Merchants were counting their winnings Monday night after have benefited from two Mother’s Days in the same week.

Stores were doing a brisk business Monday with those who had put off until the last minute a gift for Mom.

Traditional Mother’s Day is Aug. 15. But a law passed last year moves the official recognition of the day and the legal holiday to the next Monday to provide Costa Ricans with a three day weekend.

There is strong sentiment to move the day back to where it was, and a proposed law may be introduced to that effect.

This year, the wise offspring brought gifts to Mom last Tuesday and again Monday. Mother occupies a nearly divine position in the Costa Rican family, so observance of Mother’s Day is just a step down from Christmas.

The weather cooperated, too. The skies, although cloudy, did not dump a lot of rain.

The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional says that the Central Valley and the north Pacific will experience less rain, thanks to a change in weather patterns. Rain will be isolated in the Central Pacific but more general in the south Pacific, the institute said.