Dominican Republic Holidays 2021

Holiday Calendar of Dominican Republic 2021 / Días Feriados 2021 Calendario

Dominican Republic Holidays / Días Feriados del 2021 and Important dates to remember.

Holidays – The Minister of Work announced the calendar for the celebration of the holidays for the year 2021 according to the Law 139-97 / Días Festivos – El Ministerio de Trabajo anuncia el calendario para la celebración de los días feriados para el año 2021, establecidos en la Ley 139-97. www.mt.gob.do

Due to Covid-19, the curfews / toque de queda and other restrictions many activities are canceled or drastically changed.


 

Be aware – On the long weekends the cities usually empty out as most people head to the beaches of the country. Hotels are usually booked to capacity with Dominicans enjoying these long weekends. The highways in and out of the city can be very congested with people coming and going.

The Flag of Dominican Republic with the city of Santo Domingo in the distance as seen from the Faro a Colón
The Flag of Dominican Republic with the city of Santo Domingo in the distance as seen from the Faro a Colón

January / Enero

1 – Wednesday – New Year’s Day / Año Nuevo (How Dominicans celebrate Año Nuevo)

4 – Monday – Día de los Santos Reyes Magos – Epifania / Three Kings Day – Epiphany (what is 3 Kings Day?)The official date is Wednesday the 6th but it is changed to give a long holiday weekend.

12 – Tuesday – Día de la Resistencia Heroica / Day of Heroic Resistance.

15 – to End of March – Whale Watching (the best place to observe is the Samana Bay)

21 – Thursday – Our Lady of Altagracia Day / Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia. (more information on Altagracia and a photo slide show of the Basilica de Higuey)

25 – Monday – Celebrating Duarte Birthday / Natalicio de Juan Pablo Duarte. Juan Pablo Duarte was born on the 26th. (more information on Duarte).


 

February / Febrero

Normally Las Fiestas de Carnaval Dominicano / Dominican Carnival Parties Carnival Dominicano/ Dominican Carnival celebrations happen all month. But this year, due to Covid-19 many of the festivities are canceled. I will inform you if I know any events or changes.

The entire month of February has been declared Mes de la Patria / Patriotic Month.

12 – Friday – Chinese New Year (celebrations for the Year of the Ox in Barrio Chino / China Town will be held ??)

14 – Friday – Día de San Valentín / Valentine´s Day

27 – Saturday – Día de la Independencia / Independence Day – Día de la Bandera / Flag Day. Dominicans celebrate February 27, 1844 as their Independence Day. This the day the country declared its independence again and retook the name República Dominicana (Dominican Republic). A constitution modeled on that of the United States was put forth in November 1844.

Paraguas Azules sombrillas decorativas / Decorative Umbrellas over Arzobispo Meriño. The  Palacio Consistorial is in the distance.
Paraguas Azules sombrillas decorativas / Decorative Umbrellas over Arzobispo Meriño. The Palacio Consistorial is in the distance.

March / Marzo

8 – International Women’s Day / Día Internacional de la Mujer

17 – Miércoles de Ceniza / Ash Wednesday – The first day of Lent

19 – Batalla del 19 de Marzo / Battle of March 19 / Important battle for independence was fought on March 19, 1844 in Azua

28 – Domingo de Ramos / Palm Sunday

30 – Batalla del 30 de Marzo or Batalla de Santiago / Battle of March 30 or Battle of Santiago. Another battle won in the fight for independence fought in 1844.

April / Abril

2 – Viernes Santo / Good Friday (the long weekend from Thursday 1st to Sunday April 4th)

4 – Sunday – Domingo de Pascua – Semana Santa / Easter – one of the biggest vacation times here. How Dominicans celebrate Easter / Semana Santa.

May / Mayo

1 – Saturday – Día del Trabajo / Labor Day

25 – Día de la Revolución de Mayo / Revolution Day

30 – Sunday – Mother’s Day. (Always falls on the last Sunday in May)

The dates of all the Patronales / Patron Saints celebrations are on the Patron Saint Celebrations Page.

The statue of Juan Pablo Duarte in Parque Duarte
The statue of Juan Pablo Duarte in Parque Duarte

June / Junio

3 – Thursday – Corpus Christi Day

July / Julio

25 – Sunday – Father’s Day (Always falls on the last Sunday in July)


 

August / Agusto

16 – Monday – Restoration Day/ Día de Restauración

September / Septiembre

24 – Friday – Día de las Mercedes / Our Lady of Mercedes Day. (more information on Las Mercedes)

October / Octobre

11 – Monday – Día de Colón / Columbus Day also celebrated as Dia de la Raza / Day of the (different) Races (Information about the Faro a Colón / Columbus Lighthouse)

November/ Noviembre

6 – Saturday – Día de la Constitución / Constitution Day

The Christmas Tree on Calle el Conde in the Colonial Zone
The Christmas Tree on Calle el Conde in the Colonial Zone

25 – Thursday – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – November 25th, 1960 is when the three Mirabal Sisters / Hermanas Mirabal, Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa, from the Dominican Republic, were violently assassinated for their political activism. This day was first commemorated in 1999 following a proclamation from the UN General Assembly. About the Hermanas Mirabal.

December / Diciembre

25 – Saturday – Día de Navidad / Christmas Day (How Dominicans celebrate Navidad / Christmas)

31 – Friday – New Year’s Eve (New Year traditions)


 

The dates of all the Patronales / Patron Saints celebrations are on the Patron Saint Celebrations Page.

Be aware that on the long weekends the cities usually empty out as most people head to the beaches or the country. Hotels are usually booked to capacity with Dominicans enjoying the long weekends. The highways in and out of the city can be very congested with people coming and going.

Buenagente and bicycle riders on Arzobispo Meriño
Buenagente and bicycle riders on Arzobispo Meriño

How To Say Months and Days In Spanish

JANUARY / ENERO | FEBRUARY / FEBRERO | MARCH / MARZO | APRIL / ABRIL | MAY / MAYO | JUNE / JUNIO | JULY / JULIO | AUGUST / AGOSTO | SEPTEMBER / SEPTIEMBRE | OCTOBER / OCTUBRE | NOVEMBER / NOVIEMBRE | DECEMBER / DICIEMBRE

Monday / Lunes | Tuesday / Martes | Wednesday / Miércoles | Thursday / Jueves | Friday / Viernes | Saturday / Sábado | Sunday / Domingo

All You Want To Know About The Oldest City In The Americas