18 Feb Carnival in Panama
By Natalie Warner
Brace yourselves; Carnival is just around the corner. Saturday, the 25th of February, is the official start of Carnival, although the parties and traffic may begin a few days prior. What is Carnival? What could you expect?
Carnival is common in countries with high Catholic populations and is a celebration that typically begins in February and ends on Ash Wednesday–the start of Lent. Catholics often fast or give something up during Lent, which occurs for 40 days before Easter. The original purpose of Carnival was to consume any remaining alcohol and/or foods that may go against the traditions of Lent.
Carnival is known as Mardi Gras in the United States, which means “fat Tuesday” in French. Each country and region has their own variations of Carnival; however, most events tend to include a public celebration or parade, dancing, and street festivals.
The most well known festival in Panama is in Las Tablas. Other large Carnival festivals include Panama City and the river parade in Penonome. Festivals generally include dancing on the streets in a blocked area inaccessible to traffic and include water trucks that spray participants with water. Each year a queen is announced in each festival. The queen and other participants partake in the parade by riding on intricate floats and in extravagant costumes.
Carnival float in Penonome, Panama 2016
Carnival queen with full feather costume and headdress.
Be prepared for heavy traffic and a lot of music. Plan ahead. Go shopping at least three days before Carnival starts; parking lots will be packed as the weekend approaches. It is not uncommon for traffic to be so heavy that it can take over an hour to get from Nueva Gorgona to Playa Gorgona. Expect an increased amount of people on the beach and in your area, whether you live in a condo or a house. The population Coronado and surrounding areas increases significantly.
Music typically goes nonstop during Carnival. Joining in on the local festivities not only allows you to see Panamanian culture, it also may help alleviate any sense of cabin fever you may get by avoiding heavy traffic on the roads. If you decide to dance by a water truck be prepared to get wet. Water trucks typically stop by mid afternoon as does the dancing in the street (that does not mean the music does). Storing identification and electronics in waterproof cases will help prevent damage. Also, be sure to wear sun protection and drink water in order to prevent dehydration. Smaller Carnival festivities occur in Chame, Nueva Gorgona, San Carlos, and El Valle, in addition to surrounding towns.
Carnival is about having fun. This time of year is something many Panamanians look forward to. Although the beaches area will be significantly busier, it is also a great opportunity to glimpse into a festival that is celebrated world wide.