Another item that contributes greatly to the differentiation of lifestyle comes in the form of religion. Many Panamanians are devout Catholics and this helps direct the way of life for many. Sundays are occupied with attending mass, after which many people gather with family or the church community. Again, for others religion only plays a minor role in their way of life. For these people and others free time is also spent playing sports, attending social clubs, or just spending time with family or friends.
Clearly there is no ordinary lifestyle for the Panamanians. There seems to be a great divide in occupation, working hours, and lifestyle from the urbanites to the rural dwellers, but even in these settings there is variety.
Identity
The people of Panama tend to identify in a few different ways, based primarily on who they are speaking with. To foreigners the people tend to call themselves "Panamenos" which is an identity tied to the nation and is almost solely defined by a person's status as a native of, and citizen of Panama, although the Spanish language is also closely tied to this definition. To each other, the people of Panama tend to identify by either the region they are from or their indigenous roots. This second definition is wholly based on ethnic (and sometimes also linguistic) affiliation and ties the people to their historic roots and past. These roots tend to be tied to local dress, languages, and traditions.