Tag Archives: days

Holiday Calendar 2017

Holiday Calendar 2017

Holidays – The Minister of Work announced the calendar for the celebration of the holidays for the year 2016 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 2017, establecidos en la Ley 139-97. www.ministeriodetrabajo.gob.do

Beaches are full during weekends and holidays. Playa Dominicus, La Romana.

January/ Enero
1 – Sunday – New Year’s Day
9 – Monday celebrating (The 6th is the OFFICIAL date) Día de los Santo Reyes Magos – Epifania / Three Kings Day – Epiphany (what is 3 Kings Day?)
12 – Thursday – Día de la Resistencia Heroica/ Day of Heroic Resistance (this is the first year for this day to honor the men and women who fought for a fairer society)
15 – to End of March – Whale Watching (the best place to observe is the Samana Bay)
21 – Saturday – Our Lady of Altagracia Day. (more information on Altagracia and a photo slide show of the Basilica de Higuey)
28 – Saturday – Chinese New Year (celebrations for the Year of the Rooster in China Town)
30 – Monday – Duarte Day celebrated. Juan Pablo Duarte was born on the 26th.(more information on Duarte).

February/ Febrero
1 thru 28 Las Fiestas de Carnaval Dominicano / Dominican Carnival Parties Carnival Dominicano/ Dominican Carnival celebrations happen all month. The weekends are when different communities hold their parades and celebrations. Usually the ultimate parade on the Malecon in Santo Domingo with the best of the best is held the first Sunday in March.
14 – Tuesday – 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.

March/ Marzo
1 – Miércoles de Ceniza / Ash Wednesday – The first day of Lent
5 – Sunday/ Domingo The big Carnival Parade on the Malecon in Santo Domingo.

April/ Abril
9 – Domingo de Ramos / Palm Sunday
14 – Viernes Santo / Good Friday (long weekend from Thursday the 24th to Sunday the
16th – one of the biggest vacation times here. How do Dominicans celebrate Easter/ Semana Santa? Read all about it.
16 – Sunday – Domingo de Pascua – Semana Santa / Easter

May/ Mayo
1 – Monday – Día del Trabajo / Labor Day (official day May 1st) (long weekend from Friday April 28th to Monday the 1st)
28 – 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.

June/ Junio
15 – Thursday – Corpus Christi Day

July/ Julio
30 – Sunday – Father’s Day (Always falls on the last Sunday in July)

August/ Agusto
16 – Thursday – Restoration Day/ Día de Restauración (more information on Restoration Day)

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

October / Octobre
9 – Monday – Día de Colón / Columbus Day

November/ Noviembre
6 – Monday – Día de la Constitución / Constitution Day

December/ Decembre
25 – Monday – Día de Navidad / Christmas Day (How Dominicans celebrate Navidad/Christmas)
31 – Sunday – New Years 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.

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

Holiday Calendar 2015

Holiday Calendar 2015

Holidays – The Minister of Work announced the calendar for the celebration of the holidays for the year 2016 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 2015, establecidos en la Ley 139-97. www.ministeriodetrabajo.gob.do

January/ Enero
1 – Friday – New Year’s Day
5 – Monday celebrating (The 6th is the OFFICIAL date) Día de los Santo Reyes Magos – Epifania / Three Kings Day – Epiphany (what is 3 Kings Day?)
12 – Día de la Resistencia Heroica/ Day of Heroic Resistance (this is the first year for this day to honor the men and women who fought for a fairer society)
15 – to End of March – Whale Watching (the best place to observe is the Samana Bay)
21 – Wednesday – Our Lady of Altagracia Day. (more information on Altagracia and a photo slide show of the Basilica de Higuey)
26 – Monday – Duarte Day.

February/ Febrero
1 thru 29 Las Fiestas de Carnaval Dominicano / Dominican Carnival Parties Carnival Dominicano/ Dominican Carnival celebrations happen all month. The weekends are when different communities hold their parades and celebrations.
19 – Thursday – Chinese New Year (celebrations for the Year of the Goat in China Town)
18 – Miércoles de Ceniza / Ash Wednesday
27 – Friday – 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.

March/ Marzo
1 Sunday/ Domingo The big Carnival Parade on the Malecon in Santo Domingo.
29 Domingo de Ramos / Palm Sunday

April/ Abril
3 -Viernes Santo / Good Friday (long weekend from Thursday the 2nd to Sunday the 5th – one of the biggest vacation times here)
5 – Sunday – Domingo de Pascua – Semana Santa / Easter
? – Secretaries Day

May/ Mayo
4 – Monday – Día del Trabajo / Labor Day (official day May 1st) (long weekend from Friday the 1st to Monday the 4th)
31 – Sunday – Mother’s Day. (Always falls on the last Sunday in May)

Find the dates of all the Patronales/ Patron Saints celebrations in Dominican Republic

June/ Junio
4 – Thursday – Corpus Christi Day

July/ Julio
26 – Sunday – Father’s Day (Always falls on the last Sunday in July)

August/ Agusto
16 – Sunday – Restoration Day/ Día de Restauración (more information on Restoration Day)

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

November/ Noviembre
9 – Monday – Día de la Constitución / Constitution Day (official day is Friday the 6th) (to make for a long weekend from Friday the 6th to Monday the 9th Constitution Day will be celebrated on the 6th)

December/ Decembre
25 – Friday – Día de Navidad / Christmas Day (How Dominicans celebrate Christmas)
31 – Thursday – New Years Eve (New Year traditions)

Holiday Calendar 2016

Holiday Calendar 2016

Holidays – The Minister of Work announced the calendar for the celebration of the holidays for the year 2016 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 2016, establecidos en la Ley 139-97. www.ministeriodetrabajo.gob.do

Navidad at Plaza España, Zona Colonial

January/ Enero
1 – Friday – New Year’s Day
4 – Monday celebrating (The 6th is the OFFICIAL date) Día de los Santo Reyes Magos – Epifania / Three Kings Day – Epiphany (what is 3 Kings Day?)
12 – Día de la Resistencia Heroica/ Day of Heroic Resistance (this is the first year for this day to honor the men and women who fought for a fairer society)
15 – to End of March – Whale Watching (the best place to observe is the Samana Bay)
21 – Thursday – Our Lady of Altagracia Day. (more information on Altagracia and a photo slide show of the Basilica de Higuey)
25 – Monday – Duarte Day celebrated. Juan Pablo Duarte was born on the 26th.(more information on Duarte).

February/ Febrero
1 thru 29 Las Fiestas de Carnaval Dominicano / Dominican Carnival Parties Carnival Dominicano/ Dominican Carnival celebrations happen all month. The weekends are when different communities hold their parades and celebrations. Usually the ultimate parade on the Malecon in Santo Domingo with the best of the best is held the first Sunday in March.
8 – Monday – Chinese New Year (celebrations for the Year of the Monkey in China Town)
10 – Miércoles de Ceniza / Ash Wednesday
14 – Sunday – 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.

March/ Marzo
6 – Sunday/ Domingo The big Carnival Parade on the Malecon in Santo Domingo.
20 – Domingo de Ramos / Palm Sunday
25 – Viernes Santo / Good Friday (long weekend from Thursday the 24th to Sunday the 27th – one of the biggest vacation times here) How do Dominicans celebrate Easter/ Semana Santa? Read all about it.
27 – Sunday – Domingo de Pascua – Semana Santa / Easter

April/ Abril
? – Secretaries Day

May/ Mayo
2 – Monday – Día del Trabajo / Labor Day (official day May 1st) (long weekend from Friday April 29th to Monday the 2nd)
29 – Sunday – Mother’s Day. (Always falls on the last Sunday in May)
26 – Thursday – Corpus Christi Day

Find the dates of all the Patronales/ Patron Saints celebrations in Dominican Republic

June/ Junio

July/ Julio
31 – Sunday – Father’s Day (Always falls on the last Sunday in July)

August/ Agusto
16 – Tuesday – Restoration Day/ Día de Restauración (more information on Restoration Day)

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

October / Octobre
10 – Monday – Día de Colón / Columbus Day

November/ Noviembre
6 – Sunday – Día de la Constitución / Constitution Day

December/ Decembre
25 – Sunday – Día de Navidad / Christmas Day (How Dominicans celebrate Christmas)
31 – Saturday – New Years Eve (New Year traditions)

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.

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

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

If you have an event or know of one please send me all the details, preferable in English and Spanish, and I can ad it to the events listings. Just send me an email (jan@colonialzone-dr.com) with all the information. If you have a flyer or poster and I will be happy to include it.

Current events are listed in the Colonial Zone News Blog. Looking for something else to do? Check out the Pastimes pages.