Easter week in Panama

Panama is a country full of traditions that mix Hispanic, African and indigenous heritages - influences which can be seen very clearly during the Easter holiday. Like the rest of the country, the SOS families participate in different masses and processions held in the community, especially on Easter Day. Here we find out about how Easter tradiitons are celebrated at different SOS projects throughout Panama.

SOS Children's Village David

Every Friday during Lent, children and staff at the Village fast and retain from eating red meat. Food plays a very important role, and the SOS mothers and their children become very busy preparing breads, coconut treats (cocadas), candied cashew, rice pudding and cashew and mango seeds to share with the family and neighbours. Another well-followed religious tradition at the Village is the three-hour pilgrimage to Alanje, a community church which is home to a carved "Black Christ" that is thought to be very miraculous. Every Maundy Thursday, youths and SOS mothers from the Village faithfully join in the long walk. For the rest of the week, they usually attend the Solemn Masses at the Cathedral, especially on Sunday, to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

SOS Children's Village Penonomé

The whole Village usually participates in the Nine Days of Prayer to the Virgin, just before the Holy Week. Once it arrives, it is very common to see the young people from the youth facilities re-enacting the Passion of the Christ organized by the local Cathedral. One of the most outstanding rituals here is for every SOS family to visit seven different churches on Good Friday. The number seven is thought to be the number of Jesus, the number of pains Virgin Mary had during labour, and the number of the day of rest; hence, seven churches are visited.

SOS Transit Home Colón

Each province has its own traditions, and Colón is no exception. A place of high Afro-Caribbean heritage, the type of food consumed during Holy Week varies from the rest of the country. For instance, the most popular dishes are fish, "fufú" (coconut soup) with several types of vegetables such as cassava, sweet potatoes, plantain and a wide variety of tropical tubers such as "ñampí", "ñame" and "otoe". This city is also famous for a special sweet called "bon", which is a type of bread eaten with butter and yellow cheese, accompanied by a glass of milk. These goodies can't be missed in any of the SOS families!