The Carnaval And Dominican Republic's Regional Carnaval Traditions

Long before all other Dominican Republic holidays were celebrated, the Dominicans have already developed a special type of celebration called the Carnaval. Its history stretches as far back as 1500s with a cocktail of tradition that comes from the early Christians who have settled in Hispaniola with substantial contributions from the natives of the land as well as from early African settlers.

And since then, the people of Dominican Republic have conducted some of the celebrations in the country. It is not surprising then that nowadays, centuries after the first festivities were held, the Carnaval still stands as the most eminent Dominican Republic holidays. A fact apparent because the Carnaval is the only feast that is celebrated for an entire month. To top this off, many of the feasts and festivities in the country are carvanalesque in nature.

During the month of February, different towns and municipalities conduct their own Carnavals. Each different from the next, but all equally enjoyable.

In La Vega, one of the most prominent provinces in the Dominican Republic, the very first Carnaval took place in 1520. Nowadays, La Vega is known for the liveliest and most colorful Carnaval celebrations in the entire nation. The celebration spans the entire month of February with the highlights of the feast occurring on all Sundays.

Central to the Carnaval is the traditional Carnaval character of each province. La Vega adopted a medieval devil that has been the Carnaval character of the province for the last 100 years. The Limping Devil, or as it is called in the native tongue, the 'Diablo Cojuelo', is a brilliantly colored, artistic recreation of a snake devil. It is paraded throughout the site of celebration every year.

The second largest city in the nation, Santiago, celebrates Carnaval quite differently from all other cities. For the residents of Santiago, Carnaval is a bi-annual celebration that is held both in February in time for the independence celebrations and pre-Lenten feasts and in August, on the Day of the Restoration. It is in Santiago that most battles of the restoration occurred. It has been this way since 1867.

There are two types of traditional Carnaval characters in Santiago – the Lechones (from the native roast pork called 'lechon' that was adopted by the Joyeros of the La Joya) and the Pepineros that was adopted by the Los Pepines. Like the Diablo Cojuelo, these Carnaval characters are made artistically by combining taffeta, silk, satin and decorative materials like beads, sequence, belts, and mirrored disks.

In Cotui, celebrations are what others may call, 'world upside down' events. Garbage become highly fashionable, a woman becomes a man, and fragile leaves become armors.

When it comes to tradition and colors, the Carnaval in Salcedo is second to none. The principal Carnaval character is the Diablo which takes up many different faces of animals. At the end of the celebrations, the participants rip their costumes apart to symbolize renewal.

For something that caters to all kinds of influences on the Dominican Republic's culture, the Carnaval in Puerto Plata provides the best insights. It combines the spectacle of Medieval Europe with traditional African and Taino elements.

Packing for a Dominican Republic Holiday

Packing for a trip can easily go from bad to worse. Let's face it, all of us get over excited for a trip that we end up packing half of our closet.

To avoid over- packing, it's a good idea to sit down and list all of the things that you need to bring. Keep in mind that you're only bring the things that you need and not the things that you want to bring. To make packing even easier, come up with a list of things that you will use for each day of your trip. Planning your wardrobe ahead of time would help you avoid bringing clothes that you will not use during your vacation.

Pack A Functional Wardrobe
To be functional means to be able to use your clothes in more than one occasion. Mix-matching clothes are one of the secrets to traveling light. Dominican Republic is a tropical country. Light clothing and neutral colors are pleasant to the eyes and would go well to the country's climate.

The number of items you will bring will depend on how long you will stay in the country. The number of items on the list is for a  3-day to a week trip to the country.

• Pants. 2 to 4 pairs of pants that you can easily interchange with the rest of your wardrobe are good enough. Black, white and khaki pants can easily be matched with various colored tops.

• Capris or shorts. Bring only a pair of shorts or Capri pants. Use this when you will be touring the city or going on an eco- adventure.

• Sundresses. To make packing even lighter, ladies can bring a couple of sundresses. Accessories can easily change the look of these sundresses so you can use them more than once in your trip.

• Light tops. 3 to 6 light colored tops or blouses is enough. You can wash these tops so you can use them again and match them with different pants or bottoms.

• Swimsuits and cover-up. 2 swimsuits should be enough for your trip. You can use one swimsuit while waiting for the other one to dry. You only need one cover-up, especially when you are bringing a few sundresses. A sundress can double as a cover-up.

• 2 pairs of shoes. A pair of sandals and sneakers would make walking in the city comfortable and still fashionable for the ladies.

• Poncho or lightweight jacket. Depending on the date of your visit, you might experience a few rain falls.

• Undergarments

Other Things To Bring

Once you've got your wardrobe covered, it's now time to pack your other essentials.

• Toiletries

• Your medications. Don't forget to bring the prescription from your doctor to avoid having problems in the airport or police officials.

• First aid kit

• Sun block and lip balm

• Mosquito or insect repellant

• Camera

• Country's travel guide. You can buy this when you get to Dominican Republic already.

• Spanish Dictionary. While Spanish is the official language, English is also widely used but a small dictionary might come in handy.

Have a stress-free Dominican Republic Holiday by traveling light and having all the things you need in your bag. Before leaving, make sure you've got everything listed on your list.

National Dominican Republic Holidays

Dominican Republic has no shortage of holidays. From regional fiestas patronales to national public holidays, this country boasts of a barrage of celebrations and festivities all year round. There are hundreds of holidays celebrated around the country, with each town or municipality contributing their own. But, the country, as a whole, observes only a handful of public holidays.

New Year's Day – January 1
The Dominicans join the entire world in celebrating the passing of a year and welcoming the coming of a new one. Having a penchant for fun, feasts, and festivities, the Dominicans celebrate New Year in a manner unseen in the rest of the world.

Dominicans attach a lot of beliefs in New Year. Among the most prominent is their strong belief that it brings renewal to every aspect of their lives. They take pains to clean, and even repaint, their houses so as to invite good blessings. As the clock strikes 12 on New Year's Eve, doors and windows are opened to invite good luck.

Epiphany or Three Kings' Day – January 6
Being predominantly Catholic, Dominicans observe the Epiphany with festive feasts. This day marks the visitation of the Biblical Magi (otherwise known as the Three Kings and the Three Wise Men) to Baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

Our Lady of Altagracia – January 21
Known in many different names like Our Lady of High Grace, Our Lady of Grace, and Virgen de la Altagracia, the Our Lady of Altagracia is a special day for the Dominican Republic as it commemorates the Protector and Queen of the Hearts of the Dominican People. It is celebrated every January 21 with vigils, mass and other church services, and of course, festivals. Central to the celebration is the more than 500-year old miraculous portrait of Our Lady.

Duarte's Birthday – January 26
The Dominican Republic has a long history of occupation by Spanish and Haitian rulers. Among the heroes who opposed outside rule was one of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic, Juan Palo Duarte. In commemoration of his heroic deeds, the country celebrates the date of his birth every year.

Independence Day – February 27
Revolutions against tyrannical Spanish and Haitian rulers were attempted throughout Dominican Republic's history. It was only on February 27, 1844 when the then Dominican leaders succeeded to overthrow the Haitian government.

Good Friday – April
Like other Catholic countries, the Dominican Republic observes the 'Semana Santa' or the Holy Week. Particularly for Dominicans, Good Friday, the day when Jesus Christ died on the Cross, is commemorated although the entire week is dedicated for the Lenten season.  

Labour Day – May 1
Labour Day is a secular celebration observed in the Dominican Republic on May 1. On this day, most business establishments and schools are closed.

Corpus Christi – June (Thursday)
60 days after Easter, Dominicans celebrate the Corpus Christi or the feast that commemorates the institution of the Eucharist or the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Restoration Day – August 16
Or Día de Restauración, commemorates the country's third independence. Although they won their independence in 1844, they were again occupied by Spanish forces in 1861. In 1863, militia forces gained victory over Spanish forces, thus leading to their liberation in 1863.

Our Lady of las Mercedes – September 24
The patron saint of the Dominican Republic, Our Lady of Mercy, has been celebrated in the country for the last 390 plus years. It is a non-working national holiday.

Constitution Day – November 6
The country first adopted its constitution on the 6th of November, 1844. This day is celebrated on the 6th of November.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – December 24 and 25
Christmas is celebrated in the Dominican Republic from the beginning of December to January 6, although proper celebrations are held only on the 24th – when families gather for the Christmas dinner – and 25th.

Making The Most Out Of Your Dominican Republic Holiday

A holiday at the Dominican Republic is, perhaps, among the most luxurious, if not enjoyable experience you could ever have in the Caribbean. With serene beaches, lovely people, and festive celebrations all year round, you will surely have fun staying at any of Dominican Republic's town. To help you make the most out of your holidays in the Dominican Republic, try following the tips below:

Know the best time to spend your vacation.
There are two climates you should be wary about when visiting the Dominican Republic. The first is the hurricane season which runs from June to November. The second is the time of the year when the temperatures could go pretty high and the humidity, very uncomfortable. If you don’t mind experiencing some strong storms or hot weather, try visiting during these time frames. Otherwise, consider visiting during the most comfortable parts of the year.

Bring plenty of sun block lotions and insect repellants.
Whether it's summer or winter, the sun is ever-present in the Dominican Republic's sky. Be sure to bring plenty of sun block lotions with you. Also, mosquitoes are notorious for ruining vacations for they can potentially cause malaria. Bring with you a lot of insect repellants.

Bring with you a Spanish-American dictionary.
The official language in the Dominican Republic is Spanish. A decent Spanish-American dictionary, therefore, comes in handy when traveling around the country. There are also areas in the country where English is not spoken or English-speaking representatives are lacking. You will have a good advantage in dealing with locals when you know a few Dominican words and phrases.

And of course…

Familiarize yourself with Dominican Republic holidays.
Dominican Republic has a barrage of holidays that offer nothing short of a spectacle. While there are hundreds of holidays that are celebrated by the entire nation, there are always those that are more enjoyable than others.

February is the month when the entire country celebrates the Carnaval – a very festive celebration that spans the entire month of February. The highlights of the celebrations happen on all Sunday afternoons. Whether your plan is to stay very long in the island or enjoy the best part of the year, you consider spending your vacation at this time of the year. It is also not a bad idea to truly enjoy the various events held in the country. nearly every town has their own Carnaval.

There are plenty of other festive occasions throughout the year such as the regional feasts held in honor of the various Patron Saints in the land and other national public holidays. There are also music festivals and patriotic holidays which could give you a feel of everything that is Dominican. Determine what type of celebration you want to participate in so you could enjoy the country's holidays better.

Perhaps the least enjoyable part of the year is during Christmas. Not only is it hot – which could get very uncomfortable if you are used to cold weather during this season – it is also considered the 'spring break' of the Dominicans. Most hotels are occupied and there aren’t much of a celebration to enjoy.

La Navidad – Christmas in the Dominican Republic

Celebrations and holidays are a big part of the culture of the Dominican Republic that if the Carnaval is celebrated the whole month of February, La Navidad lasts from October to January. This is a time for exhilarating parties, gathering together family, friends, and relatives, and enjoying life.

In the Dominican Republic, there are many holidays in the year to have a great time. Christmas time is even more delightful. Christmas is a time for big family reunions that airlines are fully booked with Dominicans returning back to their roots and celebrating the holidays in places they call home. The excitement is continuous and sustained with daily firework display that intensifies as December 25 gets closer and this continues through the New Year.

Dominicans celebrate the event unlike most people probably in the whole world. To do business during this season will not be easy. This is a time for celebration and a celebration it will be with people preoccupied with enjoying other peoples company's rather than with anything else. Parties are everywhere with whiffs of food and other festive aromas dominating the air. This is festive spirit in abundance. There is nothing like it.

The Big Bang in Action
Children of all ages ignite firecrackers of all types. Small missiles shoot in the air like crazy and people getting out of the way like mad with seldom a word of reprimand. Dominicans are used to these. They, in fact, anticipate this these are excited by all the noise that firecrackers have become synonymous with celebrations. Understandably, a feast without the boom is not complete, the bigger the bang, the bigger the grins on faces.

The Big Meal
In a predominantly Catholic country like the Dominican Republic, Noche Buena is a big part of the celebration. People even in far off areas always make it a point to go home. This is one of those days in the year where the favorite recipes of aunts and mothers are served and enjoyed with visiting relatives. This is feasting at its best. In most countries, December 25 is the main day to celebrate. In the Dominican Republic, the feasting starts towards the midnight of December 24. December 25 is a day to recover from all the food, if not a day to feast some more.

Giving Thanks
The center of all the celebration actually is the birth of Jesus Christ that is celebrated in all churches during the midnight of the 24th to the early morning of the 25th  in a mass called the 'Misa de Gallo'. The religious and the pious gather in the church very early. Expect churches to be overflowing during this day and expect the majority of churchgoers not being able to get inside the church. This is fine as displays and the general atmosphere of the celebration is just as good outside. The Dominican Republic has the first church in the Americas. The Catedral de Santa Maria remains to be the most elaborate and the largest throughout the Republic.