In Las Tablas

Pollera Festival celebrates tradition and customs

By Marijulia Puyol Lloyd

The tembleque— an intricate
confection of pearls and fish scales,
and silver threads.

One of Panama’s most spectacular festivals begins this week-end in Las Tablas, province of Los Santos. It is the National Pollera Festival celebrating Panamanian customs and traditions, especially the national costume – the Pollera. It takes place in conjunction with the festivities of the Patron Saint of Las Tablas – Santa Librada.

This year is the Festival’s 49th Anniversary. It takes place July 13-22 and is dedicated to the musician Dorindo Cárdenas.

The festival was created in the 60s with the purpose of highlighting the pollera, the Panamanian national costume, promoting knowledge about the correct use of the pollera and recognizing the skills and work of the artisans involved in the making of the national dress.

The program begins today, Friday July 13 when the festival queen, María Victoria Barrios Cedeño, wearing a traditional pollera, enters the town with her court. Drums play and troups of “típico” dancers parade through the streets. Later on, a tamborito (singing and drums) competition will take place in Las Tablas Park.

The Festival queen, María Victoria Barrios Cedeño.

The second event is the coronation of the new queen, María Victoria, a colorful spectacle with folkloric presentations with historical themes. After that the new sovereign, accompanied by drums, music and dancers is toasted by her enthusiastic subjects.

On July 20 a violin competition presided by the new queen celebrate Santa Librada´s Day. Participants will compete in three categories.

July 21 sees the best camisilla (traditional man’s shirt) and sombrero pintao (peasant’s hat). There will be winners in three categories and a tribute will be paid to Dorindo Cárdenas.

The last day of the festival, July 22 will be the most important, because all tableñas (women from Las Tablas) will be wearing polleras. In the early hours of the morning ladies dress national costume, head for the Gymnasium Auditorium where one lucky competitor will win the coveted “Margarita Lozada Medal”, awarded to the best pollera. That day 50 of the best polleras in the country will grace the runaway.

There are five categories in this competition: cross stitch, embroidery, chalk and shadow (talco y sombra), regional gala and montunas. The winners will receive jewelry made by local artisans.

At the end of the contest the queen and all the pollera competition’s participants will take part in a float parade with music and street dancing to end the festival.

For more information e-mail: festivaldelapollera07@gmail.com