The Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana / Offering of the Bulls
In the town of San Juan Bautista de Bayaguana, known simply as Bayaguana, in the Dominican Republic is held an exceptionally unique festival. The Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana, also known as the Festival of the Bulls, the traditional cattle festival in Bayaguana. The festivities start on December 28 with the arrival of the bulls and end on January 1st with the offering of the bulls.
The Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana / Offering of the Bulls – Bringing the bulls to town.
This tradition started when, during a long drought, the cattle were dying. The crops and fruit were drying up. So, in desperation, the people of the area offered a bull to Santo Cristo in exchange for rains to fall. After a few days passed the rains did return as usual and all was saved. Thus the tradition began.
The Festival El Santo Cristo Bayaguana Today
A few weeks before the festival the Commissioners of Santo Cristo de los Milagros go around the region collecting bulls. These are offerings from the believers as an expression of thanks for the favors bestowed on them that year and to signify their faith and devotion.
The Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana / The Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana / Offering of the Bulls – The Vaqueros – Cowboys and their horses are bringing the bulls to town.
At dawn on the 28 of December the horseback riders the Vaqueros, bull wranglers, Commissioners and the faithful enter the town square with their bulls in tow. Here is held a consecration ceremony displaying the solemnity of their faith.
This procession is not a silent one, just the opposite. It is led by the Banda Municipal de Música. There are songs, prayers, dancing, and even fireworks. All transpiring while the bulls are led to a coral in the center of town where the bulls are held for the 4-day festival. These bulls are penned, waiting for the 4th day, January 1st, when they will be sold or “offered”.
The Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana – People singing and chanting Cantos de Toros.
The people gathered for the festival, including the people wanting to purchase these sacrificial bulls, are all in a joyful spirit. Sancocho is served and liquids imbibed such as rum, jengibre and coffee. The night is passed singing and chanting Cantos de Toros/ Songs of the Bulls and Salves. These songs are improvised verse and poetry sung a cappella. The singing is done in a round, with alternate soloists taking the lead while all the people gathered joining in like a choir. There is a real party spirit, much commotion and fireworks.
Come January 1st the people begin arriving from throughout the country to participate in the masses and offerings to Santo Christ. After eating the faithful gather at the altar and, in a very solemn ceremony, they ask for and are also thankful for, things and promises granted by the Santo Cristo for the past year and the year to come. This as a very inspirational and somber act.
The Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana – The bulls are coming into town.
After this ceremony the commissioners, nuns, priests and believers go to the corral where the bulls are kept to hold the sale. The money coming from the sale of these offered bulls will be used by the Catholic Church for good works.
This festival has been occurring for more than 400 years. These observances began with the foundation of the town of Bayaguana in 1604, during the Spanish colonization
The Miracles
It is said that there were several miracles attributed to Santo Cristo de los Milagros that are recognized during this festival:
*The image of the Son of God appeared to a little girl and the sight of her blind mother was immediately restored.
*A paralyzed man, wanting to participate in the festival stood and walked.
*On this day in 1924, when the North American troops left Santo Domingo, the church bells rang by themselves.
The rest of the pictures that I collected:
The Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana – Children and adults arrive on horseback.The Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana – More bulls are arriving.The Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana – Vaqueros arriving on horseback.The Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana – There are some Cowgirls coming into townThe Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana – People entering the festival singing and chanting Cantos de TorosThe Festival El Santo Cristo de Bayaguana – People in the streets coming in for the festivities.
Dominican Republic Superstitions – Marriage, Death, Water, Home
The Dominican Republic has many superstitious beliefs that have been passed down through the ages. How to ward off bad luck before it happens and what to do if you make a mistake and those bad omens find you. Read, learn and remember how to prevent bad things from happening to you the Dominican way.
A Santeria where you can purchase all your protection needs.
Marriage and No Marriage
If you are married or planning on being married or maybe you never want to be married. You might want to read about these superstitions before making any decision.
*It is a catastrophe if one gets married on Tuesday, Friday or in the month of November.
*If a woman opens an umbrella in the house she will never get married
*DO NOT go to a wedding dressed in black this gives bad luck to the couple.
*If a single woman in serving something on a tray and the tray is left empty she should hold it upside down or she won’t get married.
*If a young girl walks under a ladder, she will never marry.
*You can’t sweep a single person’s feet or they will stay single.
*If you cross a set of hands already in a handshake with another handshake, someone will be getting married.
Something buried at the Ruinas del Monasterio de San Francisco.
Death and Death Causes
How to prevent death and illnesses and what to do if death comes close.
*If you have two lights turned on in a room this will cause death.
*If a dog howls with persistence somebody in the neighborhood will die.
*If a dog barks at night without reason then he is seeing a ghost.
*If all the hens cluck at the same time there will be a death in the family.
Small grave yard in the Batey of Dominican Republic.
*If a person goes to the cemetery while ill they will die of that disease.
*Do Not sleep with your feet towards the street. Since this is the way the dead are put to rest this will bring bad luck or even worse death.
*Every time a bottle of alcohol is opened some of the alcohol must be poured onto the floor por los muertos/ for the dead.
*When seeing a funeral procession on the highway make sure to cross yourself or you could be possessed by the dead.
*If your windows are open and a funeral is going by you have to close the windows and wake any sleeping babies. Throw a bucket of water down the steps for good measure.
*Every time you pass a graveyard don’t forget to cross yourself for protection and respect, at both the beginning and end of the graveyard.
Rain and Water
When to avoid bathing, rain or getting wet and when to just dive in and get soaked. These superstitions are used to protect you from the bad omens of fucús.
*If things are going bad, a dip in the ocean will wash away the bad spirits.
*Don’t bathe in the morning – again, you will get gripe (the flu or a cold).
*You must place a cubo de auga / bucket of water at the furthest corner of your house the week of New Year’s. Exactly at midnight you dump the water out the backdoor. The belief is you gather all the bad spirits and feelings of the previous year and you dump them out never to return. (more New Year traditions)
*If you go into a rain shower when the sun is shining you will get sick.
*Taking a bath with rose petals is said to bring Quitar la mala suerte / good luck. Usually done by people who have not won the lottery.
*To make it not rain make a circle of pebbles in your yard. Cover these stones with ashes and say the anti-rain chant “San Isidro Labrador, quita el agua y pon el sol!”
*To protect your crops during a storm with strong winds mount your machete, upside down, on the wall in the farthest corner of the home.
Caught in a rain storm at the Palacio de Borgellá.
*If you are caught in a thunder and lightning storm its best to stop talking and close the mouth. Also remove and teeth that are removable because they, the metal in them, are said to be lightning conductors and they can be blown right out of your mouth.
*When the first rain in May falls El Agua de Mayo catch the water with your hands and wash your face. This will get rid of wrinkles and purify. Save some in a jar to use later for whatever ails you.
Food and In the Home Superstitions
Learn how to cleanse a new home before you move Dominican style. And be careful, if you eat certain foods or even drop a utensil this can cause dire consequences or bring unwanted visitors to your home. Some things can even cause death!
*Do not ask a neighbor to lend you salt in the morning. This will bring bad luck.
*Never hand a salt shaker directly to someone, you should always place it on the table first.
*If you drop a fork and the tines of the fork point to the roof (up) an angry sibling will arrive. If the tines of the fork point to the floor the siblings will arrive looking for food or lodgings, a celebration.
*If you drop a knife in the kitchen, a male visitor will be stopping by. If you drop a spoon, it will be a female.
Watermellons for sale but do not eat the seeds.
*If you eat the seeds of a watermelon (Pastilla) you will get stomach pains and die.
*Don’t eat piña/ pineapple too soon after eating eggs.
*You should never drink coffee standing up or any plans that you have made will not happen (se te barajan los planes).
*You cannot eat avocado and drink milk right before bed or you will get bad stomach cramps.
*If a farmer chews tobacco while he plants yucca, the yucca will be bitter.
*Young women just entering puberty may never eat citrus fruits.
A straw or palm frond broom setting outside before use for good luck.
*A new straw or palm frond broom, before the first use, must be set outside for a day for luck
*Placing a broom behind the door one will receive visitors
*To get rid of a guest who has overstayed their welcome place a broom behind the entry door with the bristle end up.
*Never sweep out the front door of a business.”There go your profits”.
*Place above the front door some sábila/ aloe. This collects all the negative energy of people coming and going.
*If you come across a set of crossed branches on your doorstep, watch out. Someone had done a “job” on you.
*Cover all your mirrors during thunderstorms.
*Standing in a doorway during a thunderstorm could cause the home to be struck with lightning.
*The first time you enter your new house (residence) bring with you oil, salt, bread, a candle and a picture or Jesus or whatever saint you choose. The candle and picture are to bless the house and the oil, salt and bread will always make sure you have food in the house.
*If a wasp comes into the house it brings bad luck.
*Don’t put money under your mattress or you will never get a good nights sleep.
*Never open the fridge after you iron.
*A glass of water placed on a shelf with the image of Santa Clara placed behind it to “they clarify all the ways”.
*Place a sprig of Perejil/ parsley in your home and it will bring you money.
*Bells placed in the doorway ward off evil and are placed there as an advanced warning should spirits enter the home.
*Turning a chair on one leg will bring misfortune.
All You Want To Know About The Oldest City In The Americas
