Nueva Gorgona Celebrates Patron Saint of Fishing with Festival

Every year on or around July 16th the fishing villages along Panama’s Pacific coast gather together to honor Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of fishermen, worshipped by those who make their living on the ocean.  The “Patrona” is prayed to for protection and a good catch. This tradition has it’s roots in the early thirteenth century, when an image of Mary was said to appear on Mount Carmelo, in Isreal, to St. Simon Stock. In later years, the fishermen of Spain named the Virgin of Carmelo their loyal protector and, the Spanish Navy awarded her the title of patron. Virtually all towns and cities on the Spanish coast worship Virgen del Carmen, organizing processions and showy sea pilgrimages carrying her image every July 16.  To the Spanish, the Virgen del Carmen is known as "the star of the seas" (Stella Maris). In Panama the seafaring tradition of honoring the Virgin del Carmen was inherited from its Spanish conquerors.

Here in Nueva Gorgona the heart of the celebration is a procession, where images of the Virgin del Carmen are carried by foot and by boat. There are 3 Statues of the Virgin del Carmen in the procession today. One is walked to Gorgona from Punta Barco, the other is brought here by the Yaralis family, who keep this statue in their home and the third belongs to the Fisherman Co-operative of Gorgona.

The celebrations are launched with a mass during which the priest blesses the worshipers and the images of the Virgin del Carmen that are going to be carried in the procession. The statues are then walked on a route that follows the beach, through the Fisher Co-operative and finally to boats to continue on water. Although I have lived in Las Lajas for most of my life, this is the first time I’ve been to this celebration, and I’m surprised that the atmosphere here is more festive than solemn. After the procession the music takes a livelier turn. Traditional hymns are played with salsa and reggae beats that people dance and sway to. There is even a mariachi band that enlivens the atmosphere. It all makes for a very joyous and happy celebration.

Once the procession reaches the ocean, people clamor to get on crowded boats. I was not fast enough and had to ride on the boat that launched the fireworks. Storm clouds had gathered and the winds had picked up once the water procession began. I worried about getting burned by fireworks and drowning. Thanks to the Virgen del Carmen, all the boats journeyed safely on this day.

Typically, people come to a Patron Celebrations to give thanks and to ask for special favors. One woman I met was wearing a hand-made purple habit. When I ask, she tells me that this is the first time she has been to this celebration. The Virgen has answered her prayers and she is here to give thanks. Her garment is a gesture of gratitude.

The man doing the fireworks tells me that the Virgin appeared to him in a dream and gave him the solution to a problem. His fireworks today are an expression of his thanks.

The day ends with a discotheque and a party that continue into the night. I offer my own thanks to the Virgen del Carmen and head for home, till next year.