And disruption.
November is the biggest holiday month for Panamanians. They celebrate 2 independence days and a couple of days for bloody battles resulting from their independence.
A total of 5 official holidays with a little stretching of the days for more fiesta!
Last Sunday afternoon, I went into town to drop off my trash. No can do...a parade with much drumming was in progress, shutting down many roads, so no trash disposal.
This parade was a warm up for the November holidays.
November is the transition month from the rainy season into summer, windy and dry days.
Most of the parades are in the rain. Kids everywhere, with drums and maybe one or two trumpets.
Always in the rain.
I don't know how they do it. The rain is chilly and can soak you to the bone with the cold.
But it always goes on.
December has fewer holidays even with Christmas, a big deal in a Catholic country. And Mother's Day is in early December. This is also a huge day for Panamanians.
In spite of the Latin machismo culture, this is a matriarchal society, so mom is celebrated in a big way.
All in all, two months of holidays!
Very good for the people but very bad if you are trying to get anything done!
One interesting law...banks can not be closed for more than 3 days. This week the banks will stay open for Wednesday morning, then re-open Saturday morning for a half a day.
A good custom...money makes the world go around.
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