Women cooked, served food, and helped in the main task if appropriate. During the job, which could last more than one day, the workers usually sang and yelled. The celebration is a necessary part of the event. The frame for the home, which can be seen in the background, is made of wood and ca aza, a bambu-like material. Workers received no monetary compensation, but they knew they could count on their neighbors for the next time they had a large task to accomplish.
Easter is a very special event in Panama.
After the Catholic ceremonies of Thursday, Good Friday, and Saturday evening, many country side Panamanians celebrate Saturday night by going to dances. In many cases, Saturday is a day when families get together and have feasts during the whole day. It is also common that commercially organized events such as beach gatherings, bull fights, cockfights, singing events, and rodeo-like competitions will take place on Saturday. Easter Sunday includes morning mass, then a special procession celebrating Christ's resurrection, and then, in an event that is not part of the Church's regulated celebrations, people will burn a straw man that represents Judas. In Guarare, Judas' head is made of wood and painted.