Casco Antiguo: Colorful Salt Carpets and Faithful Mark Corpus Christi Despite Rain

Panama City's historic Casco Antiguo district vibrated with faith, tradition, and color on Sunday during the Corpus Christi celebration, a key event in the Catholic calendar. The festivities drew a large crowd of faithful, tourists, and folkloric groups to the heart of the capital.

The procession concluded after winding through the main streets of the historic sector, following a religious ceremony led by the Archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa. A major highlight of the day was the intricate salt carpets, meticulously crafted around the Santa María la Antigua church, which served as the backdrop for the procession.

Three elaborate salt carpets were created this year, requiring hours, days, and even weeks of preparation. Despite intermittent light rain during the afternoon, the celebration proceeded without disruption, demonstrating the dedication of participants and attendees, both locals and foreigners.

Corpus Christi commemorates the belief in the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Beyond the religious procession, the event featured performances by student bands and folkloric groups, including the Mami-Chacón Folkloric Dance Group. This tradition, with roots in the colonial era, was recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021, underscoring its importance as a representative religious and cultural expression in Panama.