Panama takes Christmas very seriously. Millions of dollars are poured over this small country during the last month of the year. Stores are full of people making all kinds of purchases for their loved ones. Supermarkets are loaded with customers buying food to put on their tables during Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It’s a month of frantic activity. I’s almost impossible to drive on the congested streets.
Albrook Mall is no exception. It has been full to capacity with Christmas shoppers since late November. Its administrators made sure the mall was properly decorated for the occasion. During my recent visit to its premises on November 28, 2009, I was positively impressed with what I saw except for one thing. I’ll tell you and the end of the post.
Meanwhile, let’s take a look at some of the Christmas decorations at Albrook Mall in Panama City, Panama. Here we go.
A richly decorated Christmas tree at Albrook Mall in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
Photograph of a colossal Christmas Tree located at the entrance of Albrook Mall in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
A closer view of the Christmas decorations at Albrook Mall. Notice how big the toy soldiers are. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
A view of a Christmas tree at Albrook Mall taken from the second floor. I stared at this tree for several minutes, in awe. Digicel is a cell phone company operating in Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
A close-up view of the Albrook Mall Christmas tree. The toy soldiers were mesmerizing. For a short while I felt like a six-year old kid. Maybe I never ceased to be a kid. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
Remember what I said about missing something? Well, I didn’t see a nativity setting in the whole mall. Here we are in the midst of the Christmas season, and no where did I see a sign of baby Jesus. We are celebrating the birth of an invisible child. When I was young, there were nativity decorations in every home and most commercial places. Nowadays, you can barely see them. Baby Jesus has been replaced by Santa Claus and the Christmas Tree. This is unfortunate. Good Day.
It’s the same in the USA, Omar. Almost no nativity scenes anywhere.
Some of them were in front of public buildings in the past but a few groups started protesting it was a violation of church and state and got them removed.
I hope at some point those groups are in desparate need of divine intervention. Maybe then their demands will haunt them?
We hope that you and Aura have a wonderful and merry Christmas!
jim and nena
fort worth, tx
Hi Jim and Nena:
It’s most unfortunate to eliminate God from our lives. Eventually those same God haters will return to Him.
I reciprocate those same wishes to you and Nena. Over time I have regarded both of you as part of the family. I enjoy your usual comments.
Best Wishes,
Omar.-
It doesn’t really surprise me, Omar. Jesus is merely a means to an end. The end is profit or money or greed. You probably didn’t see any donation booths to donate food or money for the poor either. Greed doesn’t share.
I think your photography is just excellent. It gives me a great look at your malls and what is in them. I wonder, if you have the time, to walk down the mall sometime after the holidays and let us see what the name of the stores are and what they are selling in their display windows.
Also, I see you name protrayed on your photos. Good.
Now, to make the © symbol at in © Omar Upefi R.
Hold down the Alt key and use the number pad to type zero, 169 or 0169 and let up on the Alt key. You get © symbol.
Hi Abe:
You are correct. I didn’t see any donation booths for food or money for the poor.
Thank you for your comments regarding my photographs. Coming from you, a professional photographer, this is a very high compliment.
I promise to photograph the stores after the Christmas season is over, so you will know which stores are present at Albrook Mall and what they sell.
Starting today, I will include the copyright sign (©) before my name, below my photographs.
Your guidance and support have been very important for me during all these years.
God Bless,
Omar.-
Omar:
Exactament lo mismo que pense cuando vi las fotos. Nacimientos era lo que mas se usaba de decoracion y arboles de Navidad cuando era nino en David. Se entiende que en US no se use tanto porque no todos son Catolicos o cristianos y todo aqui es “politically correct”. Por ejemplo en US, los mensajes en TV y en tindas dicen “Happy Holidays” en vez de “Merry Christmas”, porque hay que incluir Hannukah, Kuanzwa y otros. Pero en Panama, cuando 80% de la poblacion es catolica?!
Los soldados y los jugetes que se ven en las decoraciones son mas relacionados a las costumbres anglosajonas, no a nuestras costumbres panamenas. Es una pena.
Jaime^
Hola Jaime:
Totalmente de acuerdo. Creo que es un error alejar a la población Estadounidense de Dios, indistintante del nombre que le quieran poner; verbi-gracia, Dios, Jehová, Javé, Alá, etc. En realidad es el mismo concepto del Supremo Bien.
La separación del Estado-Iglesia le ha hecho un gran daño a la gran nación Norteña.
En Panamá estamos perdiendo los valores religiosos, y esa pérdida, nos está llevando al abismo. Las pandillas, las drogas, el alcholoismo, la prostitución, los asesintos son hechos de todos los días.
Sin Dios hay caos. No encuentro otra solución.
Gracias por sus comentarios Jaime. Siempre los espero.
Atentamente,
Omar.-
You have taken excelent photos and it is a shame that the christmas season no longer represent what it is meant to be. Christmas no longer is the celebration of Christ but has become a holiday. It is a shame that you can’t do anything without offending someone. We all need to take time and remember what God has given us and the sacrifices that Jesus has made for us all. Merry Christmas and God Bless You.
Hi Marine:
You have a good point. Merry Christmas has been replaced with Happy Holidays. Jesus has been deleted from the Christmas scene. I also feel sorry for that, since I’m a practicing Roman Catholic and believe in Jesus, the son of God. During the celebration of his birthday, he is not invited.
Merry Christmas to you too Marine and God bless you as well.
Omar.-