Primera Comunión

Quite the series of events yesterday. Seven a.m. signaled the arrival of Romaine and the window men. No, not a local band but tradespeople who replaced our front windows and installed aluminum frames. Wood does not hold up forever in this climate because of the downpours during the rainy season. Four installers, two and a half hours later, brand new, weather proof windows at a cost of $275. I am not sure what the price would be in Vancouver, but I suspect a tad more.
Ten o'clock chimed and the Cathedral in San Ramon centro was the scene of Jennifer's (along with countless others') First Communion. Standing room only as proud family members and friends gathered for what is an extremely important rite de passage here, as in most Latin American countries. The event was more festive than I recall decades ago in Vancouver. Video cameras documenting, cameras clicking, children chatting and those about to receive the Sacrament for the first time sitting as patiently as they could, often gently reminded to pay attention by an adult seated in each of their aisles.
About ninety percent of Costa Ricans are nominally Roman Catholic. Although, San Ramon has a fairly modest population of 45000, three large churches adorn the landscape; the main Cathedral and two auxiliary churches in other cantons. I was told that the ten o'clock service was the second of three on Saturday alone.
Unlike the case in many other Latin American countries, my observations and readings lead me to believe that Costa Rica is relatively secular in nature. Although the physical landscape is replete with Churches, and the Cathedral delineates the centre of a city, the dominance does not extend into the life blood of the country. Costa Rica was never conquered by the Spanish as there was only a very small indigenous population. The Spanish just kind of moved in slowly as seventeen families from Spain divided up the land and began their enterprises. There has been no internal dispute for power between the church and the political arm of the state. Without a large impoverished population, the church has evolved into occupying much more social than political space. By Latin American standards, Costa Rica is a middle class country, an economic reality which shapes the relationship between the average Tico and the Church
Yesterday's festivities had much more the energy of an awards' assembly at an elementary school than that which often characterizes the first receiving of the Sacrament. I really enjoyed it and was grateful for the invitation.
I then went to small, family gathering at the home of Jennifer's family where two more people asked if they could attend our informal English conversation group, went home and watched the evening sky emerge.