The Ox Cart is a National Symbol of Labor in Costa Rica.
The cart was used as a means of transportation across the country. In 1840’s when commerce was introduced to Costa Rica and coffee was the main product that was exported, at that time to England for distribution throughout Europe, the ox cart was used to transport the coffee to the ports. Often the journey took a couple of weeks.
The carts were guided by a person, named oxherd, who not only guided the 2 oxen and the cargo but was responsible for tending to the oxen and maintaining the cart. Historically, they represent the perseverance and persistence of the Costa Rican people.
In the early twentieth century, the carts were painted with local designs as a means of identification of the origin of each cart. As this phenomenon grew, the art became more distinct with more designs, flora, fauna and portraits and became a symbol of pride for the oxherder and his region. To this day, there are annual contests of the artwork displayed on the ox carts.
In March 1988, the ox cart became the National Symbol of Labor of Costa Rica. Many of the coffee plantation still use the ox cart during the harvest.