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| Photo source: Southerncruising.com |
Did you know that today is Panama's 107th anniversary of independence from Columbia? Mmm hmmm. But one day isn't enough! During the month of November, Panama will keep the celebration going because November 10 is the day that Panamanians remember the uprising in Villa Los Santos against the Spaniards (in 1821) and November 28 is National Day, a celebration of Independence from Spain. Looks like I'm going to be partying all month long!
AGlobalWorld.com gives a little history of Panama's Independence Day:
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| Photo Source: Hotpep.com |
"After achieving independence from Spain on November, 1821 Panama became a department of Colombia for the next eight years. The Gran Republic of Colombia was by then composed of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. Panama federalist forces still tried to fight for Independence once again for Panama, and almost got it in 1831, also later between 1840 and 1841 a brief independent state was created, and finally during the Thousand Days War, which devastated Colombia and Panama. But still Panama was part of Colombia and no agreement was reached between Liberal Panama parties and Colombians. In 1903, the United States and Colombia signed the Hay-Herran Treaty to end the construction of the Panama Canal [one of the most important waterways of the world], but the Colombian Congress did not pass the Treaty on August 12, 1903. Panamanians wanted the canal finished and were angered with the Colombians, ...[and] the United States...decided to support the independent movement for Panama. A war ship was sent to Panama to protect Panamanians from the Colombian armies, and in November 1903, Panama proclaimed its Independence from Colombia." Can I get a Woot!?
Here are two very cool videos (there were more, but it was hard to choose): One is of the indigenous peoples of Panama and one is of traditional Congo (Afro-Panamanian) dancers mocking the Spaniards. What a rich history! ¡Felicitaciones Panameños!
