Día de la Batalla de Rivas2026 · Date · History
Costa Rica Legislative Assembly and cultural-history sources verify April 11 as the annual Battle of Rivas commemoration, the April 11, 1856 historical anchor and Act 8886 later date-protection framework.
About Día de la Batalla de Rivas
Costa Rica commemorates the Battle of Rivas on April 11 each year.
The date recalls the April 11, 1856 battle during the National Campaign against William Walker’s forces.
Why Día de la Batalla de Rivas matters
The commemoration is part of Costa Rica’s national historical memory of the 1856 campaign and is closely associated with Juan Santamaría.
The page presents the military history descriptively and avoids turning national remembrance into present-day political advocacy.
History of Día de la Batalla de Rivas
Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly identifies April 11, 1856 as the date of the Battle of Rivas.
Act 8886 of November 1, 2010 amended the Labor Code so April 11 each year, Day of the Battle of Rivas, is enjoyed and commemorated on the date itself.
The 2010 statute is later legal recognition of an established historical commemoration; it is not treated as the original creation of the anniversary.
The first completed recurring annual observance remains unresolved in the reviewed sources.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Amended the Labor Code so April 11 each year, Day of the Battle of Rivas, is enjoyed and commemorated on the calendar date itself.
Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica · Act 8886
Government institutions of Costa Rica
Legislative and cultural institutions continue to recognize and interpret the April 11 national commemoration.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
7 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
Anniversary of the Battle of Rivas
How to Observe Día de la Batalla de Rivas
Read Costa Rican legislative and cultural-history material about the 1856 campaign and Battle of Rivas.
Learn how Juan Santamaría became part of the country’s public memory of the battle.
Visit museums or monuments where appropriate and follow current institutional guidance.
Distinguish documented battle history from later legends and patriotic retellings.
Use current Costa Rican official sources for practical holiday or work-schedule questions.
Día de la Batalla de Rivas Facts
The anniversary is observed on April 11.
The Battle of Rivas occurred on April 11, 1856.
Costa Rica Act 8886 requires the April 11 commemoration to be observed on its calendar date.
The battle was part of the Central American struggle against William Walker’s filibuster forces.
The reviewed sources do not establish the first annual commemorative edition.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Costa Rica Legislative Assembly — Act 8886 (opens in a new tab)
National Legislature
Costa Rica Legislative Assembly — Juan Santamaría historical collection (opens in a new tab)
National Legislature
Costa Rica Ministry of Culture and Youth — National Monument history (opens in a new tab)
Government Culture
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Día de la Batalla de Rivas?
11 April annually The documented recurrence rule is: 11 April.
Does Día de la Batalla de Rivas fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Día de la Batalla de Rivas an official public holiday?
Within the reviewed scope, it is identified as Costa Rica / statutory national commemoration. That status is not automatically extended to other countries or jurisdictions.
Who established or recognizes Día de la Batalla de Rivas?
The documented basis is: Costa Rica Legislative Assembly and cultural-history sources verify April 11 as the annual Battle of Rivas commemoration, the April 11, 1856 historical anchor and Act 8886 later date-protection framework.. Supporting evidence includes Costa Rica Legislative Assembly — Act 8886. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is Día de la Batalla de Rivas international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to Costa Rica. Its fuller verified scope is: Costa Rica / statutory national commemoration.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-01.
When is the Battle of Rivas anniversary in Costa Rica?
It is commemorated on April 11.
Why April 11?
The Battle of Rivas took place on April 11, 1856.
What did Act 8886 change?
The 2010 law amended Costa Rica’s Labor Code so the April 11 Day of the Battle of Rivas is enjoyed and commemorated on its actual calendar date.
Did the 2010 law create the historical anniversary?
The reviewed evidence treats it as later statutory recognition and date protection, not proof of the original creation of the commemoration.
Other observances on April 11
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Zapier’s own 2023 campaign page states that Marketing Operations Appreciation Day is April 11 and describes it as an annual recognition initiative.
National Barbershop Quartet Day
The Barbershop Harmony Society says National Barbershop Quartet Day commemorates the birth of the organized barbershop movement on 11 April 1938.
National Cheese Fondue Day
The Melting Pot’s first-party 2025 material identifies April 11 as National Cheese Fondue Day, continuing a long-running brand celebration.
National Pet Day
Founder Colleen Paige’s current holiday list places National Pet Day on April 11, and the U.S. Census Bureau lists National Pet Day on April 11 in its current April resources.