Traditional clothing of Panamena

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Traditional clothing of the Panamanian
Culture and tradition have proved useful in not only identifying but also differentiating one ethnic group from another. Most cultural practices were inherited and will, no doubt, be passed down to the subsequent generation. The outstanding traditional dressing in Panama has drawn attention from all the corners of the world (Soley and Verne 221). Pollera, which is believed to have its origin in Spain, was mainly used by maids and other lady servants in Panama in the 1800s. Nonetheless, as time went by, pollera proved attractive and almost all women eventually loved Pollera. To date, this traditional dress is held in high esteem and is primarily used during ceremonies and other important functions.
Pollera consists of ruffled blouse and skirt which are decorated with attractive birds or flowers. Ladies wear the blouse off their elegant shoulders and put on the skirts. To appear more appealing, the ladies hang four or five gold chains around their necks. Earrings are also golden, and a silk purse is tied at the waistline. Three enormous gold combs are properly placed to hold their hair and sometimes, others prefer to wear it like a crown. Ribbons are also worn to complement the appearance. As if that is not enough, the ladies have to wear slippers that resemble the pollera (Soley and Verne 225).
On the other hand, the men put on long-sleeve shirts which are white in color and should have a closed neck.

The men then dress in black trousers, put on a straw hat, and wear black and white shoes. To complete the dressing, they have to hang a small bag on their shoulder (Soley and Verne 230).
Just like the pollera which has a blouse and a corresponding skirt, Chinese traditional attire also comprises of a decorated blouse and skirt. Similar to the traditional Panama shirts, Chinese shirts also have a cross-neck (Soley and Verne 226).
From the research, I can confidently explain the contribution of Spanish culture to the countries that were colonized by Spaniards. It is evident that pollera originated from Spain, and when Panama gained its independence, the people in Panama continued to wear the pollera.
Although China was never colonized, at least not by Spain, there are outright similarities between the traditional dressing of China and Panama. In the face of such similarities, it can be concluded that borrowing of culture and tradition was common in the old days. Nevertheless, unlike Panama, most of the traditional dressing in China has been replaced by the modern dressing.

Work cited.
Soley, L. Seales, and M. La Verne. “Culture and customs of Panama.” (2008): 220-240.
Appendices

Fig 1: Ladies dressed in the Pallero. Fig 2: Gentlemen dressed in traditional
Attire