Good Friday 2025
Date: April 18, 2025 (Friday)
Country: Panama Public Holidays
Description
Good Friday in Panama is a national public holiday. It is part of Holy Week and is recognized across the country. The day is quiet and people treat it with respect.
Good Friday falls on the Friday before Easter Sunday. The date changes every year because it follows the Christian calendar and lunar cycles. It usually occurs in March or April.
The holiday remembers the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a central event in Christianity. For many Panamanians it is a time to think about sacrifice, forgiveness, and the meaning of faith.
Churches and communities focus on prayer, reflection, and remembering the events leading up to Easter. The mood is solemn and thoughtful rather than festive. People often spend time with family.
As a public holiday, schools and many businesses close, making it a shared day of observance. Good Friday plays an important role in Panama's religious and cultural life. Many people reflect on values and community bonds.
Traditions
On Good Friday in Panama people join solemn processions through town streets. Large wooden statues are carried on platforms while participants walk slowly. Many wear simple dark clothes and hold candles. Churches fill with incense and soft singing as people pray quietly.
Food traditions center on fish and seafood meals. Families eat salt cod stews, fried fish, rice with vegetables and boiled corn tamales called bollo. Some towns make colorful sawdust or flower carpets under the processional route. In villages, passion plays and reenactments bring the community together with chants and moments of silence.
Travel Tips
Many banks, government offices and some shops close on Good Friday. Tourist sites and restaurants may have shorter hours. Public transit and roads get crowded in the morning and late afternoon. Book tours and transport ahead and carry some cash for small vendors.
Enjoy the day by visiting quieter parks or beaches early, joining community events respectfully, and staying with a group in crowds. Follow police directions, keep valuables secure, wear sun protection and drink water. Ask your hotel about local schedules to plan safely.