And so it’s a happy New Year to all!
As I watch the BBC broadcast following the magic hour celebrations across the world, I research New Year traditions in Spanish speaking countries. At this stage, Spain is a clear winner, think we ought to head there next year. Coming, Lu?
Who can honestly resist the custom of churros with chocolate for breakfast on the first day of a new year? (The pic is ‘borrowed’ from http://www.123teachme.com/, story and recipe are there too.)
Guatamalans celebrate the Western new year, but they also recognise the 18-month Mayan calendar, which gives an additional five days, a period called Wayeb. Mayans carried out specific rituals during this ‘time out of time’ – a period for being thankful for the fortunes of the previous year and looking forward to the positive energy of the next. There are fire ceremonies, sunrise and sunset ceremonies, and mid-day ceremonies e around Lake Atitlan. Hmmm, think somehow we got short-changed with only one extra day every four years!
And Panama, you ask? Well, as we drove back from the coast on 28 December, we chuckled at life-sized and larger characters propped against trees and gateways along the Pan American Highway. We pictured the strawberry farm outside of Somerset West and decided there must be a tradition of selling scarecrows at this time of year.
Not so, this is Panama after all, and where, we are learning, there are always surprises. As we stood in awe at midnight, the enormity of tradition and cultural mores was striking. The skyline was alight, for as far as we could see, not with one enormous fireworks display which we had expected along the Costa Cintera, but with literally hundreds of displays across the city. And what makes it spectacular is that it's at all levels, from the beach to the roofs of the tallest skyscrapers.
And judging by the size of several rather large bonfires warding off the evil spirits and cleansing the way for the new year, my guess is that the muñecos (our scarecrows) are burning well. The strange thing here, is that unlike the guy of British gunpowder fame, these effigies can represent good and bad famous characters. Last year, these included Panama’s first Olympic gold winner! Sadly I don’t have picture, but do have a look at this link, http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_09/issue_24/arts_01.html
Drinking is considered to represent an ancient ritual, recreation of the chaotic world which existed before the time God created a systematic way of life and universe. I'm told that hosting extravagant drinking parties on New Year’s Eve gives ‘permission’ for an unchecked drinking bash go all through the night. It’s a great excuse, and in any case with parties pumping and crackers deafening at after 2am, well… champagne, anyone?
Interestingly, no hooters, no ships tooting from the Panama Canal, and not a single siren!
PS It's 9am and the music and loud party singing continues!
