Carnival in Panama

The Carnival in Panama is the most expected and grandest occasion of the year. The feast is celebrated and would last for four straight days preceding Ash Wednesday. In these days, nobody sleeps and everyone is drinking and dancing and watching the parades and some competitions.

History of the Carnival

The word Carnival originates from the “feast of the flesh” and it is one big event celebrated before the abstinence ordered by the Christian church for the duration of the 40 days earlier than Lent. In Panama it simply means celebrating in the streets.

The country’s carnival started during the end of the 19th century when the county was still under the rule and power of Columbia. Panama achieved its freedom in 1903. It was in 1910, that under a Carnival Board, the first queen, Manuelita Vallarino, was crowned. The queen was selected by the Panamanian aristocracy and upper classes of the Union Club, which had just been founded in 1909 which also have their headquarters in the Casco Viejo.

The carnival was declared an official event by the year 1913. It wasn’t until after the mid ’50s that the Carnival Board started selecting the queen from other levels and ranks of society which causes the Union Club to hold their own internal carnivals. Another event which was tied to the four Carnival days was the “Carnavalitos” in the city of Colon. On the weekend after Panama City’s carnival, people travel by train or bus to enjoy Colon’s parades, comparsas and “toldos”.

Each of the country’s provinces performs and executes its own type and brand of carnival and tries and aims to present the public a new and fresh attraction each year.  In 2007, the parades and main events moved to a new route and direction, the wide Transisthmanian highway, where the huge and excited crowd can witness and enjoy the celebration of the Panama Carnival which started over a century ago.

Celebrating the Carnival

The schedule of the celebration usually starts on a Friday before Ash Wednesday.  This is when the selection and appointment of the Queen and her attendants takes place.

On Saturday, in the main street of Panama City, the Via Espana, the people gather with the aim and intention to party. Street vendors can also be seen along the streets of the city. There is also a small parade on this day which usually plays salsa music. In the evening the celebration is mostly indoors at the cities many discos, bars and hotels of all classes and divisions and goes on until dawn.

On Sunday, during its midday, there is a big and stunning “pollera” parade. Polleras refers to the Panama’s national costume. A lot of women and girls beautify themselves out in this charming national dress to march and join the parade in groups.

Monday, there are still small parades seen on the streets and are usually filled with revelers.
Tuesday is the largest and the main celebration for this event. A huge parade with nicely decorated floats and costumes would fill the cities. The parade usually attracts people of all categories because this event outshines and exceeds those previous days celebration. The party most the time finishes in the wee hours of the next morning.

The Carnival in Panama is the most celebrated in the country. This should be experienced by everyone as it takes a lifetime of memories.

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