Panama’s non-traditional festivals

There is no doubt that Panama is a country of rich traditions and multiple annual festivals –a legacy of over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule. An example of this is seen in the Azuero region, in central Panama, where there are over 600 annual celebrations, since even the smallest residential subdivision has its own patron saint festivity.

There is also a number of lesser-known festivities which derived from major religious celebrations, but have transformed into more vernacular expressions over the years, such as the Aguacate (Avocado) Festival, which takes place in Bugaba, Chiriquí, July 7-8. Also celebrated in Chiriquí this time of year is the annual festival of the District of Barú (July 12).

In Panama, it is a well-known fact that coffee enthusiasts (as well as flower lovers) flock to the town of Boquete, in the province of Chiriquí every January for the annual Flower and Coffee Fair. However, residents of the the mountain town of Río Sereno, near the Costa Rican border, will tell you that their Feria del Café comes first (October 18).

A troupe of Cucuá dances: a rare folklore tradition of the province of Coclé.

More religious in nature are the Nuestra Señora del Carmen festivities in the province of Bocas del Toro. During this patron saint festival, dozens of Roman Catholic devotees take part in a pilgrimage to a shrine honoring the saint, which is located in a jungle cave on Isla Colón. The pilgrimage takes place July 16.

Since these celebrations are "off the beaten path", and since there is very little information on them, we would like to encourage visitors who enjoy a certain degree of adventure to pay a visit to these locations during their festivals. We would like to hear about your experiences there and publish your pictures in our coming issues. Stories and photographs should be sent to: focusint@sinfo.net