Celebrate the Epiphany in Macaracas

One of the most colorful celebrations of the Epiphany in Panama is observed in the town of Macaracas, in the province of Los Santos, which commemorates the coming of the Magi to Bethlehem with parades (locally known as tunas), public dances, folklore performances and weddings. The festival will take place January 3-8.

Held since 1820, Macaracas' Epiphany celebrations are a family affair with many traditions, one of which takes place on January 6 when the entire town parades a local couple to their wedding (the bride wears a traditional, white Pollera - the country's national attire for women). Another tradition of this week-long festival is the Junta de Embarre, in which the town's men gather to build a traditional, country-style adobe dwelling for an underprivileged family. The most picturesque scene of this tradition is a horizontal formation of the men, arm-to-arm, who march back and forth on a mixture of mud and hay to prepare the adobe. The women spend the entire day cooking for the workers.

The pinnacle of the celebrations take place at 7:00 p.m. on January 6, when the entire community attends a play depicting the arrival of the Magi. Activities finish with a colorful, old-fashioned parade though town.

Macaracas is a five-hour drive from Panama City. Drivers will need to get on the Pan-American Highway and travel west to the town of Divisa (213km) and make a left turn, after which they will need to take the road leading to Las Minas. There is also a bus service to Macaracas and other towns of the Azuero peninsula, departing from Albrook's Gran Terminal de Transporte.

The Pollera, traditional Panamanian dress is on display during this celebration in Macaracas.