November!! Month of the Red!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A very special day in a very special year and an equally special month indeed. "Mes de la Patria" as it is called in Panama because of many significant days celebrated in the republic of Panama: On November 3, 1903 we separated from Colombia and started to become independent. On November 4 the Panamanian patriotic symbols such as the Panama flag, the shield of arms and the national anthem are paid tribute.
And yes, although I am an American Citizen, I also enjoy the privilege of having dual citizenship in Panama, thus, the reason I said "we" previously.
On November the 5, we commemorate the separation from Colombia in the city of Colon. On November the 10, we remember the first independence shout out or "Grito de Independencia" in 1821, in "La Villa de los Santos" which started the beginning of the movement to make Panama its own independent country. And on November 28, we celebrate our independence from Spain in 1821, which ended more than 300 years under the Spanish kingdom.
For the whole month of November, the majority of Panamenians proudly wear their traditional montuno and polleras, dance traditional music and sing very happy songs, as well as partake of the most traditional Panamanian cuisine.
There are parades everywhere and marching bands playing non-stop music for several days. The atmosphere is very festive, happy and colorful, especially red, white and blue, which are the colors of our flag.
And then in Mexico and around the world and in many cities in the United States, and more and more year after year, "Dia de los Muertos" celebrations started on November the 1rst and culminated on the 2nd.
I love this celebration and tradition of celebrating our love ones that are no longer in this earth with us and I love the celebrations and the music and the "altars', and the food and the "ofrendas" and everything about "The Day of the Death" specially "Catrinas", their makeup, their dresses, the accessories to wear with the dresses, and especially I love the creativity and the artistic expression of the character.
This is such a great tradition and instead of being sad, alone and maybe crying remembering those we loved and missed so much, we appreciate what they left, what they mean to us and we are grateful we got to know them and that is a very beautiful thing.
I have been dressing up as Catrina and celebrating "El Dia de los Muertos" for a very long time and I always look forward to this time of the year, to showcase my new, hand-made for the most part, Catrina costume and accessories and to proudly wear the dress as only a Catrina does, with elegance and taste.
Do you get now why "La Niña Internacional" nickname now?
And then November the 5th came to the USA this year. And maybe it was my Catrina red dress...Or maybe it was the very red lips or all the red around me this November... Did you notice all that red? Red is a very beautiful color indeed!!
I am so proud of myself, despite all that none-sense around me, I was brave enough to wear my best, get out and exercise my right to cast my vote as any responsable American would do, early in the morning, as every election year, for many years now, and I hope it was counted!!
And then this year we still have the array of "fall colors" this November, displaying their beautiful hues of red, orange, yellow, brown, white, black and many others, as if to invite us to celebrate this November outdoors, and I am looking forward to the pumpkin pie and the cranberry sauce, soon.
Despite everything happening around me, I am, as always, very grateful, very positive, very graceful and very beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! (Thank you very much. I cannot let old, expired prunes ruin my happiness!!!)
-La Niña Internacional-
And then November the 5th came to the USA this year. And maybe it was my Catrina red dress...Or maybe it was the very red lips or all the red around me this November... Did you notice all that red? Red is a very beautiful color indeed!!
I am so proud of myself, despite all that none-sense around me, I was brave enough to wear my best, get out and exercise my right to cast my vote as any responsable American would do, early in the morning, as every election year, for many years now, and I hope it was counted!!
And then this year we still have the array of "fall colors" this November, displaying their beautiful hues of red, orange, yellow, brown, white, black and many others, as if to invite us to celebrate this November outdoors, and I am looking forward to the pumpkin pie and the cranberry sauce, soon.
Despite everything happening around me, I am, as always, very grateful, very positive, very graceful and very beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! (Thank you very much. I cannot let old, expired prunes ruin my happiness!!!)
-La Niña Internacional-
