Public holidays are upon us in Panama! And for those of you who have been doing business in Panama regularly, you know that November is a month that it’s difficult to get things done! Offices close. People go on holiday. And the streets are either empty or impassable because of a parade!
For our clients, a simple reminder of which days are public holidays:
- Saturday – November 3rd
- Monday – November 5th
- Saturday – November 10th
- Wednesday – November 28th
If your office typically closes on a Saturday – then this has no effect on you. But if your office is regularly open Saturdays: you have two choices:
- Close for the public holiday
- Pay holiday overtime rates
Likewise, remember that public holidays do apply to maids and home help. They are entitled to the day off if it’s a public holiday or the extra pay.
Government offices, as always, have special hours during certain days in November. For example, this Friday – government offices close at midday. So finish what you need to get done today – or come back to it on Tuesday!
What are we celebrating?
Panama’s public holidays
Just a quick reminder what these public holidays represent:
- 2nd of November – Day of the Day – basically memorial day. This is a day of quiet & reflection (completely unlike Day of the Dead in Mexico). Typically, families gather at gravesites and then have a quiet family lunch, etc.
- November 3rd – separation from Colombia
- 4th of November – Flag Day
- November 5th – Colon Day – Celebration of Colon Day remembers the history of independence of Panama from Colombia – as on this day Colombia backed down from attacking Colon. (For those who didn’t know – Cristobal Colon is “Christopher Columbus”- so this is also an important day in the sense that it is similar to Columbus day – celebrating the founding of Colon – although the celebrations are the independence of Panama from Colombia).
- 10th of November – First shout of independence in Los Santos (for the independence of Panama from Spain).
- November 28th – Independence from Spain (1821) – after which Panama proceeded to join Colombia, Venezuela & become part of “Gran Colombia”