Taboga Blooms With Its Women: A Women's Day Tradition

For International Women’s Day, March 8th, Taboga’s Comité Pro-Cultura proposes an activity inviting every woman on the island — girls, young women, adults and elders — to wear flowers in their hair, as a symbol of identity, natural beauty and feminine strength.

The idea grows out of the fact that Taboga is known as the Island of Flowers, so its women and its flowers are the most vivid expression of the island’s beauty and soul.

The main activity is called “The Flower in the Hair”: on March 8th, the women of the island wear natural or artificial flowers in their hair — papo flowers (a very representative bloom on Taboga), hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine, or whatever flower is at hand. Each participant can choose her own style: a single flower, a small arrangement, or a full flower crown.

A meeting point for photos is proposed at a landmark spot — the parks, in front of the church, or a flower-lined street — where a group photo is taken of Taboga’s women with flowers in their hair.

To enrich the activity, older women could be asked to share stories about Taboga’s flowers and explain why the island carries that name; having young girls help hand out flowers connects the generations even further.

On social media, the proposed hashtags are #MujeresDeTaboga, #TabogaIslaDeLasFlores and #TabogaFlorece, so participants can share their photos or the committee can publish a collective album.

As a symbolic touch, each woman could be handed a small card reading: “Just as flowers beautify Taboga, women beautify our community.” As a variation — not as a contest, but as symbolic recognition — the idea is to honor the Flower of Wisdom (an elder), the Flower of the Future (a girl), and the Flower of the Community (a distinguished woman).

It’s an inexpensive, participatory and very visual idea, one that connects directly with Taboga’s identity.