Panamanian Christmas often kicks off with a 'Desfile de Navidad' - a big Christmas parade through Panama City - in late November or early December. Floats covered in lights drive slowly through the streets, marching bands play, and people line the pavements with their families.
On Christmas Eve, families gather for a huge late dinner. The traditional food includes roasted pork (or chicken), tamales (corn dough stuffed with chicken and steamed in plantain leaves), and arroz con guandú (rice with pigeon peas). The meal often runs until midnight, when fireworks go off across the country.
Children open presents at midnight on Christmas Eve, not on Christmas morning - so 12 a.m. is the big moment. Some kids try very hard to stay awake; others nap on the sofa until their parents wake them up to open their gifts.
Even though Panama is hot, lots of homes put up artificial Christmas trees and decorate them with snowy white ornaments. Some children write letters to Papa Noel (Father Christmas) and post them in special letter boxes set up in shopping centres.