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A Junta de Embarra is an example of the way in which many Panamanian communities functioned in the past. Juntas (work gatherings) still happen in some towns, especially in provinces like Los Santos and Herrera. When a family needed to prepare the land for sowing, to build a home, or to do some other job that required considerable manpower, they would invite other townspeople to come and spend the day working. Food and drinks (when appropriate) were provided by the owners of the junta. Men provided labor for the task.

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. In the picture below, several men prepare mud with straw to build the walls of the home (embarrar: in this case means to cover with mud). The frame for the home, which can be seen in the background, is made of wood and cañaza, 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.

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