“Feliz Navidad!” This means Merry or Happy Christmas, and is the official Christmas greeting used in most Spanish speaking countries, including Panama.
The holidays start for Panamanians on December 8th – with the celebration of the Immaculate Conception. This is also known as Mother’s Day in Panama. Little girls dress as Angels with wings attached to their dresses to celebrate this blessed day!
This marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Panama. To kick-off the season there is a parade, La Parada de Navidad, featuring floats, local bands and the celebration of the “Christmas Spirit.” Every year the floats are decorated in traditional Panamanian styles and people in the parade dress in polleras (the typical women’s dress and style) and montunos (traditional men’s style.) Drummers keep the crowds of families that gather from all over the country entertained, and those who can’t make it in person can watch the parade live on TV each year.
On the coast of Panama City each year a giant Christmas tree is lit with Christmas lights and the locals gather around to sing Navidad villancios (Christmas carols.) This day is topped with a fireworks display and later that night, a spectacular Christmas boat parade, with an extravagant show of lights on the boats.
The following weeks is when the nacimientos (nativities) begin being set up around the communities. Many families’ nacimientos have been passed down from generation to generation and were brought over from Europe many, many years ago.
Unlike the United States, not all families display a Christmas tree in their home. More traditionally, in Panama, is the display of festive lights outside and around the home.
Christmas Eve in Panama is marked by dancing and celebrating with family and friends, waiting for midnight when the Christmas feast begins. Traditional Christmas dishes of the midnight feast include: chicken tamales, Arroz con Pollo (chicken and rice) pavo (turkey) and relleno (stuffing.) Beautiful bowls of fruit and fruitcake are traditional Panamanian Christmas desserts. A form of spiked eggnog, called Ron Ponche, is often served with the feast.
On Christmas Eve at midnight, when the feast begins, Panamanians traditionally display a spectacular, gigantic firework show. No one misses the beginning of Christmas in Panama!
Traditional Panama Christmas Recipe:
Ron Ponche (Egg Nog)
2 cans of condensed milk
3 cans of evaporated milk
6 eggs
1/2 bottle of Rum
nutmeg to taste
Combine the milks in a large container;
beat the eggs in a separate bowl
stir them into the milk mixture,
Slowly add the rum.
Add nutmeg to taste.
Must be refrigerated until ready to drink.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
commplenter 01.19.09 at 2:42 am
Good information!Good job!=)
Playa Blanca 01.21.09 at 4:40 pm
@commplenter Thank you for reading our blog! We hope you will return for future posts… and thank you for the compliment!