Episode 8: Episode 8: Christmas in the Panamá Canal Zone from ”An Era Gone But Not Forgotten” (Part 1)

Savoring, Story, Song, & Soul stews Umami Memories with Panameños who formerly lived in the Panamá Canal Zone! Please subscribe to Umami Memories to be the first to reminisce on each episode! Carlos Browne, Beatriz "Tita" Herbert, Mireya Cadogan, Patricia Lavalas-Howe, and (¡mi Tía!) Winnifred "Elena" Jones, are Panameños that grew up in the Panamá Canal Zone in the late 1950s to early 1970s, where Americans from the United States military lived in communities next to native-born Panamanians and other individuals there from the Caribbean diaspora and southern European emigration. Within the Panamá Canal Zone, a unique blend of American traditions, Panamanian heritage, Caribbean influence, and Spanish culture developed. Practically everyone there, however, celebrated the Christmas holiday. Please reminisce with us as we remember the days of Merry Christmas cheer back in the communities of the Panamá Canal Zone. The memories you'll hear from these Panameños have been collected as a part of an upcoming project chronicling the experiences of the individuals who once lived in communities located in or near the Canal Zone. This project, tentatively titled “An Era Gone But Not Forgotten: A Tapestry of Our Roots in Panamá” is still developing. To find out more about this wonderful project, of which I’m also a part of, please contact me, Gabriel Valentino, at umamimemories@gmail.com, or the project committee at classoffebruary1973project@gmail.com.  Last but not least: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Music in this episode: Jose Feliciano – “Feliz Navidad” Hector Lavoe y Willie Colón – “La Murga” Lord Cobra – “Felicitacion” The Mighty Sparrow – “No Place Like Home (Christmas Song)” The Mighty Sparrow – “Caribbean Style Christmas Medley”