Corpus Christi is a festival brought by the Spanish during the colonial era. Since the 16th century, La Villa de Los Santos has celebrated this religious festival that commemorates the presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. A tradition that attracts thousands of visitors every year.
A Festival that Dates Back to Medieval Europe
The origins of this festival date back to medieval Europe, long before the arrival of the Spanish in America. In Panama, the celebration of the body and blood of Christ crucified, or better known as Corpus Christi, fuses the religious observances of the Catholic Church with a series of festivities and popular cultural practices, such as theatrical performances, music, folk dances, and parades of people dressed in masks and colorful clothing.
The Eternal Struggle Between Good and Evil
On the eve of the feast, a theatrical and musical play is performed depicting the struggle for possession of a tormented soul between the forces of good, personified by the Archangel Saint Michael, and the forces of evil, represented by Lucifer and his legion, or “diablada.” The following day, dances are performed in the procession that accompanies the priest carrying the monstrance, a metal receptacle that houses the bread of the sacrament of the Eucharist, a representation of the sacrifice of Christ’s body in the Catholic religion. After the procession, participants dance while drinking and eating in the streets and in their homes.
2025 Celebration
This year, the Corpus Christi celebration will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2025 (Corpus Christi Day), although the whole celebration runs from June 14 to 28. La Villa de Los Santos holds a very traditional religious celebration in honor of the Corpus Christi, which includes native and traditional elements dating back to the colonial era. Corpus Christi in La Villa de Los Santos follows a traditional cycle consisting of three stages within the Catholic liturgical calendar. In addition, beautiful commemorative carpets are made to commemorate the Body of Christ (with designs covered with colored salt, sawdust, flowers, and various materials) and are put together along the four streets surrounding the town square.
Dances and Festive Characters
La Villa de Los Santos features eight dances, as well as festive characters that bring color and joy to the town’s streets. Among the historical and offering dances are the Spanish Montezuma (representing the meeting of Spanish and indigenous cultures); the Montezuma Cabezona, an offering dance; and festive dances featuring peasant and burlesque scenes.
The Corpus Christi celebration reflects the history and cultural blend of Panama, making it an event worth experiencing in La Villa de Los Santos, whether you are Catholic or from another religion.
