Yes. August 15 is a mandatory paid holiday under Costa Rica's Labor Code. Employees cannot be required to work, and those who agree to work must receive double pay. Government offices and banks close, and many family-run businesses shut for the day so owners can celebrate too.
Are restaurants open on Mother's Day in Costa Rica?
Most restaurants open, and it is one of their busiest days of the year. Ticos traditionally take their mothers out for a long lunch, so popular spots in towns like Playas del Coco are often fully booked days ahead. Reserve early, or plan a home-cooked meal like many local families do.
Cover photo: jemasmith, CC BY 2.0, via Openverse · Photo: @joefoodie, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
