Valentine's Day in a Costa Rican High School

By Valeria Alfaro

Valentine’s Day at New Hope School in Costa Rica is really interesting and fun. There are lots of activities throughout all the school day students can participate in. It’s one of the days in which students practically have a free day and may go with normal clothes instead of an uniform. The dress code for Valentine’s Day is:

Red : If you are dating someone

Pink: If you are talking to someone

White: If you are single

Two weeks before Valentine’s Day, the seniors (grade eleven in US) organize the activity. They go to each class announcing the “combos” that are going to be available that year for Valentine’s Day. These combos are presents that students can send their

Valentines and the seniors will deliver it. For example, mason jars with chocolates and gum inside them, a cute letter, and balloons are typical combos. Also if students are just crushing on someone else and don’t want that person to find out they can just send it anonymously.

Seniors also make serenades for student’s Valentines and they sell all kinds of gifts, even kisses, as long as they are seniors as well. People also feel embarrassed sometimes because they also make fake weddings. They go around with ring pops. If students want to “marry” their Valentine they just pay 500 colones (1$). The school provides photo stands and a stage so the seniors can make the activities. It’s a really cute day and people can really feel the love in the air at New Hope school on Valentine’s Day.

Senior sing a serenade to a girl that is in grade 10.

Senior Santiago Bolaños gives a kiss to Jimena Ramírez from grade nine.

Carlos Soto “proposes” to his girlfriend Valeria Alfaro while Jimena Vargas reacts with a surprised face.