Tag Archives: festival san miguel

Festival San Miguel

The Festival San Miguel is held yearly to celebrate El Patrono Arcángel San Miguel / The Patron Saint Archangel St. Michael, the Archangel is the patron saint of the Dominican armed forces.

Festival San Miguel Iglesia San Miguel - The image of San Miguel going down the street
Festival San Miguel Iglesia San Miguel – The image of San Miguel going down the street

San Miguel Arcángel

San Miguel Arcángel, Príncipe de la Milicia Celestial / Saint Michael the Archangel, Prince of the Celestial Militia and the Captain of the Celestial Legions. Combating the devil he leads the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. (more history of San Miguel in Spanish)

Festival San Miguel- Archangel San Miguel
Festival San Miguel- Archangel San Miguel

The festival of El Patrono Arcángel San Miguel / The Patron Saint Archangel San Miguel is held here every year on September 29th to honor this important Patron Saint. (More information about other Patron Saint celebrations throughout Dominican Republic.)

Festival San Miguel. Service at Iglesia San Miguel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, at 7AM.
Festival San Miguel. Service at Iglesia San Miguel at 7AM.

The celebration for the Arcángel San Miguel can get a little crazy. The entire area around the Iglesia and Parque San Miguel is full of people. Many are dressed in the traditional red, green and yellow clothing. The smell of cigar smoke is everywhere, clouds of smoke billowing, as this in another tradition of the festival.

Festival San Miguel- traditional clothing red, green and yellow.
Festival San Miguel- traditional clothing red, green and yellow.

The festival starts early in the morning with a service in the Iglesia San Miguel. Roads are closed and vendors have their tables set up. They sell red and green candles, silk flags and clothing, cigars and more. The Colmados are stocked full with beer and the traditional rum that many enjoying the festival partakes of.

Festival San Miguel. Service at Iglesia San Miguel at 7AM.
Festival San Miguel. Service at Iglesia San Miguel at 7AM. Pigeons participating too.
Festival San Miguel- People fill the streets of the San Miguel sector of the Ciudad Colonial.
Festival San Miguel- People fill the streets of the San Miguel sector of the Ciudad Colonial.
Festival San Miguel-The streets filled with people
Festival San Miguel-The streets filled with people


Some Palos music and streets filled with people at the Festival San Migual in San Miguel, Zona Colonial.

The Horses and Military Take Part in the Festival

There is a celebration with horses from all over the country. These horses, both private and military, ride through the streets of the Colonial Zone and up to the festival.

Festival San Miguel. The horses heading to the Festival.
Festival San Miguel. The horses heading to the Festival.
Festival San Miguel. The Military Horses are heading to the Festival.
Festival San Miguel. The Military Horses are heading to the Festival.

The military band takes part in this important festival. Since San Miguel is the patron Saint of the Armed Forces they have a big presence in the festival. They not only participate but they also are there in force to make sure people do not get too crazy.

Festival San Miguel. The Military Band is heading to the Festival.
Festival San Miguel. The Military Band is heading to the Festival.


This is a video of the Military Band and The Horses heading to the festival through the streets of Ciudad Colonial.

The park where most of the activities happen is on Juan Isidro Perez and Jose Reyes in the San Miguel Sector of Ciudad Colonial.

Festival San Miguel- Parque San Miguel, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana at 7AM.
Festival San Miguel- Parque San Miguel, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana at 7AM.

Iglesia de San Miguel

Iglesia de San Miguel / Church Of San Miguel

Iglesia de San Miguel is named after the mighty archangel Saint Michael. The church is a small eighteenth-century temple that evolved from a sixteenth-century chapel.

The front of the Iglesia San Miguel
The front of the Iglesia San Miguel and a view of the Parque San Miguel.

Iglesia de San Miguel

The first mention of this church was in 1650. It was first constructed entirely of straw and in 1740 the temple was built with solid materials by order the Royal Treasurer of the Colony, Don Miguel de Pasamonte. At this time it was one of the richest chapels in the city.

Iglesia San Miguel
The front of the Iglesia San Miguel.

Destroyed By Earthquake

The building was almost entirely destroyed in the big earthquake in 1751, as were many of the buildings in Colonial Zone. The Iglesia was entirely rebuilt in 1765 in a bad attempt at Baroque style. It was used as a parish during the construction boom of this era.

The side wall of the Iglesia San Miguel
The side wall of the Iglesia San Miguel along Calle Juan Isidro Perez

Home of Black Brotherhoods

The church ended up being located in “the black section” of town. In 1784 the building was to be a hospital for slaves. The decree was never followed and it never happened. Then, in 1796, it was decreed that San Miguel be called the Código Negro Carolino, the home of all the black brotherhoods. These African slaves and blacks who lived in this sector chose the warrior figure because they saw in the Archangel San Miguel a figure that would defend them from the white demons.

The interior of the Iglesia San Miguel
The interior of the Iglesia San Miguel
Arcángel San Miguel
Inside the Iglesia San Miguel, Arcángel San Miguel, The Defender of the People.

Arcángel San Miguel

With his sword held high, the image of Arcángel San Miguel located in the front of the church is impressive. This wood carving is thought to be from the late seventeenth century and belonged to the old hermitage. Archangel Saint Michael is the Angel who defends the people against Satan and is the prince of all the heavenly armies. The leader of God’s chosen army, he is the guardian angel and the protector of the Catholic Church.

Festival of San Miguel
Festival of San Miguel in the Barrio San Miguel, Colonial Zone

Festival of San Miguel

The Festival of the Patron Saint San Miguel is held here every year on September 29th. Here is a link to a video on You Tube – Festival San Miguel Palos Music 2014

Parque San Miguel
Parque San Miguel

Location:

From Calle el Conde turn north (up the hill) onto José Reyes. Walk about 4 blocks to Juan Isidro Pérez near Calle Restauracion. It is in front of the nice tree filled park Parque San Miguel.