Semana Santa in Panama

Easter week in Panama is known as Semana Santa. If you are used to American and Northern European easter which is very family oriented with Easter eggs, bunnies etc., you are in for a surprise in Panama.

Semana Santa is one of the most important weeks of the year. Traditionally people are in a very reflective and sad mood. For this you can not buy liquor anywhere in Panama between Wednesday night at midnight until midnight Sunday. There is also very little TV and radio and loud music is illegal.

For this many people escape to the beach where they can continue the rumba (Party) in the secret.

If you are in Panama City on the night of Long Friday you should see one of the processions. Every church has it’s own procession, but my favorite is the one that goes along Avenida Balboa and Calle 50, where they have romans marching up and down and whipping Christ who is quite literally in the same pain as the original while carrying his cross.

This entry was posted in the following Categories: Culture

Comments:

I would like to have seen photos of how the Panamenian celebrate the Easter holiday. For example the procession of Jesus.

Posted by: Judith Murphy at April 20, 2006 05:17 AM