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All through the country side of Costa Rica, in July, the oxen teams and their intricately painted carts are readied. The big event is San Ignacio Day. It is the day that the hard working oxen receive a blessing. Oxen are still used by farmers all over Costa Rica. They pull carts laden with sugar cane to be processed into sugar, they pull plows to ready the fields for planting, they pull trees out of the forest to be used for lumber. It is not just a man’s job, women and children also learn to drive the oxen. The ox is an integral part of Costa Rican farm life. In this deeply Catholic country their blessing is taken seriously. Olivia and I rode Beau and Paloma to the nearby town of Guayabo to take part in the event. Over a hundred ox carts made a long parade down the main highway to arrive in Guayabo where the priests, standing in the bed of a pickup truck, splashed each oxen team and their owners with holy water. A dozen or so horses (and even a dog) were blessed that day, including Beau and Paloma
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I was just reading about the ox-cart processions: they have been granted the status of ‘intangible masterpiece of the world’s heritage’ by UNESCO. Intangible meaning, really, that which can’t be bought and sold….So nice to see photos of it, and of you two! can’t wait to see you in November!
Nice to know about the oxcarts and UNESCO. It is one of the events that takes place here that is truly unique to Costa Rica. Looking forward to riding with you and Ray in Nov. Liz
Hi Liz
Great blog! Love it. Post a link to the nature horse care group, they others will love it.
How is beau?
Love
Andrea