Essay Sample on Explore Panama: Vibrant Culture & Tranquil Beaches

Introduction

Panama is well known for its various tranquil beaches and vibrant culture. Panama is situated in North and Central America. This country connects South and North America. It borders Colombia to the southeast, Costa Rica to its West, the Pacific Ocean to its south, and the Caribbean to its North. Panama is known for its innumerable beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage. I am purposing to attend the Carnival in Panama this year. The Carnival comes before the Ash Wednesday. It is usually celebrated between February and March. The celebration usually brings fervor and joy. As for the documentaries I have gathered and watched, the people and tourist in Panama, they regard this celebration highly. While I am preparing for my pre-trip to Panama, I will love to explore the celebrations of Carnival Panama.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

By definition, Carnival is a festal season that occurs before lent. In most cases, the festive season occurs around February or March. During this season, people around Panama wear colorful costumes and masks. They also participate in parading. The parading contains elements of street and circus party. During this festive season, some items prohibited by the authority during lent are consumed in huge amounts. It is encouraged for everyone to go wild in the course of this Carnival season. Aspects of celebrating or satirizing, which are unacceptable in everyday society, are often encouraged to be tried. The celebration takes people in a high spirited gaiety for the next 96 hours. Everyone in the entire nation lets loose for the party-hearty during this occasion. The confetti and costumes are the order of the day. People gather to party, eat, and drink until the sun sets down on the 4th day.

The biggest parties of the Carnival celebrations take place in the country's interior in towns such as Las Tablas. Since the celebration began in the colonial era, most Panamanians dress like the Queen and King of Spain. As the Panamanians mock and celebrate this culture established by the Spanish conquest, most people wear costumes of natives, slaves, and conquistadors. During the Carnival celebrations, individuals cavalcade the Carnival Queen and King. During this period, people stimulate battles between various assemblages and even dance their hearts' content.

According to Duke (2010), acts as a mode of performing the colonial resistance and to the memories of repression and detriment of becoming one nation that embodies an aesthetic root country brought together by preserved traditions. The Panama Carnival today comprises of two most popular customs. These popular traditions include mojaderas and Feud. As the name suggests, the feud traditional is a remnant of the colonial eras. This custom is morphed into extravagance and battle of opulence between two rivaling neighborhoods, which include Calle Abajo and Calle Arriba found in the tiny city of Las Tablas. According to Espinosa (2016), the Feud, which takes place in Las Tablas, is the biggest draw celebration that takes place during Panama's Carnival celebrations. Individuals like us come visiting this town during the celebratory times. The town's neighborhood vies at prizing away the coveted prize of winning the most creative parade float and most beautiful queen.

According to London (1979), the Mojaderas is just as exciting as the Feud though the tradition is mostly based on the need that its history. Throughout Mojaderas event, culecos or giant water trucks come and spray all people attending the event with large hoses of water. In some instances, dumping buckets and water guns are used instead of the culecos to dump water on passersby.

Conclusion

All in all, Carnival celebrations in Panama have been remarkably safe. The massive police presence brings to the celebration a sense of security and safety. The security forces bring order to the massive crowd. It is my pre-trip perceptions that what I have read and documented about the Carnival in Panama is as sweet as it sounds.

References

Duke, D. (2010). Black Movement Militancy in Panama: SAMAAP's Reliance on an Identity of West Indianness. Latin American and Caribbean Ethnic Studies, 5(1), 75-83.

Espinosa, M. J. (2016). Digital storytelling of the perote, a traditional festivity held in Panama. CHNT20.

London, C. B. (1979). CARNIVAL: A RELIGIOUS RITE OF PASSAGE. Negro History Bulletin, 42(1), 4-6.