Seven historic churches in Panama City’s Casco Antiguo, Panama district are showcasing intricate nativity scenes this holiday season. These displays, known locally as “nacimientos,” have become a major cultural and tourist attraction, blending religious tradition with detailed artistic craftsmanship.
The annual Christmas route includes the churches of Nuestra Señora de la Merced, San José, the Santa María la Antigua Cathedral, the Oratorio San Felipe Neri, and the San Francisco de Asís Church. Each institution presents a unique nativity, featuring large figurines, miniature houses, waterfalls, animals, and angels. For many Panamanian families, visiting these scenes is a cherished December ritual that draws thousands of local and international visitors.
Maria Arrocha, director of the churches’ program, explained the artistic and historical significance of the tradition. She connected the three-dimensional figures to much older artistic movements.
“This form, as we know it, dates back to the Baroque art period. It is where those human representations made in painting leave the canvas and become these three-dimensional pieces that allow us to better explain the mystery of the birth of Jesus,”
Arrocha said. [Translated from Spanish]
Permanent Collections and Tourist Draw
Several parishes maintain permanent nativity collections viewable year-round, though attendance peaks during the Christmas holidays. The museum at Nuestra Señora de la Merced Church houses one of the most emblematic displays, installed in 2014. It contains 119 figures, 224 animals, and 21 houses representing 17 biblical chapters, with scenes adjusted annually to depict different gospel passages.
Alcides Troncoso, a guide at La Merced Church, noted its popularity.
“All the nativity scenes in the churches are very visited, this one specifically because it is inside the museum. People seek it out because, more than anything, it has a summary of some stages of Jesus’s life and some biblical passages,”
Troncoso stated. [Translated from Spanish] Tourists frequently include the route in their visits to the historic casco antiguo area, citing both architectural interest and cultural immersion.
The tradition traces its origins to Francis of Assisi, who created the first living nativity with real people and animals nearly 800 years ago. Another notable display is at the San Felipe Neri Church, featuring 723 pieces crafted in the last century and imported from Italy, Spain, and France. Conservators have restored 105 of these figurines to preserve their historical value, a collection often highlighted during local events like the felipe neri festival.
In Panama, the custom dictates assembling nativity scenes starting on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Families and churches dismantle them on January 6, Three Kings’ Day. This schedule keeps alive a tradition that organizers say seamlessly combines community art, faith, and national cultural identity.