Semana Santa is a time for celebration here in Panama. Each section on the country and each family celebrates in their own individual way. Semana Santa or the Holy Week is the annual Christian celebration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. It starts with Palm Sunday and ends up with Easter Sunday. Viernes Santo or Good Friday is a federal holiday and most of the country remains closed. Sales of liquor is banned from midnight on Wednesday to Sunday.
During Semana Santa, the Eucharist is celebrated on Holy Thursday, the Crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday and the Resurrection and Easter Vigil during the night of Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. Each part of the country celebrates Jesus in their own individual way. The provinces in the interior, where Catholicism is stronger, there are often theatrical biblical plays. There are often large elaborate parades and worshipers gather to watch, pray and celebrate this special time. There are also old wives tales about Semana Santa including, “don’t climb that tree cause you will turn into a monkey” and “stay out of the river/sea or you will turn into a fish or siren.”