Last April 11, Costa Rica celebrated one of its most important holidays. This is the commemoration of the death of Juan Santamaria, who is considered to be Costa Rica's national hero.
It was during the mid-1850's when American filibuster William Walker decided to conquer five states in Central America and annex them to the southern United States, with him as the President of this region. He was successful with Nicaragua, which he ruled from 1856 to 1857. Costa Rica also became one of his targets to be part of his private slave-holding empire.
Upon learning this, Costa Rican president Juan Rafael Morra Porras called upon the general population of the country to move up in arms towards the north, near the Nicaraguan border, in order to clash with the foreign invaders. Juan Santamaria, born in Alajuela to a poor family, decided to join their ranks as a drummer boy.
After defating a small enemy contingent in Santao Rosa, the Costa Rican forces march on to face a fierce combat that ensued in the city of Rivas, where the Costa Rican troops had a hard time battling the troops of Walker, which were using a city in the hostel to get an advantageous firing range. The combat was so bloody that nearly half of the Costa Rican forces fell. José María Cañas, leader of the ragtag group, then said that in order to make the Walker forces retreat, someone has to burn the hostel. Many tried but failed. Eventually, Santamaria, along with one Nicaraguan, set off to a suicide mission in order to burn it. They were successful, but they died in the process. The burning of the hostel then forced the enemy troops away.
For Central America, which had not experienced any war for independence that most other nations experienced, this war against the filibuster was used for nationalist purposes. As already mentioned, Santamaria is considered to be Costa Rica's national hero, with festivals all over the country especially in Alajuela celebrating his sacrifice.
