Panaman National Holiday

Independence Day

Colorful polleras and intricate headdresses filled the streets of Panama City this month as dancers wearing the national folk dress joined the military procession celebrating their independence from not one, but two countries. November 3, 1903 may be held as the beginning of the country’s sovereignty but, 82 years before the celebrated date, Panama obtained its first independence--their liberation from the Spanish crown.

Panama, officially Republic of Panama, is the southernmost country of Central America and the whole of North America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The capital is Panama City.

Panama had a population of 3,405,813 in May 2010; it’s the smallest Spanish-speaking Latin American country in terms of population.