Atheist groups have snapped up all but three of the 21 spaces in Santa Monica's Palisades Park that Christian groups have used for almost 60 years for annual Nativity scenes, the Santa Monica Press reports.

The 14 displays, featuring life-size figures, that normally appear along the length of Ocean Avenue are confined to three spaces this year because of a random lottery system set up to more fairly allocate the space.

Typically, 14 churches have little or no competition for the 21 spaces, but this year 13 groups vied for the spots.

In the end, all but three of the spots are being used for "solstice greetings" with a decidedly anti-religious flavor. The churches are confined to two spaces for their Nativity scenes and a Jewish group has one space to display a menorah.

Damon Vix, a prop builder who works occasionally in Santa Monica, has helped groups like American Atheists fill the space.

"For 60 years, it's almost exclusively been the point of view of Christians putting up Nativity scenes for a whole city block," Vix tells the Press.

Hunter Jameson, a spokesman for the churches, says the people who applied for the spots are not Santa Monica residents.

"That is not really fair, not in the spirit of the rules and certainly not in the spirit of free speech," Jameson tells the newspaper.

A church coalition is now trying to get City Hall to reserve space specifically for the Nativity booths.