Today, we expected a lecture about Costa Rica’s economy, but were instead treated to an exciting lesson about various aspects of Costa Rican culture. We learned about music, food, typical games and activities, and the UNESCO World Heritage symbol for Costa Rica: the oxcart. At the end of our lesson, we had the opportunity to design and paint an oxcart pattern of our own!

The traditional oxcarts of Costa Rica have a very rich history. They’re famously brightly colored and feature elaborate designs. This originated in the town of Sarchi in the mid 1800s. The European colonists brought their oxcart design from their homeland, which featured a spoked wheel. This design didn’t work very well, as the wheel often got stuck in the mud. Eventually, the Ticos and the colonists returned to the Aztecs’ design, which featured a solid wheel and did not get stuck so easily. Of course, a solid wooden wheel is boring and plain, so the people of Sarchi began painting their oxcarts, creating the beautiful designs that we know today.

My favorite thing about the oxcarts is that no two carts are painted exactly the same. Each one is hand painted with its own unique design and lots of love (the way all things seem to be done here). Some families adopted their own design type for their oxcarts, so that others could tell who the cart belonged to by looking at its design. Often, elaborate designs indicated the high economic status of the family.

Today, oxcarts are no longer used to transport coffee or other products, but are used during celebrations. I can see why, as the bright colors and intricate design are so happy looking! They are a great way to preserve and celebrate the heritage of the Costa Rican people.