by Rod Hughes

Tamales are a Christmas tradition here, although difficult to find during other times of the year. But how about one two yards long, about four feet wide and feeds 2,000? Even the most enthusiastic traditional housewife might find that a tall order.

And, indeed, the giant tamal is being made by a factory, Arley Navarro at the southern Desamparados suburb, Aserri, under contract to WalMart of Costa Rica. It will be consumed by some 2,000 shoppers at Hipermas in San Sebastian, transported there in sections It is the work of 20 persons and, since it is the first time it has been done, no one knows how much it will weigh—or how to weight the monster.

WalMart’s manager of corporate affairs, Yolanda Fernandez, says, “I have no idea how they’re going to boil it. Imagine the size of the pot!”