Culture Name: Panamanian
Alternative Name: Panameño (Spanish)
Panama became an independent nation because of its function as a shipping route — the “path between the seas.” It gained independence in 1903 as part of an American-sponsored revolt against Colombia that led to the signing of a treaty granting the United States the right to build the Panama Canal.
People of Panama:
The Republic of Panama is a former Spanish colony with a mixed ethnic population. Creoles, mestizos (someone of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry in Latin America), European immigrants, Africans, and indigenous Indians make up the majority of the Panamanian population.
Symbol of the Nation:
The female national dress in Panama is the pollera, characterized by a flowing skirt, abundance of handwork, and ornate jewelry. The pollera is marked as one of the most beautiful costumes in the world. Girls and women in Panama traditionally will own two polleras in their lifetime: one before age 16 and one in adulthood. The pollera is very well-respected and recognized in Panama as a national, cultural symbol.
Linguistics:
The official language of Panama is Spanish, but in English is used widely (and predominately) in Panama City and business, especially banking and tourism.
Art & Music in Panama:
Designer textiles, appliqué works and mola design (part of the traditional costume of an indigenous woman) are among the most appreciated art forms in Panama. Basketry and woodcarvings are also popular art forms among Panamanians.
Music is a very popular form of entertainment in Panama. Among the most popular forms of music listened to by Panamanians are: salsa, reggae, merengue and valletano. Local music made up of folklore is also widely celebrated by the people.
Panamanian Food:
Popular foods in Panama include: tortillas (made of corn) served with eggs and melting cheese (very popular for breakfast meals,) hojaldras – Panamanian “donuts” served hot and always with sugar or vanilla sprinkled on top; as a main course, sancocho is traditionally served, Panama’s customary countryside soup with chicken; also served as a main course is corvina, a fish dish served with different sauces; an abundance of shrimp, lobster, and fish are eaten regularly; tamales, which are made from a dough or a corn, filled with pork or chicken and spices, wrapped in a banana leaf and boiled. Among other tasty dishes popular in Panama are empanadas, carimanolas (meat-stuffed yucca root), shrimp ceviche, and many other local delicacies.
Panama’s Cultural Cornerstone:
Casco Viejo, where Panama City’s past and future intersect, as a time-worn colonial district has become the cultural cornerstone of the country. The once bullet-scarred buildings and cobblestone streets were at one time deemed unsafe, but in the last decade the district has been transformed into a rising hotbed of cafes, restaurants, shopping and night clubs, inviting to both tourists and locals.
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