Casco Antiguo Prepares Traditional Salt Carpets for Corpus Christi Celebration

In Panama's historic Casco Antiguo, dozens of volunteers are diligently working to craft traditional salt carpets, undeterred by a light drizzle. These vibrant, ephemeral artworks are central to the upcoming Corpus Christi celebration, a significant event for the Catholic Church commemorating the "Body of Christ."

The intricate carpets, made from colored salt, serve as a sacred pathway for the procession scheduled for Sunday. This religious observance will see the Blessed Sacrament travel through the main streets of the Casco Antiguo. Festivities are set to begin with a mass at 5:00 PM, followed by the solemn religious procession.

Ricardo Gago, a member of the Casco Antiguo church committee, highlighted the procession's traditional elements. These include the sounding of trumpets and the presence of "diablitos" (devils) lining the "street of honor." The procession moves from church to church, with a particularly anticipated moment occurring at Plaza Catedral. There, the route slightly deviates to allow the custodia, carrying the Blessed Sacrament, to be the first to tread upon the specially prepared salt carpet.

While salt carpet traditions are well-established in the Los Santos province, they have also been adopted in Casco Antiguo in recent years, allowing capital residents and visitors to partake in this expression of faith. Three carpets are being prepared near Plaza Catedral this year. Organizers are prepared to erect tents to shield the artisans' and volunteers' work from potential rain, ensuring the tradition unfolds smoothly.