Spectacular Mejorana Festival
offers music folklore and faith

By Marijulia Pujol Lloyd

Hundreds of musicians, dancers and artisans will meet at the “Mejorana Festival” in Guararé, Los Santos province in one of the most important events of the region. This festival takes place from September 21 to 26 and coincides with the patron saint festivities of “Virgen de Las Mercedes”.

Young girls wering polleras montunas.

The patron saint of Guarare was the inspiration for this festival, because its founder, Manuel F. Zarate, promised the “Virgen de Las Mercedes” to have folklore festivities in her honor if she cured his daughter from a crippling illness. She performed that miracle 57 years ago and since then the “Mejorana Festival” has become an important event in the calendar of the Panamanians.

The queen of the Mejorana Festival,
Her Majesty Dayana Carolina
Herrera Castillero.

The “mejoranera” is the musical instrument from which the festival takes its name. It is a type of guitar, smaller than the Spanish version and usually manufactured in the workshops of the town. It only has four strings.

The first organizers of the festival selected the name “mejorana” because of its wide use in the music, singing and dancing of the province. Mejoraneros, drummers, accordionists, artisans, “décimas”(singing poetry) singers and folklore groups from all parts of the country will take part in this four-day festival.

This year, the queen of the festival is Her Majesty Dayana Carolina Herrera Castillero and she will preside with her court over the festivities that include accordion and drum competitions for all ages on September 22. Troupes of dancers from all parts of the country will execute regional dances and try to win the “Lorenzo Lencho Vergara” competition.

Of all activities during the festival, the Parade of the Carriages, which take place on September 23, is the most spectacular, because it comprises all the folklore groups, tunas (folklore dancers and musicians), and the carriages drawn by oxen, each one representing different commercial and governmental entities. Around 35 floats will take part this year.

After the parade, you can see the traditional bullfight. Don´t worry, the bull will not be killed, but it will probably hurt some of the “wannabe” bullfighters. The same day at 5:00 p.m. everybody is invited to participate in the “Atolladero”, a tradition that demands that everybody throws mud at each other while wearing white clothes.

Depicting country traditions –a couple husks and winnows their rice.

The competition for the written “décima”, dedicated to Professor Manuel F. Zarate, creator of the Mejorana Festival, will take place on September 24 as well as the vocal “décima” contest “Bernardo Cigarruista”.

The Night of the Violins “Colaco” Cortéz will be on September 25 with the participation of fiddlers from all parts of the country. The party finishes the following day with more music and dances.

To travel to Guararé, take a bus from Panama Terminal to Las Tablas. There you can find accommodation, but Guararé has few hotels. Make your reservation on time, because during the time of the festival few rooms are available.