The festival features a number of elements
imported to Panama during colonial times. |
The town
of La Villa in the province of Los Santos will be the battle ground
of a colorful struggle between the spiritual forces of good and evil
during the Corpus Christi festivities, June 10-24.
Part of
the deep-rooted religious traditions brought to Panama by the Spanish
conquistadores, the Isthmian version of Corpus Christi is a mixture
of Hispanic, Native American and African traditions, best exemplified
in the "Diablicos Sucios" –odd-looking costumes representing
the forces of darkness who struggle with the Archangels for the body
of Christ.
In La Villa,
Corpus Christi is a two-week-long celebration including religious
services and daily folklore performances at the town’s main
square, in addition to parades and public dances. The activities of
June 24 have been especially dedicated to foreign visitors.
An otherwise
sleepy agricultural community, La Villa is the center of a number
of major annual festivities, including the Azuero International Fair
(April/May.)
Located
255 km. southwest of Panama City, La Villa is a four-hour drive from
the capital.
