Panama gets prepared for Carnival

Panama gets prepared for Carnival. There are four days, where almost every city and town forget their problems and go to the streets, dancing, singing, having fun in despite of the social, economical or political situation that affects the country.

Most popular are the Carnivals celebrated in the interior, being the most famous the Carnivals of “Las Tablas”. “Las Tablas” is the capital of the province of “Los Santos” and is located four hours from Panama City.

These carnivals are very traditional. The most popular and well known custom in this Carnival is that the city of Las Tablas is divided into two factions: Calle Arriba(Top Street) and Calle Abajo (Down Street), which are rivals during the celebrations. Each side has its princess and they compete with an incredible deployment of luxury, costumes, floats, decorations, fireworks and traditional tunes. Furthermore, each side has an organized committee that works during the whole year to gather funds and set up all the necessary mechanisms to have the streets brim over of pomp and majesty.

During these days, people from all cities and towns travel to Las Tablas, to be active part of this celebration. Since early in the morning, the central park is plenty of people who are dressed as if they are going to the beach, enjoying the daytime activity called "Culecos''. In these Culecos, big fuel dispenser cars are filled with water to dampen everybody in the park, while they dance and claim for more water.

At night the luxurious parade goes around the park, lead by the princess in her floats, with her retinue of ladies and followers who cheerfully sing funny and satirical tunes that have been composed especially to compete with their rival. When the parade finish, an almost endless and powerful deployment of fireworks is performed.

Celebration will start Saturday February 22, and ends Tuesday February 24, and this day is a declared day off.

During these days, people forget their problems, even though when the Carnival ends they would realize that their economical problems are worse than before, they will be broken but happy.