It is common for members of the opposite sex to douse one another with water as a sign of provocation (though today it’s generally made in a lighthearted manner), and two “queens” are chosen to compete for the title of overall reigning queen. Of course, these are just five of Panama’s most popular cultural events, but many more are held throughout the year. Fiestas PatriasArguably one of the most important cultural events on the Panamanian calendar, Fiestas Patrias celebrates the country’s separation from Colombia in 1903 as well as the nation’s Flag Day, making it a particularly patriotic event. We can also mention our native groups, with each one having their unique style, located in Chiriquí/Bocas del Toro, Veraguas and … Along the Panama Bay is the Cinta Costera, or coastal belt, a wide avenue lined with greenery, walkways, bicycle paths, recreation areas, and more. So I mentioned earlier that we’re really known for our Spanish culture. And that that is the festival del la Mejorana. Panama is home to thousands of people of African descent, whose ancestors came from places like Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago to help build the canal…or were slaves brought over during colonial times. I’ve seen papier mâché fire breathing dragons on these floats and genie’s that are I don’t know how many feet tall that tower into the sky. The failed French attempt to build the Panama Canal, from 1881 to 1889, left its mark and for the better part of the 20th century, through December 1999, the U.S. ran and maintained the Panama Canal. Most Panama residents love foreigners and offer them a warm welcome, because travelers from other countries elicit their interest. But that was very enriching for me when my Spanish got good enough that I could understand some of it. Nowadays, it’s a little bit harder to find those. The Ngöbe-Buglé tribes in this region also have autonomous jurisdiction in their province. You can visit their islands and learn about their culture and buy handicrafts from them, but they determine how many people can come into the area. The Azuero peninsula, known as the “cradle of folklore,” is perhaps the most popular. And they have a whole festival built around it with lots of music, lots of dancing. Whether it’s the climate, the culture, or the outdoors, national pride runs deep in Panama. Today, I thought we would take a step back and look at Panamanian culture and traditions, which is definitely part of the reason that I really love living here. Old Panama City Day . So lots of different types of costumes, different types of dances with their own specific steps that you can see all over the country. And our hand embroidered. Though they live all over the capital and the rest of the country, Afro-Caribbeans have predominantly settled in the provinces of Bocas del Toro and Colón. A strong U.S. presence helped mold Panama into one of Latin Americans most modern and advanced countries. You’re not going to have, you know, a huge selection of salads and vegan or vegetarian foods if you’d go to this region. Panama beer brands are Panama Cerveza, Balboa, Atlas and Soberana. More than 400 performers have been confirmed, including Herbie Hancock and national icon Rubén Blades. It borders the busy International Banking District, where sharp-dressed execs sport smart phones and drive the latest model cars. If you were to go to the Flower and Coffee festival in the Chiriqui Highlands, you will gain an insight into the wonderful landscapes that shape the country’s interior. They’re large, areas. If you’re a lover of music and dance, you won’t be disappointed. During the nighttime festivities, two groups line the city streets to represent members of the original feud. Precious few outsiders have been witness to their festivals. Please set correct email format: [email protected], important cultural events on the Panamanian calendar. Learn more about Panama and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Secular Celebrations Panama celebrates two independence days, on 3 November from Colombia and on 28 November from Spain. Seven major tribes continue to live traditional lifestyles here, and the largest rule autonomously in massive reserves. But there is a lot more to it than that. I hope that some of what I’ve talked about here today has piqued your interest. On this day, children await presents from the Three Wise Men, for whom they … During the Carnival season, locals and tourists flock here in droves. This is not your average cup of cocoa with milk and sugar, but a potent brew that they drink in large quantities. I am International Living, Panama Editor, Jessica, Ramesh, coming to you from Panama City, Panama. To experience the real Panama for yourself, contact one of our friendly local travel consultants to discover even more ways to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of this amazing country! Panama, as well as many of its neighbours has a large tradition of dancing and singing. Folklore galore at the Festival de la Mejorana in Guarare. I always recommend skipping Colon City, which is one of our only high crime areas. As with many other Panamanian celebrations, music and dancing are central to the Mejorana festival, but bull fights and oxcart parades are also very important. Though celebrations have become more elaborate in recent years, Carnival is first and foremost a popular party that takes place in the streets of the barrios (neighbourhoods) of Panama. Emberá women still tend to go bare-chested and wear colorful cloths from the waist down, with flowers in their hair. Tamborito. People here just tend to say whatever they’re thinking. This feeling is best summed up in the popular Panamanian phrase, puente del mundo, corazón del universo, which means “bridge of the world, heart of the universe.” Whatever the reason, Panamania… Very beautiful!. If you understand Spanish and you listen to the lyrics of the songs. Notable traditions that have survived into modern times include ancestral hunting, fishing, and the custom of living in elevated huts. During the Carnival season, locals and tourists flock here in droves. These called comarcas are reserved lands and are not tiny. And now we come to, as I mentioned before, some of our culture and folklore comes from Spanish colonial traditions. The big celebration begins when the clock strikes midnight. ... For major national celebrations and festivals, there is no better place. They are called comarcas. You would have to plan your trip carefully so that you’re here in time and those dates. It’s really that beautifully embroidered pollera dress that gets attention. And this is actually known as one of the most beautiful national costumes in the world, the pollera. Throughout Carnaval, families take the opportunity to indulge in food and drink on the country’s beaches and spend time with one another. We are a full-service provider offering domestic flights, guided tours and fine lodging. There are many places in Panama where you can see evidence of its deep Spanish roots. But it is a beautiful thing to behold. Panama dating traditions. Panama holidays celebrate its rich cultural and geographic diversity. The most expensive pollera’s take months to craft. So we’re talking 500 or more years ago. To celebrate the birth of Jesus, families set up a makeshift ‘inns’ built with palm leaves, and the family will act as innkeepers. The Azuero peninsula, known as the “cradle of folklore,” is perhaps the most popular. Starting on the 16th of December and finishing on the 24th, Panamanian communities across Panama hold what is known as "posada". Panamanians are quite direct. If you’re invited to someone’s home, it is polite to bring a small token, for example, flowers, a box of candy, a souvenir from your hometown, or a bottle of wine. Tourists enjoy the simplicity of white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and seafood plucked fresh from the ocean. Festival de la Mejorana en GuararéPanama has a rich folkloric history, and these myths and tales are celebrated during the Festival de la Mejorana in Guararé, located in the province of Los Santos on the Azuero Peninsula. In La Villa, Corpus Christi lasts nearly two weeks and involves elaborate dances that symbolize the battle between good and evil. And they are really funny. And if you want to go to a festival, your chances are good. A regard for personal connections is perhaps the best-known trait in Panama, particularly in business. Guna people’s comarca is autonomous. Which is really cool. Today, international residents, visitors, businesses, and culture continued to influence Panamanian life. Schoolchildren from across the country travel to the capital for the honor of performing in the procession’s marching bands, and the country is united in celebration not only of the nation’s independence, but also what it means to be Panamanian. We do get a lot of people that come from outside Panama to attend our carnival. When the vessel tried to set sail for the fifth time, the crew decided to lighten the ship’s load by casting a box overboard. They extract a black ink from this. Tours to the Emberá-Wounaan communities, are also popular. For major national celebrations and festivals, there is no better place. You can generally head to the Azeuro a peninsula at any time of year, catch a festival buy, you parts of a pollera costume or a full pollera costume. Which is the costume worn by women. What you would know as a reserve. Land in Panama City and you’ll see a scintillating skyline of chrome and steel towers. There are over 700 festivals held in Panama every year, so no matter when you visit, you should be able to find one. So it’s all about just being out on the beach and almost like camping. The nation is buzzing with energy, and individuals here are reaping the benefits. And what the Panamanian government did for its large groups of indigenous peoples was set aside land for them. The mysterious arrival of an image of the Nazarene is at the heart of this celebration, and there are several theories on how this artifact came to arrive in Panama. And if you go to one of their communities, they’ll show you how they cook their food. Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you a FREE REPORT -- Panama: Easy, First-World Living and the World’s Best Retiree Program. One of the things that you’ll see the most on posters, postcards around the country is the traditional dress associated with Panama’s folklore. But you can read a lot. I highly recommend a trip to the Azeuro peninsula if you want to see where it all started, Panama’s old Spanish roots. It attracts many pilgrims, some walking from Panama City, some crawling the last mile to the church on hands and knees. But the primary native cultures of Panama, of which there are 7, observe some of their own traditions, which go back hundreds of years or more. Well, the best known carnival is on the Azeuro in Panama. Another grand celebration enjoyed by Panamanians is the arrival of December 31 to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one. And then you have a lot of Afro Panamanians who are the descendants of people who came here to work on the Panama Canal project from places like Barbados and Jamaica. Performers wearing elaborate costumes engage in traditional dances on flamboyant floats during these parades, which have come to symbolize the event. These life sized effigies are an old Panamanian tradition. Corpus Christi is a catholic holiday that commemorates the Eucharist. Traditional folk songs and dances are performed during the celebration in memory of this historic event’s earliest days. Carnaval de Las TablasOne of Panama’s most popular cultural events, this colorful and lively celebration takes place every year during the four days preceding Ash Wednesday in March. But it’s unlikely that you would be able to witness any of their festivals. Sometimes they’ll do this, calling back and forth where they’re insulting each other and making fun of each other. Its roots date back 1251, when Pope Urban IV sanctioned it. They have very specific religious or spiritual beliefs rooted in nature. And it’s almost like, you know, rap battles in the U.S. where people go back and forth and they haven’t prepared anything, but they’re so clever and they come up with things that rhyme and with really good burns or insults and everybody’s laughing and dancing and having a wonderful time. And you can also look at and buy their handicrafts. Each month in International Living magazine, we share the actionable, on-the-ground guidance you need to match the retirement dream you see in your mind with a real-world spot where you could make it your reality. Much like Indian henna or mehndi, the stain lasts a couple of weeks. A lot of times people will assume that it’s just one type of dance. Christmas in Panama, like in most countries in the world is a time to share with family and friends doing good deeds, a time to give thanks for everything received during the year and recognizing Jesus in all the people in need. Festivities tend to be low-key, however, although school children parade in … These days, Panama’s biggest celebration is in the town of La Villa de Los Santos on the Azuero Peninsula. Talking with a full mouth or chewing with an open mouth is, as elsewhere, considered impolite. There’s a lot of material available online on Amazon and just online in general about their culture. But traffic is limited and only a limited amount of tourists can visit this area. But the really, really fine weaves that take much, much longer, a lot more work to work on those fibers, to get them thin enough, and then to do the actual coloring and weaving of the baskets. You won’t find the same variety immediately to the north of us, for example. Today, performers come from around the country to dance, sing, eat and enjoy. Dancers wear everything from flashy carnival wear to the dreamy white dress known as the pollera. It’s estimated that at least 75 % of the population identifies as Roman Catholic, with 15% to 25% belonging to other Christian traditions. The festival was first celebrated in the late 17th century. Christmas is celebrated from 24th to 25th December by Panamanians. A lot of people say it’s second only to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro in the Americas, and it’s very similar. Many pilgrims making their way to the Church of San Felipe do so on their knees out of respect for their Lord, and some wear purple robes as a symbol of penance for their misdeeds. Comments And the good thing about Bocas del Toro is its never crowded, you generally find a stretch of beach on which you can relax and not have to fight with crowds for a bit of sand to lay your towel in or, you know, wade in among hundreds of people into the water. That’s a little bit off the beaten path. Dusty Tubbs Panama Insider. And maybe you get a little time to go off the beaten path and see some of the festivals, the lesser known festivals visit some of the areas that not every tourist gets to, like Portobello in the province of Colon or like Bocas del Toro, the Caribbean islands of Bocas del Toro are every bit as beautiful as the Bahamas. One of the little known festivals  takes place in the little town of Guararé every year. 4. Eat what they fish from the sea. Spanish explorers arrived here as early as 1501 and Panama was part of the Spanish Empire from 1513 until 1821. You will also find that the term “PC” or “political correctness” carries little weight here. Also, be prepared for pampering. ... Panamanians do not consider themselves former Colombians. You can book tourists through organizations like Gamboa or Ancon. Let’s take a look at some of the most extended Panamanian dances. If you if you want to lay out that much money and experience some of the dances, eat some of the foods, that sort of thing. One of Panama’s unique New Year traditions is that of the Muñecos. https://eq507pty.blogspot.com/2013/11/customs-and-traditions-of-panama.html Though Spain and France played important roles in Panama’s history, the existing republic came into being in 1903. 2. November 4 th is Flag Day. If you are just interested in the colorful souvenir to take home. With a diverse and fascinating culture, there are endless ways to experience and learn more about Panama. It’s very similar to what people refer to as black henna, and it’s traditional for them to paint their faces and their arms in geometric designs and sometimes blocks of color. The one you’ll see the most, is a very beautiful off the shoulders dress. It is a true “melting pot” of races, with over 70% of the population being mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Caucasian). If you do find them, they’re definitely worth buying if you’d like to have them. Here there is a focus on sustainable tourism. But the rest of the province outside of that capital city, there’s lots to see. Because a lot of times when people talk about Panamanian culture and traditions, they think just of our Spanish colonial heritage. This is a day to thank the old city for giving way to the new city that the Panamanians live in today. Celebrated in November, the festival recognizes the Panamanian flag, as it was designed and first created when the country declared its formal independence. Panamanians love to decorate and paint their houses for these celebrations. What their very intent on is to keep that clean, pristine and to preserve their traditional ways of life. And I thought I would start by telling you just a little bit about our population here so that you guys can get an idea of really just how varied it is. I know because I used to work on Carnival Cruise Lines and I was there every week. Learn more about Panama and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Many Panamanians feel strongly that their country is different from others in the region – perhaps because of its intense history or unique geographical location. And those will hold water. So you can just Google for those. And both provinces have sites to see they great areas to visit. The biggest event of the year is Carnival, held over the four days preceding the Catholic Lent. So they don’t allow big development. Over time, this bitter feud was forgiven, and today, the carnival symbolizes harmony and togetherness. Other ethnic groups that arrived more recently complete the unique cultural diversity of Panama, making it a warm, friendly and dynamic country that welcomes diversity. Lots of yummy food is made; Pavo (turkey) and Relleno (stuffing) along with Arroz dulce and Tamales (a cornmeal past with sauce, meats, prunes, spices, and capers wrapped in plantain leaves and then boiled). When discovered on the shore, the crate was found to contain the image of the Nazarene, at which point it was transferred to the church in Portobelo. At the stroke of midnight, the statue is returned to its home alongside the Golden Altar in the Church of San Felipe. Beer in Panama are as cheap as $0.81 US in the supermarket, and between one and two dollars in restaurants. You’re not going to find any resorts on these islands, just little huts that look very much like the huts they lived in. And, as in North America, colonization forever altered the cultural landscape. If you attend to Carnival celebration, you’ll hear people saying that they are celebrating the pagan God Momo during Carnival, which might surprise you because Panama is a predominantly Catholic country.But the tradition around Carnival is all about letting loose and having four days of debauchery. If you gain weight, the next time your local friend sees you, he or she is likely to say: “You’ve gotten fatter.” In general, people here don’t mean to offend, so they see no reason to be PC. Panama loves to celebrate the many milestones leading to its final & full independence Nov. 28: Independence Day From Spain. That is, when they’re not riding the new metro that sweeps through the city’s busy commercial areas. Quintessential Panamanian culture is on full display during this event, as a large parade is often lead by a female dancer dressed in traditional Panamanian clothes, such as the cherished ¨pollera¨ (the dress females wear as seen in the photo above). From 1904 to 1914, the U.S. built the Panama Canal, staying on to administer the waterway and the surrounding “Canal Zone” and later building and staffing military bases. And that is when your average Panamanian will make sacrifices for the 40 days of Lent. And it’s made from a local fruit or nut called jagua. There are over 700 festivals held in Panama every year, so no matter when you visit, you sho… Even today, Panamanians take time and effort to establish a personal relationship before entering into a business relationship (as is the case in most of Latin America). by Charles Conn. Dec 29, 2016. Evoking this scene perhaps serves to remind the vie… So that’s really something interesting to see and do when you come down here. Montezuma, in its versions “Española” and “Cabezona”, has prevailed among the Azuero people, especially in La Villa de Los Santos (The Saints’ Village). It is on the Caribbean side of Panama. Compliment the food a few minutes in and, before leaving, thank your host for a lovely meal. This impressive dais features detailed carvings of Christ’s journey to Golgotha, where He was crucified. I’m going to start with sort of going back in time to some of the older culture and traditions here. For dessert, almost every table has fruitcake. 1. Panama is predominantly a Roman Catholic country, so you can expect to encounter many Panamanian festivals that center around common Christian traditions. You’ve got the really big floats that take a whole year almost to put together. And the dates will vary every year. And it is made up of parts of the provinces of Los Santos, Herrera, and part of Veraguas. And they have some of the most incredible Caribbean islands under their jurisdiction. It has taken place in a small and sleepy town on the Azuero Peninsula since the 1950s, and is considered the prime celebration of all the old stories and customs that coalesce in the country. Eventually, good prevails over e… Panamanian culture is a hybrid of African, Native Panamanian, and European culture - specifically Spanish.For example, the tamborito is a Spanish dance that was blended with Native American rhythms and dance moves. Panama Vacations is a luxury travel specialist offering Panama all inclusive travel packages with the best hotels, resorts and tours in the country. The headdress is also a very intricate headdress. The social beliefs and customs practiced in Panama are drawn from ethnic communities native to the country and those who came from different parts of the world. 5. Although a small country, roughly the size of South Carolina, Panama is very diverse. Panamá has unique places and churches, like "Natá de los Caballeros", and cultural centers in Chiriquí and other provinces. Colorful costumes decorate both the devils and the angels, who take turns dancing and acting out their respective roles. A celebration to last throughout the years So bring your good times, and your laughter too We gonna celebrate your party with you…” Come embrace the customs and practices that have been part of Panama for a hundred years… Come to Panama… Come to Chitré! It’s a small Spanish guitar that is still handmade in this region of Panama. For major national celebrations and festivals, there is no better place. This annual festival held in September each year and honors the Virgin of Mercy (la Virgen de las Mercedes), who was said to have performed a miracle for a local’s daughter in 1949. We still have a lot of areas that are little islands that are and where a boat can dock for the day and let you have your own desert island for the day, which is probably one of my favorite experiences here in Panama. Discover Panama Holidays, Festivals and Traditions. It’s typically worn with very specific gold jewelery, including a choker and a sort of chain of gold coins or medallions. So those are the two major tribes. November 5 th is a special day in the province of Colon, when they prevented Colombia from taking Panama back again. Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean communities have rich histories here. I’ve never tried to count them all, but they certainly do have a lot no matter what time of year you come here, if you’re interested in seeing that sort of old Spanish colonial traditional Panama. Panamanians like latin dances such as salsa, merengue or bachata but they also love their folklore. They’ll show you some of their dances. Traditional dances are set to tipico music, characterized by yodeling, accordions, and small guitars called mejoranas. And then we come forward in history to our Afro Panamanian culture. If possible, invite your host to a nice lunch or dinner to reciprocate (at your home if you have one in Panama, and if not, at a restaurant). JUMP TO blog post titled: "The Top 6 Panama Festivals You Cannot Miss".. Search our blog about all things Panama! 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