| miamimikeshostel10:32 UTC10 Aug 2012 | Manito Festival,Ocu,Herrera Province,16-20 August,2012
Ocu is famous for its customs and traditions which are kept alive in its regional music,dances,clothing and foods.
A queen of the Manito will be selected Friday(17th) and competition/contest in traditional dress,dance and music will commence.
In the evening the real fiesta starts!
On Saturday(18th) morning the traditional marriage is carried out in the church.While en route to the wedding ceremony, the soon-to-be husband holds an umbrella over his soon- to -be wife to protect her beauty from the late morning sunshine.THe lady is wearing a beautiful white pollera dress with modest gold jewelry. THe church is decorated in traditional rural Panamanian decor. Following the wedding the women departs on horseback and her new husband follows on foot along with the guest. Later,the couple are paraded around the town and are carried in sedan chairs! Later,in the park square near the church,the new couple offers a toast to the town and the guest.
Later,in the evening dueling matches(tamarind duel) occurs between young men who are fighting for the love of a woman or for family honor/old fiends or are just showing off their swordmanship prowness.
On Sunday a grand parade will be carried out throughout Ocu and the the fiesta will continue.-------
The End
This event is FREE
Ocu is about 4 hours from David City and 4 from Panama City as well.
Accommadations will be Very limited in Ocu,Buses run every 30 minutes from Chitre to Ocu.
Note:Getting conflicting dates when the wedding will take place Sat or Sunday or both days.Can t get a firm answer!
Edited by: miamimikeshostel
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