The inhabitants of Guanacaste greatly follow traditions and are known for their religious devotion, which is manifested in civic and religious festivals. They usually carry the image or statue of the saint in procession through the streets during Holy Week; the strong link between food and religious manifestations is worth noting. Therefore, on those holy days, they celebrate with corn-based dishes, which have been a staple since pre-Hispanic times for the indigenous population, linking corn with the earth and life. Corn acquired a new value in a sociocultural context, relating it to the religious sphere.
During religious festivals, typical dishes like rosquillas and the delicious tanelas made at home cannot be missed. Along the streets, there are stalls where one can buy these delicacies, often enjoyed with a glass of delicious chicheme or pozol soda, made with pujaua corn.
These stalls are small family businesses that have continued the tradition of their ancestors and, due to unemployment, sell their products in the streets to offer them to tourists throughout the year.
One does not have to wait for festivities; households often prepare them to enjoy as a snack in the afternoons or even in the mornings with a nice cup of coffee. Each home makes them with variations in some ingredients; some add ground hibiscus, custard, and sour milk. They all turn out very tasty.
