Independence Day celebrations in Costa Rica often feature&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1028926&amp;quot; target=&amp;quot;_blank&amp;quot;&amp;gt; parades of school children&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; carrying flags and dressed in traditional Costa Rican clothing or other costumes. Bruce Thomson, 29, took this photo in 2006 when he was living in the country. &amp;quot;Celebrations often begin the night before with town gatherings and the lighting of home-made, patriotically decorated lanterns,&amp;quot; said the World Bank economist. 