Celebration of Thanksgiving in Panama

Although it is a holiday specific to the United States, the celebration of Thanksgiving in Panama has a unique history.

As many readers know, it is a tradition that every fourth Thursday of the eleventh month of the year, Thanksgiving is commemorated in the United States.

However, for many tourists and visitors, the celebration of Thanksgiving in Panama may seem a bit peculiar.

To understand the origin, one has to go back a bit in history.

When the construction of the Panama Canal began, granted in concession to the United States government for 100 years, Panamanian culture intertwined with American customs.

In this regard, the celebration of Thanksgiving in Panama is a product of the migration of U.S. citizens.

Many Panamanian workers were involved in the massive Panama Canal construction, and during that time, the majority of supervisors and foremen were from the United States.

As expected, this day was a holiday for U.S. citizens, and the people of Panama gradually adopted the tradition.

The celebration is so ingrained in Panama that supermarkets offer promotions on turkey or ham, and restaurants provide the traditional menu.

The celebration involves a traditional dinner, with the main dish usually being turkey with gravy, accompanied by mashed potatoes.

The celebration of Thanksgiving in Panama adds a Latin touch with ham, turkey, sweet fruits or corn, rice with pigeon peas, sweet plantains, music, and letters of gratitude.

Unlike in the United States, Thanksgiving Day in Panama is not a public holiday.

In Panama, it is known as “Friendsgiving,” and during Thanksgiving, friends or coworkers gather to express gratitude for achieved goals or strengthened unity.

In Panama, breakfasts, lunches, or dinners are organized, along with gift exchanges, and few people were familiar with the term used to describe the event.

This celebration is increasingly embraced because it highlights one of the most beautiful virtues: gratitude. It gained recognition in Panama due to our historical relationship with the United States.

Celebration of Thanksgiving in Panama: In which other countries is Thanksgiving celebrated?

According to a compilation by House Beautiful, around the world, there are eleven countries – including the United States – that celebrate or have a similar concept to Thanksgiving. These countries are:

Canada: Unlike the United States, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, and the celebration is similar, gathering loved ones for a traditional dinner.

Grenada: Only 30 years ago, Thanksgiving became an official celebration on the island of Grenada. Unlike the U.S., Thanksgiving is observed on October 25 with a traditional meal.

Also read: An Ancient District of Cartagena Filled with Magic and History.