Posts Tagged ‘holidays’

How Is Christmas Celebrated In Panama City

Panama City Xmas Celebrations

Panama City is the center of Christmas celebrations in Panama, with 25% of its 3 million population living in Panama city. The observance of this Panama holiday is done according to the mixture of Spanish and American traditions. Many Americans stayed long in Panama during the building of the Panama Canal. The Christmas celebration begins on the 2nd week of December, whereby houses and businesses are decorated for the upcoming Panama holiday. Traditional Christmas lights and Christmas trees are put up on houses and businesses to symbolize that Christmas is coming soon.

In Panama City, Christmas is observed by holding Christmas parades. These parades make Christmas an exciting Panama holiday. The children from around the Panama city, particularly those from poor families, are gathered, and together they are brought to the center of festivities to receive some gifts and to enjoy the parades. The floats used in the parade are decorated colorfully in national styles. The women and girls dress in their native party dresses called polleras, while the men and boys in their menunos. Everybody in Panama City is looking up for this Panama holiday, Christmas, so they can wear their native costumes.

Panama City Expats Celebrate

Expats and tourists enjoy going to the Panama City Beach to enjoy one more tradition of this Panama holiday where a giant Christmas tree is ceremoniously lighted while singing Christmas carols. Even members of the local churches come together and they serve hot cocoa and cookies to everybody. Firework displays can be seen and enjoyed at the end of the festivities on this Panama holiday. Later at night, a Christmas boat parade, with colorful and glittering lights, is held in Panama City Beach.

Many tourists come to Panama city in time for Christmas to witness and enjoy this Panama holiday and at the same time to escape the snowy and cold winter of their home countries. Other nations up north normally experience snow banks and ice storms during December so they come to Panama city to feel its hot and humid weather. Many people from the northern countries make sure that they choose Panama city as their Panama holiday destination during the Christmas season.

Family Time in Panama City

The Panamanians in general have their big Christmas, Panama holiday celebration on the 24th of December. There are no bells to announce the coming of Jesus Christ, only firework displays. Families enjoy the huge meals together as they light the fireworks that shoot out from every Panamanian town. After the meals, at around past 1:00 am of December 25, Christmas day, people put some Christmas cheers into their cars and drive around for a visit to other family members and friends. Some tourists who are experiencing this Panama holiday tradition for the first time find this practice unique.

In Panama city, visiting relatives and friends in the middle of the night during Christmas is not odd. It is their tradition, and the relatives and friends will feel insulted if you do not go to their houses for a plate of food and some drinks.

The Panama non-working days during Christmas are half-day of the 24th, the whole days of December 25 and 26. The 26 was just recently declared a public holiday in Panama City.

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    Make Panama Your Next Holiday Destination

    Planning for a holiday can seem to be quite a task. The first thing that bothers you is choosing the destination. The other members of your group might prefer someplace else. You also have to keep in mind things such as the budget. If you are looking for a place that amalgamates all the beautiful aspects of nature and yet won’t cost you a lot; Panama is the place to be. Whether you prefer sea or you prefer mountain; whether you prefer shopping at holidays or you want to go for adventure sports; you can decide upon Panama.

    Panama is one such tourist destination where you can experience nature at its best. The geographic position of this country makes it ideal for holidaying. Panama is still far from catching up with the hustle-bustle of busy city life. It can be quite a peaceful retirement after months of hectic workload. The mighty hills of Panama are ideal for going on small trekking trips. As far as the wildlife is concerned; the national parks of this country are inhabited by some of the most exclusive species of animals and plants. The pristine beach and the cool blue sea at the backdrop complement such a setting to the utmost.

    The country boasts of rich ecology. In fact, the eco-tourism spots in this country attract most number of visitors from across the world. The best place about holidaying in Panama is the versatility it provides. There is something for people of every taste. Tourists who love adventure sports and look for water adventures will find the ultimate pleasure of holidaying in Panama. The snorkeling, surfing and diving spots in this country are some of the most famous spots in America.

    Let us take a look at the cultural aspect of this country. The main language that is spoken in this country is Spanish. However, English is as common and is considered as the second language. The delicacies of this country are something that will prompt you to keep coming back to this place again and again. And the warm and welcoming approach of the locales just make your holiday an even more pleasurable experience.

    The peaceful ambience of this country has prompted a lot of visitors to plan their life after retirement in this country. The living standard is quite low as compared to the other American countries. In fact, if there is any place where middle class people can afford to settle down and lead a comfortable life; it has to be Panama. This progress has also improved the real estate market of Panama.

    If you have decided upon Panama as your next holiday destination; make sure you do not miss out the most popular destinations. When in Panama you cannot miss the much talked about and universally famous Panama Canal. There are a lot of less-populated islets which are believed to the best possible adventure sports destination. Nature can be experienced at its most beautiful and mightiest form in the country of Panama. Visit Panama and be on a holiday to cherish throughout your lifetime.

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      Panama and its Islands

      Panama is a world on its own. Where on earth will you find a place that stages all the colors of life and all the hues of nature? Panama is god’s own country bestowed with abundance of nature and greenery. The list of what you can see and experience in this American Country is never ending. No wonder, Panama is a major tourist attraction.

      Panama connects North and South America. The Famous Panama Canal is considered to be the 9th wonder of the world and is a must see place when in Panama. Throughout the country you find beautiful mountains. You can even go trekking on these mountains which are believed to be one of the best eco tourism spots of the world. The flora and fauna of this country will astonish you with its diversity. The turquoise clear blue sea and the sandy pristine beaches will make you lost in its beauty. For the adventure lovers Panama has uncountable options. It can be water sports such as scuba diving, surfing and snorkeling. You can visit the national parks and see the wildlife of the Panama and be awed with its variance.

      Apart from the capital Panama City and the other cities like Bouquette and Bocas del Toro, the Islands of Panama are worth a visit, in fact you must visit these beautiful islands. The thousands of islands of Panama unique in their own way and most of them are found on the east hand side of Panama City. The creation of the islands itself is a surprise on its own. All these islands are a result of volcanic activities that have occurred millions of years ago.

      The San Blas Island is one of its very famous islands. It is situated to the north eastern part of the country. It has hundreds of subdivisions and is a very popular tourist destination on its own. The other very famous island of Panama is the Colon Island. This island is an archipelago and is a perfect getaway for the nature lovers. The Boca Brava Island is basically a small island but it is a favorite of the tourists. Reasons being its famous marine national park, its low population and the adventure packed facilities it can offer. It is also a great wildlife habitat. The Pearl Island is located not very far from the capital city. This island very small and scarcely populated; yet it is very popular amongst tourists due to its natural beauty and aura.

      If you are a adventure lover and would love to try different water sports and enjoy it to your hearts content, Panama’s Islands are a great option for you. For people who like to avoid the hustle bustle of big cities and want to get lost in the bed of nature, these thousands of Panama’s Islands are exactly what you have been looking for. The experience you can gather here is unforgettable. So if you are planning a holiday to the Panama, make sure you do not return without visiting these few famous islands and enjoying a complete holiday experience.

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