There is a popular festival in Spanish called Carnival.

1. - Ch Sandesh
- D Shanmukh
- Vivek Vihari
Pre Lenten Carnival -
Panama

2. Panama Carnival
• Carnival in Panama (¨Carnavales¨ in Spanish) consists of the
four days preceding the Catholic season of Lent, a tradition
originally celebrated by Roman Catholic societies that has
now become a party for all races and religions. To this very
day, neighborhoods spend this pre-Lenten long weekend
competing in crowning queens through a series of parties,
parades, floats and festive music.
• Panama has made Carnival its own through proudly
showcasing the culture and tradition that people wait the
year to see and participate. Personalismo is a crossed value
shared amongst the Panamanian culture. We believe in trust.

4. Historical Background
• Though the Carnival is countrywide now, it began in Las Tablas, in the 19th
Century in the southern province of Los Santos that juts out into the
Pacific Ocean. Here, the Catholics of the upper street and the lower street
were bitter rivals and tried to outdo each other in their pre-Lent
celebrations. These passions gradually cooled and now the event is
universally friendly.
• Throughout Panama's history, the carnival has seen various adaptations
and changes. It has faced periods of prohibition and restrictions during
certain political and social movements.

5. Events in Carnival
• Beginning Friday night before Ash Wednesday, typically in March or
April, most of the country starts to prepare for the festivities. Nearly
every town and city in the republic has its own special version of
Carnival.
• Drive on Panama City’s Cinta Costera to pass stages set up for live
musical performances and streets cleaned and cleared for traditional
floats with queens and princesses, along with nighttime fireworks.

6. • Pechugón -Chitré’s midnight event that marks
the start of Carnival.Families and friends dine,
rest and converse upon the 3+ hour ride to el
interior, while generally the younger crowd
heads out to enjoy the parades, music and
traditional activities.
• La Mojadera – Water Hose,Carnival festivities
start in the morning hours in the central plaza or
other open area. A popular feature are cistern
trucks (culecos) that water-hose (mojadera)
people for a few hours, along with loud music,
entertainment, and lots of beer and seca.
• Burial of the Sardine- since 1851, is an annual
Spanish ceremony celebrating the end of
carnival and other festivities. The "Burials"
generally consist of a carnival parade that
parodies a funeral procession and culminates
with the burning of a symbolic figure, usually a
representation of a sardine.

7. Traditional Costumes and Attire

8. Regional Variations
Pre-Lenten carnivals, celebrated in various parts of the world, exhibit
regional variations that reflect local culture, history, and traditions. Here
are some examples of these regional variations:
 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Carnaval): Known for its extravagant and vibrant
celebrations, Rio's Carnival is one of the largest in the world. It features
samba parades with colorful floats, samba music, and elaborate
costumes worn by samba dancers from different samba schools.
 Venice, Italy (Carnevale di Venezia) Venice's carnival dates back to the
Middle Ages and is famous for its elegant and elaborate masks and
costumes. It includes masquerade balls, traditional Venetian music, and
various street performances.
 New Orleans, USA (Mardi Gras) Mardi Gras in New Orleans is
characterized by its blend of French, Spanish, and Creole influences. It
involves parades with colorful floats, jazz music, and people throwing
beads and trinkets to the crowd.

9. Cultural Significance
Carnival has a deep cultural significance throughout Latin
America and the Caribbean; Panama has become one of the
biggest and best Carnival destinations. Carnival in Panama has
been celebrated since the early 1900s in style similar to New
Orleans and Rio de Janeiro. This party is four days long and is
celebrated the four days before Ash Wednesday every year.
Carnival in Panama; It’s All About Music, Dancing,
Costumes, and of Course, Enjoyment!

10. Gracias