The Panamanian peasant marriage is performed to exalt the beauty of folklore, it is the union between a man and a woman sealed by country values.
Arrival of the Bride
At church, the peasant tradition dictates that the bride arrives on horseback, accompanied and escorted by her father, who holds the reins of the animal. Upon arrival, the bride is received and accompanied by family and friends, to the rhythm of typical musical tunes.
Inside the church, the father of the bride waits for her entrance. The choir begins to sing typical melodies accompanied by the sound of violins and drums, thus marking the beginning of the religious ceremony.
Bride’s Attire
In a traditional peasant wedding, the bride wears a white skirt, grated with light blue ribbon, similar to the color of the Virgin Mary’s mantle. The skirt has two petticoats and a “rebozo” is also added, a kind of cloak worked by hand based on a fine fabric, which is placed on the back of the dress. The bride is adorned with a large amount of typical jewelry, works of art by national goldsmiths and that are made of what is known as old gold. The bride will wear 10 necklaces such as the Salamonica, Cadena Chata, Escapulario, Cola de Pato, Guachapalí, Sling, Solitaria Roseta and a Tapahueso or Choker.
In addition, the bride will wear a pair of earrings, a pair of patches and two pairs of combs on her head, a comb and a straw, which are also made of gold and form a set with the traditional trembles. The bride’s shoes or “panitas” are made of satin and lace; with the color that has been grated to the skirt.
Groom’s Attire
The groom stands out wearing a handcrafted shirt, fine painted hat, black pants and “cutarras”. He is accompanied to the church by the best man of the wedding and his relatives.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds travel on horseback, the most accessible means of transportation in the past. Behind the newlyweds are friends, family and other attendees at the celebratory toast.
Typical Panamanian Toast
The place where the reception will take place is adorned with traditional elements such as jars, motets and rafts. However, the bride and groom are placed in a traditional ranch that symbolizes the home that the couple will share. As a complement, a large number of fruits such as watermelon, melons, bananas, etc. are used. In addition to foods such as rice, corn, banana, which, apart from giving great vitality, symbolize the desire for productivity in the goods that the couple has to achieve.
As for the toast, it is made in pumpkin “coquitos” and the traditional “Chicha Loja” is used as a drink, which is prepared with roasted corn, ginger and sweetened with cane honey.
Ocu, the Capital of Campesino Weddings
The peasant marriage is the greatest expression of love and Christian fervor of an Ocueño couple. During the Manito Ocueño Festival, the marriage is the tradition that stands out the most. Activity that concentrates the largest number of visitors from all over the country with the desire to witness such a beautiful tradition. Every year they receive requests from couples from almost all the towns in the district and the winning couple is selected through a lottery.
Among “mejorana” songs of tenths, dances and native dances, the newly married couple travels through the town, mounted on a white horse and under a black umbrella, heading to celebrate this new union with their loved ones. In an open ceremony on the main stage, the toast is made to family, friends and the entire town.
