Historical Roots and Transformation of Panamanian Carnivals

According to historian Rommel Escarreola, carnivals have their origins in Spain. He explained that the officialization of the festival did not occur until 1910 with the coronation of the first queen of Panama, Manuela Vallarino, promoted by the Municipal Council and financed by the private sector. It took place both in the city center and in the interior of the country, with the difference that the beauty queen and the musicians walked on foot, not in floats. While Panama was part of Colombia, carnivals were held spontaneously in places like Santa Ana, meaning they were not official, but the 'mojadera con añil' (dye throwing) and egg-throwing among the descendants of black slaves already existed. The Panamanian festival, commonly known as carnivals, has been celebrated in the country for 57 years, specifically since April 9, 1969, under the name of 'carnestolentas' or 'mojigangas' and was held mainly where the ruins of 'Old Panama' are today. But where does this festivity come from? 'It was an unofficial State activity; it was a people's festival that recalled historical facts of Panama,' he pointed out. 'Carnivals in the interior maintain more of the essence and idiosyncrasy; in the city they have been deformed,' he emphasized in Nex Noticias. In the capital, the parade went from Calidonia to the Casco Antiguo and was led by a character called 'Domitila', who, along with the comparsas, adorned the carnival. In the city of Las Tablas, the 'mojadera' began between 1949 and 1950 with a different meaning: men would soak the women who caught their attention, and these women would decide whether to reciprocate the gesture or continue on their way. He reiterated that it is necessary to maintain the tradition and historical memory that represents the country to the world, recovering traditions that, for various reasons, have been eliminated. However, carnivals, in the historian's opinion, have been 'distorting' over time due to the 'tarimas' (stages), because previously everything was done in the street; attendees enjoyed the event from any avenue, a tradition that has been lost because the 'show' is concentrated solely on these structures.