The final weeks of the year in Costa Rica are filled with tradition and cheer.

With the holidays upon them, Ticos look forward to infallible seasonal staples such as the delicious tamales, the bull runs and firework displays in El Zapote, the Parade of Lights, the Avenidazo, two or more weeks off work, the hopes to score at least one lottery ticket, the national carnival, the equestrian parade, and the time-honored trips to the beaches.

Being a Roman Catholic nation by virtue of its Constitution, priests around the country remind their congregations about the Holy Days of obligation of the Advent season. Grapes and apples, countless staff parties, family gatherings, new clothes, and colorful Christmas decorations round off some of the many Tico customs that accentuate the holidays.

Times are changing in many societies around the world, and Costa Rica is not exempted. Much to the chagrin of members of the old guard, some holiday traditions are being changed, while others are being pushed aside to make room for new ones. Here’s a look at some old holiday conventions that are being transformed, and some new ones which are being adopted:

Chicken and Fish Tamales

It is estimated that a traditional pork tamal packs more than 400 diet-busting calories, a bit too much for health-conscious Ticos worried about the size of their waistlines. In recent years, new recipes for holiday tamales have been touted by advocates of healthy eating. These recipes eschew pork in favor of chicken, or the more exotic fish alternative.

In the past, the elaborate preparation of tamales for the holidays was a family event that grandmothers enjoyed overseeing. Abuelitas can now take a break, as tamales these days are usually purchased from upscale eateries like Spoon, to the tune of 3,000 colones for a bundle of two. These healthier tamales aren’t made with pork, and they range between 200 and 300 calories.

Black Friday

Once known as the busiest shopping day for major retailers in the United States, Ticos have embraced the day after Thanksgiving as the new kickoff event of the holiday season. It all started a few years ago as tech-savvy Ticos began taking advantage of online deals on sites such as Amazon that were simply too good to pass up. For shipping and delivery services that assist shoppers with their purchases and -when applicable- the process of tax exemption, Black Friday was a windfall for their business.

As more Ticos joined the Black Friday and Cyber Monday frenzy, national retailers decided to enter the fray. As a result, this year’s Black Friday event in Costa Rica mirrored the craziness in the United States in some ways. While no Ticos were shot or blasted with pepper spray, stores were mobbed with shoppers anxious to cash in on the deep discounts, parking lots at shopping malls were jammed, and purists lamented the adoption of a faux holiday that celebrates massive consumption.

El Chinamo

This year marks the tenth anniversary of channel 7’s televised wild holiday party, an energetic variety show that has become must-see TV. As television programming in Costa Rica during the holidays is mostly lackluster, Teletica’s El Chinamo is a great alternative to the endless repetitions of badly dubbed versions of Miracle on 34th Street and it’s a Wonderful Life.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes the show so popular. It could be the sultry and curvaceous presenters and models suggestively gyrating to reggaetón beats, the surreal comedy skits -which often feature the aforementioned models in skimpy outfits- or the song and dance contests. Whatever the case might be, El Chinamo is filmed before a live audience who are obviously having the time of their lives. While show is often derided for its gaudiness, after ten years it has become a new Tico holiday institution.