Cover Story
100 years of the Panamanian Carnival
By Jacob Ehrler
It’s Carnival! This wild pre-Lenten celebration takes place 40 days before Holy week. The idea behind the nation-wide party is to indulge in “pleasures of the flesh” during four wild days and nights before the coming repentance. The party is on now through Tuesday, February 16. The Panamanian Carnival takes place at the same time as the famous Carnival in Brazil and Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but the way it is celebrated here is quite unique.
On Friday, February 12, crowning ceremonies are held throughout the country as the queens are celebrated in a gala-style event. The next day, crowds of jumping youngsters will be doused with water from a firehouse during the “culecos”. Loud brass “murga” bands will play traditional Carnival songs and the queens on their floats will be followed by their faithful throngs.
This is the 100th year since Carnival was first celebrated in 1909, when the Republic was just four years old. The national brewery, Cerveceria Nacional, is celebrating its 100th year too, since founding in 1909. Tourists will note the century theme being promoted during the Carnival, especially with the Cerveceria’s brands: Atlas, Balboa, Corona and Miller.
For the evening parade, most people have gone home, changed clothes and perhaps sobered up in preparation for the nighttime activities. Glamorous thematic floats are shown off around the squares and along the main streets of Panama. Impressive firework shows are displayed in the sky. After the queens check in for the night, many continue on to celebrate in one of the discotheques, restaurants or bars.
Each successive day is the same. Ladies new to the Panamanian Carnival will quickly learn the basic side-to-side dance accompanied by blowing a kiss and a wave to the crowd. Returning to the capital city on Tuesday or Wednesday can present a tiresome wait in traffic. Buses run special hours to shuttle people back to the city and other population centers.