Christmas in Panama

In Panama there are many traditions that are followed during the Christmas holiday. However, it depends on what part of the country you are from, and the race/group ethnicity that you identify with (e.g. West Indian, African, Spaniard, Asian, Indian).

These are some commonalities that I remember fondly.

Catholics in Panama enjoy a Christmas Eve feast after church.

The food varied from house to house, again, depending on ethnic groups. Ham and turkey were served in most homes, accompanied by rice and pigeon peas cooked in coconut milk.

The potato salad prepared with beets (ensalada de feria) was enjoyed by families of Spanish heritage, while other families of West Indian heritage had peas & carrots, and boiled eggs. Sweet plantains were either baked with cinnamon and raspadura or brown sugar, or they were fried.

The wreath braided bread (pan rosca) and the tamales were also a must for families of Spanish heritage.

Dessert is fruit cake.

The tradition every January was to grind the crystalized fruits, add them in the largest glass jar we had, add raisins and currants, and pour brandy, port wine and rum over the entire mixture ensuring that the whole thing in submerged. The jar would be sealed tight and stored in the pantry for the entire year so as to be ready for Christmas.

Then on “baking” day, we (the kids) would stand to the side waiting for the “go-ahead” to enter the kitchen and get the bowl with the leftover cake batter and enjoy the flavors of the sweetness of the batter mixed with the rum flavored fruits.

Of course, those who do not like fruit cake can eat vanilla pound cake on Christmas.

I still maintain the tradition of the fruit cake to this day. I have two 3-gallon glass jars that are kept full of fruits soaking in rum at all times. One jar of fruits is two years old, and no, it will not spoil because the rum preserves the fruits.

Fruits were also served for “good luck” – from apples to grapes to pears. You would also find nuts throughout the house – mostly walnuts, Brazil nuts, and hazelnuts.

And on January 6th, “Kings Day” (Dia de los Reyes) we would roast wieners and marshmallows over a fire fueled by Christmas trees!