Carnival

Carnival first began during colonial times, when Panamanians dressed up as the King and Queen of Spain. Both celebrating and mocking the culture that had been created from the country’s conquest, many wore costumes of conquistadors, slaves, and natives. During the celebration, the people would parade the King and the Queen, simulate battles between groups, and dance to their hearts’ content.

It wasn’t until 1910 that the Carnival became an official holiday. By then, some things had changed: The King disappeared – no one knows where to – and the Queen was left to reign over party enthusiasts. New characters like demons, bulls, and feathered beauties rose up to replace the colonial characters of the past. Carnival, like the country, had moved forward.

Today, two of the most popular traditions are the feud and the mojaderas. The feud is a remnant from colonial days that has morphed into a battle of opulence and extravagance between two historically rivaling neighborhoods: Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo. Celebrated in the tiny town of Las Tablas, this feud may very well be the biggest draw in all of Panama’s Carnival celebrations. People from all over the world come to watch the neighborhoods vie for the prize of having the most beautiful queen and the most creative parade float.

The mojaderas are just as enjoyable but more based on need than history. Throughout the parades giant water trucks called culecos come around and spray people with hoses. Wherever the culecos can’t fit, you’ll find people spraying each other with water guns and dumping buckets of water on passersby. It might sound annoying, but when you’re in a hot tropical climate and surrounded by thousands of people in tight spaces, you’ll be very glad those mojaderas exist.