Christmas in Panama begins at the strike of midnight with the fabulous fireworks illuminating the night sky. On the morning of Christmas people go to the church to offer prayers. The rest of the day is spent by making fun, eating special foods and visiting far off friends and families.
Christmas greeting in Panama is known as " Feliz Navidad".
A Christmas tree is the center of attraction in most houses. It is decorated with the traditional lights, angel treetop, icicles, and other Christmas ornaments. Christmas music includes songs called "gaitas" or "villancicos". Lots of singing, eating, drinking and fun surrounds the Christmas in Panama. Arroz con Pollo made with chicken, rice, saffron, vegetables and small onions is a traditional food of Christmas in Panama. Other Panamanian Christmas foods are ham and tamales. Fruitcake is a popular food item as well as potato salad with beets. Bowls of fruit containing grapes, apples and bananas decorate the Christmas tables.
The American influence with the building of the Canal Zone changed the holidays into a mixture of Panamanian and American traditions. In the Canal Zone embellishing the outdoor lawns and yards with lights and decorative crafts is a wonderful Christmas tradition. Floodlighting combined with spotlighting in shrubbery is spectacular, with the traditional stars above sharing attention with the lighted Christmas trees in the yard. Icicles lights are very popular lights that are used to form a backdrop for an angelic choir. Synthetic snowmen, elves and gnomes or a Nativity Christmas scene heightens the outdoor decorations.
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