Panama Wedding Liturgy

The Liturgy of my First Panama Wedding

I encountered more surprising firsts….

Talk about ‘culture shock’. In spite of all the homework done, and all my preparation I was definitely bowled over by certain aspects of this Panama wedding ceremony never encountered before. Perhaps had I known about them from the outset, I wouldn’t have been so caught off guard, as they too would have been properly researched.

I was practically floored when I heard for the first time at the Friday night Wedding Rehearsall of two additional things the family wanted to include. These were the inclusion of the couple’s Godparents , and the giving of coins (what I dubbed the ‘tradition of the coins’). What???
Since I got home too late after the rehearsal to research these two things, I went with what I heard should be done.

Role of Couple’s Godparents - It is a common cultural practice of some for the Godparents to act as the witnesses. They, and not the Best Man; Maid/Matron of Honour, sign the Marriage Certificate, unlike what pertains in Jamaica.

The Tradition of the Coins – was somewhat of a challenge for me. You’ll soon understand why. Apart from the Ring Bearer, there is also a Coin Bearer who carries some [US$.25c] quarters in a container. At the appropriate point in the liturgy, the coins are given to the groom who then gives the coins to the bride. This act is symbolic of his position as ‘head of the house’ who makes provisions for his wife and family. He gives his bride the coins as a sign of his confidence in her abilities to administrate the funds of the household. That’s how I was told it should be done and its significance. [I grrroooaned].

Something about this made me uncomfortable. Anyway, I took this was part of my cultural immersion so I went along with it. Needless to say there were numerous questions in my mind. These have now been cleared up since I finally got a chance to do my research. Moreover, my suspicions about the meaning of the tradition has been confirmed and when the mother of the bride reads this post, I am sure we are going to have a discussion on this.

This giving of wedding coins is a Roman Catholic Wedding tradition which originated in Spain and is still practiced in Mexico and to a lesser extent here in Panama. You cannot get more non-Baptist than that! However, several members at First Isthmian recall this being done at their wedding, and at that point it was a set amount of money given.

Traditionally, in Spain and later in Mexico, thirteen gold wedding coins were given! Clearly, the Panama Baptists did not adopt this part. So what is the meaning of this tradition?

According to one interpretation – The coins were given to the bride by the groom and represents her dowry (bride price) and the groom’s ability to support her. Another interpretation says the the thirteen coins represent the 12 apostles and Jesus (so what that have to do with a wedding? Water into wine??) Ok, the next interpretation says, the thirteen coins represent the 12 lunar (moon) cycles in a year, and the 13th coin the couple’s honeymoon.

I think the first one makes the most sense, and if it is – I am not AT all supportive of dowry’s and bride price in the 21st century!! Bride Price?? 2007 and in March, International Women’s History Month and so near to International Women’s Day?? [Tsk, Tsk Tsk Marvia!!] Anyway, Read more about the 13 gold wedding coins.

Perhaps it would help to know that the groom is of Roman Catholic background. Since his mother asked that this be included in the liturgy, I made the concession since everything else was going to be a Baptist Wedding Liturgy. What a good that I had previously said no to the use of the “lasso” in the wedding, and to the “tying of the couple’s hands”. The latter is practiced in Jamaica by many ministers and is not a problem for me. Read more on the lasso in Mexican weddings here too.

After I managed to recover from the two hours late arrival of the Bride, almost forgetting to call the Godparents forward, squirming through the coins – I nearly missed the beauty of the wedding party especially the four flower girls. Yup! four of them. So there were 6 children in the wedding, 1 Bride’s Maid, one Groomsman, one Maid of Honour and one Best Man. The children took the cake….

The Coin Bearer who was present at the rehearsal took his role very seriously. He put on one serious intensely focused march to the beat up the aisle – I could barely restrain myself. Next came the Ring Bearer who was a non-starter. Finally, his mom had to go fetch him and carry him and the ring up the aisle.

Next the Flower Girls, two were the female versions of Mr. Coin Bearer. The other two came up with full baskets – nope! Not throwing away my flowers. You crazy? Finally one of the two having arrived and not seeing anything to her liking, began one hollering then rushed back down to someone in the pews. So that left three flower girls. My composure fled at this point and I confess I had to laugh.

What drama! So the wedding ceremony ended at about 8:10 which was excellent time given that I had a translator for everything I said which of course doubled the time.
And thus came and went the ceremony of the long anticipated First Panama Wedding.

Read about the reception in Panama Wedding Reception

Till then,
Marvia