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National Symbols of Dominican Republic

National and Patriotic Symbols of Dominican Republic

Descriptions of the national symbols and patriotic items that represent the country and the people of the Dominican Republic.

The Flag of The Dominican Republic | The Dominican Flag Coat of Arms (Shield) | The Constitution of the Dominican Republic pertaining to the Flag and Shield states: | The Shield of Santo Domingo | National Stone | National Music | National Flower | National Tree | National Bird

The Flag of The Dominican Republic / La Bandera de la República Dominicana
The Flag of The Dominican Republic / La Bandera de la República Dominicana

The Flag of The Dominican Republic / La Bandera de la República Dominicana

“The flag is the most sublime symbol of freedom and national sovereignty”

The Dominican Republic flag was officially adopted on November 6, 1844.

The blue and red are from the flag of Haiti, which once controlled the Dominican Republic. The white cross is a symbol of faith.

The flag was made by four women. María Trinidad Sánchez, María de Jesús Pina, Isabel Sosa and Concepción Bona.

The colors of the flag have very special meanings. Rojo bermellón / vermilion red represents the blood shed by the liberators and heroes of the fatherland. Azul Ultramar / ultramarine blue represents ideals of progress and liberty and that God protects the Dominican nation. The white cross is the symbol of the struggle for a free homeland, peace, the sacrifice and unity among all the Dominican people.

Modern descriptions of the colors state that the blue represents the sky. Red is the fire and bloodshed by the patriots and people in the struggle for freedom. White represents dignity, the peaceful character of the Dominicans and their dedication to peace.

The Escudo or Coat of Arms is centrally located in the white cross. The Dominican Republic flag is the only flag in the world with a symbol of a bible on it.

The merchant ensign flag is the same as the National Flag without the coat of arms and this flag is considered to be the civil flag.

Raising the flag at the Comandancia de Puerto de Santo Domingo
Raising the flag at the Comandancia de Puerto de Santo Domingo

What is the pledge to the flag? Do you know the Dominican Republic National Anthem Quisqueyanos Valientes?

Did you know?
The Flag of The Dominican Republic was aboard the U.S. space shuttle in 2006. U.S. Rep. Jose E. Serrano asked for this to happen to thank the over 100,000 Dominican constituents living in the Bronx district of New York, USA. The official announcement was made Monday 22, 2006.

After the flag gets its ride on the shuttle, where no Dominican has ever been, the flag will be on display at Eugenio María de Hostos Community College located in the South Bronx, New York City. This college, named for Puerto Rican independence advocate Eugenio Maria de Hostos (he buried in the Panteón Nacional of Dominican Republic), had a special ceremony for this permanent exhibition. This is a big honor for the Dominican people as a whole. It shows that the USA recognizes the contributions that the people of the Dominican Republic have given to the United States.

The Dominican Flag Coat of Arms (Shield) / El Escudo Dominicano

Escudo Nacional Republica Dominicana Dominican Republic Coat of Arms 2010. The new Coat of Arms adopted by constitutional law in 2010 with the bottom red ribbon flowing upward
Escudo Nacional Republica Dominicana
/ Dominican Republic Coat of Arms 2010. The new Coat of Arms adopted by constitutional law in 2010 with the bottom red ribbon flowing upward
The old version of the Dominican Republic Coat of Arms / Escudo Nacional Republica Dominicana with the red ribbon flowing downward.
The old version of the Dominican Republic Coat of Arms / Escudo Nacional Republica Dominicana with the red ribbon flowing downward.

*There have been at least 14 different shields that have been used on the Dominican Republic flag in the past. Casimiro N. De Moya designed the current shield. It was issued by the government of Monseñor Nouel and was adopted as the official shield in 1913.

*In 2010 the constitution was amended to make a rule on the form of the coat of arms as before no definite law existed. Article 32 (written below in Spanish with my English translation) states the bottom red ribbon faces upward. Thus many of the flags center shields are incorrect because their vermilion ribbon faces downward. You will notice that Parque Independencia coat of arms, as with many of the escudos in the country, is an old version of the coat of arms. Thanks Alexis for the updated information.

*The escudo has the same colors as the flag.

*The Bible is the center of the escudo and is open to the Gospel of St. John, Chapter Eight, Verse Thirty-Two (John 8:32) with a golden cross floating above.

*There are two empty spears and four others with the national flags. These four flags do not have the shield on them. These spears, or flagpoles, are located on either side of the central bible. (*I am trying to research as to exactly why there are six spears or poles and what they represent. When I find out if there is a reason I’ll add it)

*There is a laurel branch on the left side of the shield that represents immortality.

*The palm branch on the right represents Liberty.

*This is topped by a blue ribbon that symbolizes glory with the Trinitarian motto: DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD / “God, Fatherland and Liberty (Freedom)”.

*The bottom ribbon is vermilion red with the words: Republica Dominicana (note that they did not use the “ú” in the word “República”)

Comparisons of the Escudos Nacional Republica Dominicana 1844 and 2010
Comparisons of the Escudos Nacional Republica Dominicana 1844 and 2010

Complete information about the flag in Spanish.

Here’s a link to see the banners of the Political Parties in the Dominican Republic

The Constitution of the Dominican Republic pertaining to the Flag and Shield states:

CONSTITUCION POLITICA DE LA REPBULICA DOMINICANA DE 2002
TITULO XII
DISPOSICIONES GENERALES Artículos de la Constitución (updated 5/2012)

Artículos 32 (el artículo 32 modificado 2010) – El Escudo Nacional tiene los mismos colores de la Bandera Nacional dispuestos en igual forma. Lleva en el centro la Biblia abierta en el Evangelio de San Juan, capítulo 8, versículo 32, y encima una cruz, los cuales surgen de un trofeo integrado por dos lanzas y cuatro banderas nacionales sin escudo, dispuestas a ambos lados; lleva un ramo de laurel del lado izquierdo y uno de palma al lado derecho. Está coronado por una cinta azul ultramar en la cual se lee el lema “Dios, Patria y Libertad”. En la base hay otra cinta de color rojo bermellón cuyos extremos se orientan hacia arriba con las palabras “República Dominicana”. La forma del Escudo Nacional es de un cuadrilongo, con los ángulos superiores salientes y los inferiores redondeados, el centro de cuya base termina en punta, y está dispuesto en forma tal que resulte un cuadrado perfecto al trazar una línea horizontal que una las dos verticales del cuadrilongo desde donde comienzan los ángulos inferiores.

Rough translation (article 32 amended in 2010:The National Shield has the same colors as the National Flag arranged in the same way. The center Bible is opened to the Gospel of St. John, Chapter Eight, Verse Thirty-Two, with a cross above it that arises from a trophy composed of two lances and four national flags without a shield, arranged on both sides; a laurel branch takes the left side and a palm takes the right. It is topped by an ultramarine blue ribbon that reads the motto “God, Fatherland and Liberty”. On the base there is another red vermilion ribbon whose ends are directed upwards, reading the words “República Dominicana”. The shape of the national emblem is rectangular, with rounded corners protruding on the upper and lower points, the center of whose base is tapered, and is arranged so that is a perfect square by drawing a horizontal line joining the two vertical the rectangular from the bottom corners.)

ART. 95.- La bandera nacional se compone de los colores azul ultramar y rojo bermellón, en cuarteles alternados, colocados de tal modo que el azul quede hacia la parte superior del asta, separados por una cruz blanca del ancho de la mitad de la altura de un cuartel y que lleve en el centro el escudo de armas de la República. La bandera mercante es la misma que la nacional sin escudo.

Rough translation (article 95: The national flag is made up of the colors ultramarine blue and red vermilion, in alternation, separated into quarters in such a way that the blue one is towards the superior part of the spear, separated by a white cross the width being half the height of the quarter and that it has in the center the shield of arms of the Republic. The merchant flag is the same one that the national without the shield.)

ART. 96.- El escudo de armas de la República tendrá los mismos colores de la bandera nacional dispuestos en igual forma. Llevará en el centro el libro de los Evangelios, abierto, con una cruz encima surgiendo ambos entre un trofeo integrado por dos lanzas y cuatro banderas nacionales, sin escudo, dispuestas a ambos lados; llevará un ramo de laurel del lado izquierdo y uno de palma al lado derecho; estará coronado por una cinta azul ultramar en la cual se leerá el lema: Dios, Patria y Libertad, y en la base habrá otra cinta de color rojo bermellón con las palabras: República Dominicana. La forma del escudo nacional será de un cuadrilongo, con los ángulos superiores salientes y los inferiores redondeados, el centro de cuya base terminará en punta, y estará dispuesto en forma tal que si se traza una línea horizontal que una las dos verticales del cuadrilongo desde donde comienzan los ángulos inferiores, resulte un cuadrado perfecto.

Rough translation (article 96: The shield of arms of the Republic will have the same colors of the national flag in equal form. It will have in the center the book of Gospels, opened, with a cross lifted arising both between a trophy integrated by two lances and four national flags, without shield, arranged on both sides; it will alongside have a branch of laurel on the left side and one of palm on the right side; the top will be crowned by a blue tape in which the motto will be: God, Mother country and Freedom, and in the base another tape of the color red vermilion with the: Dominican Republic. The form of the national shield will be a perfect square, with the salient superior angles and the inferior ones cleared, the center of whose base it will finish at the end, and will be arranged in form so that if a horizontal line is drawn up the two verticals of cuadrilongo from where the inferior angles begin, is a perfect square. )

The Dominican Republic constitution in Spanish.

The Shield of Santo Domingo / Escudo de la Ciudad de Santo Domingo

The Coat of Arms of the City of Santo Domingo / Escudo de Armas de la Ciudad de Santo Domingo.

The coat of arms of the city Santo Domingo / Escudo de armas de la ciudad Santo Domingo
The coat of arms of the city Santo Domingo / Escudo de armas de la ciudad Santo Domingo

The Shield of the City of Santo Domingo is an important symbol of pride for the city.

The red background refers to the victory with which the town of Santo Domingo was born. / El fondo rojo referencia a la victoria con la que nació la villa de Santo Domingo.

The crown means dignity and its gold represents nobility, wealth and wisdom. For Santo Domingo also refers to his origin of royalty. / La corona significa dignidad y su oro representa nobleza, riqueza y sabiduría. Para santo domingo también se refiere a su origen de realeza.

Its two yellow lions symbolize energy, sovereignty and dominion. / Sus dos leones amarillos simbolizan energía, soberanía y dominio.

The key means rest and safety, and its blue is the color of the sky. / La llave significa reposo y seguridad, y su color azul se debe al cielo.

The black and white cross is attributed to the name of the city; Santo Domingo de Gazumán / La cruz blanca y negra se le atribute al nombre de la ciudad; Santo Domingo de Gazumán.

Plaza Bartolome de las Casas escudo de la ciudad de Santo Domingo / coat of arms of the city Santo Domingo
Plaza Bartolome de las Casas escudo de la ciudad de Santo Domingo / coat of arms of the city Santo Domingo

This Coat of arms of the city Santo Domingo is located on the interior wall of the Plaza Bartolomé de las Casas in the Colonial Zone.

National Stone / Piedra Nacional

Amber

The National Stone of The Dominican Republic. A sample is of Dominican amber, Miocene epoch that is 23.8 to 5.3 million years old.
The National Stone of The Dominican Republic. A sample is of Dominican amber, Miocene epoch that is 23.8 to 5.3 million years old.

You can find more information about Dominican Republic amber.

National Music / Música Nacional

Merengue

In 2014 Merengue was declared to be the music of the country. More information about Merengue and some of the musicians who play this newly declared national music.

National Flower / La Flor Nacional

The Rose of Bayahibe / la Rosa de Bayahibe

Dominican Republic National Flower - The Rose of Bayahibe / La Flor Nacional - La Rosa de Bayahibe
Dominican Republic National Flower – The Rose of Bayahibe / La Flor Nacional – La Rosa de Bayahibe

The flower of the Caoba was the national flower as declared on July 16, 1957 by decree number 2944. There was always confusion about the national tree and flower and now it is clear. On July 12, 2011 la Rosa de Bayahibe was declared to be the National Flower.

Picture of la Rosa de Bayahibe from diariolibre.com

National Tree / Árbol Nacional

The Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) / La Caoba

National Tree of Dominican Republic - Caoba Tree
National Tree of Dominican Republic – Caoba Tree

There was always confusion about the national tree and flower and now it is clear. As of July 2011 Dominican Republic finally has their national tree. On July 12, 2011 President Leonel Fernandez passed the Law 146-11, which designates the Mahogany tree to be the new official tree of Dominican Republic.

National Tree of Dominican Republic - Caoba Tree Flower
National Tree of Dominican Republic – Caoba Tree Flower

National Bird / Ave Nacional

Palmchat / Cigua Palmera (Dulus dominicus)

National Bird of the Dominican Republic - Palm Chat / Ave Nacional - Cigua Palmera
National Bird of the Dominican Republic –
Palm Chat / Ave Nacional – Cigua Palmera

This cute little songbird is found on the island of Hispaniola. It adapts easily to all areas of the country and can be found in abundance.

The Dominican Republic National Bird The Palmchat / Cigua Palmera are sitting at the top of a tree in Santo Domingo.
The Dominican Republic National Bird The Palmchat / Cigua Palmera are sitting at the top of a tree in Santo Domingo.

The Palmchat prefers to be where there are many palm trees (this is where they got their name). They are communal birds. The nests are large, messy and usually found in large groups or communities. The nests can usually be found in the tops of Royal Palms or atop any other high spot when the palm tree is not available.

A Palm Chat / Cigua Palmera nest high in the tree top.
A Palm Chat / Cigua Palmera nest high in the tree top.

They lay spotted greyish purple eggs, usually 2 to 4, from March to June.

The song of the Palm Chat is quite loud with constant singing and squawking as they communicate with other birds.

Palmchats are about 8 inches in length. They have an olive-brown creamy color on top and streaked with brown on the bottom. Their backside and the edges of their feathers are a dark yellow-green. They have large yellow bills and rust colored eyes.

Useless Trivia

Dominican Republic Dumb Facts, Trivia, and Useless Information

Here are all those facts you always wanted to know but just did not realize you wanted to know them. These may be very helpful when playing the game of Dominican Trivia that is so popular now (joke).

If you know of any more interesting and pertinent items to add please let me know. Let’s compile a list of all the useless, dumb, facts that everyone does not need to know.

Good reading for those who are bored, have nothing else to do with their time or are looking for some non-important good junk.

Note: We here at Colonial Zone-DR.com cannot vouch for the truth of this information. Consider the things listed here as fun, maybe true, could be true, maybe not true at all, or complete crap. It is all in fun, or is it?

*The worlds largest pot of Sancocho was prepared at the 7th Dominican Fair at La Sirena February 12, 2007. After 5 hours of cooking in a four meter cooking pot three thousand people got to eat this yummy, typical Dominican dish. Eleven chefs and their assistants used 300LBS of beef, 250LBS of pork, 150LBS of chicken, 500 plantains, 300LBS of malanga, plus the other ingredients used to make this hugh Dominican dish. (for information on how to make Sancocho)

Cooking some sancocho over a fire
Cooking some sancocho over a fire

*Even though Santiago is the second largest city in Dominican Republic, as of 2006 the metropolitan area of New York City had a larger population of Dominicans.

*There is an old law dating back to Trujillo’s era. He had the highest peak in the Caribbean known as Pico Duarte named after him. Legally, because of some kind of mistake, it is still called Pico Trujillo instead of Duarte.

*Dominican Republic has the only flag with a bible in it. It was designed by a Vexillographer (flag maker) who was a vexillologist (one who studies flags ) and into Vexillology (the study of flags). More information on the Dominican flag.

Dominican Republic flag among others
Dominican Republic flag among others

*In the Colonial Zone on July 8, 2001 the Association of Spanish Festivities in Dominican Republic held the islands first bull run, a version of Spains’ San Fermin bull run. A three-minute bull run took place from Calle Atarazana, through Vicente Celestino Duarte to Cristobal Colon. Youths raced and the poor, confused bulls had no idea what was happening. It seems that the Dominican bulls were just too lazy, resulting in them having to be pushed through the streets, instead of them chasing the participants.

*Did you know that there was a small town in Dominican Republic where it was discovered and documented in the early 1970s that girls turned into boys? It seems that children appearing to be girls turned into men at puberty. First girls when they reached puberty they grew testes, and a penis. They called these children ‘guevedoces’ which literally means “penis at 12 years”. Also known locally as machihembras (‘first women, then man’). It was published in the American Journal of Medicine. For pictures and more information http://www.usrf.org/news/010308-guevedoces.html

*The Austrian musician, Falco (Johann “Hans” Hölzel), famous for his electronic Euro-pop smash hit ‘Rock Me Amadeus’ in 1986, was killed in Dominican Republic. Returning to his home in Cofresí, Puerta Plata, after spending time drinking at a local bar, his vehicle was involved in a collision with a bus. He died instantly and was pronounced dead in the hospital on February 6th, 1998 from head injuries at the age of 40. He is buried in Vienna, Austria. There is a cross marking the location where Falco died in Montellano, Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic Falco CD on Amazon.

* Huracan is a Taino (natives that inhabited the island) word that is thought to have come originally from the Caribs (a cannibalistic tribe that also inhabited the island). Huracan was the Carib god of evil and that word is thought to have come from “Hurakan” who was the Mayan god of wind and storm. (More about hurricanes in Dominican Republic.)

*The longest baseball game in the Caribbean Baseball Series had 18 innings. The game was 6 hours and 13 minutes long. Played at the Roberto Clemente stadium in Puerto Rico February 2, 2007. The Aguilas Cibaeñas of Dominican Republic won 4 to 3 over the Tigres de Aragua of Venezuela.
Update – the Aguilas won the series for 2007!

A baseball game at the Estadio Quisqueya
A baseball game at the Estadio Quisqueya

*Lisa Marie Presley (Elvis Presley’s daughter) and Michael Joseph Jackson (Jackson 5) got married May 18, 1994. The ceremony was held at Casa de Campo in La Romano, Dominican Republic. Their marriage lasted only 20 months.

*Rush Limbaugh was detained by customs officers in Florida, USA when he landed after a visit to the Dominican Republic. He had a bottle of 29/ 100 MG pills of Viagra with him and he didn’t have a prescription! Bad Bad Rush!

*Can you speak only using your nose? Dominicans are famous for their “nose talk“. A little twitch here and a little wrinkle there. The nose knows.

*Did you know that the town of Nagua has its own slogan? “A Nagua tu entras si quieres, y sales si puedes” (translated, Enter Nagua if you want, leave if you can). Make sure to visit Nagua and you just may understand.

Watch a Barcelo rum television commercial taped in Nagua around 2006 and hear for yourself this slogan.

* Do you know what a Merentician is? It is a Merengue singer and Politician in one. Merengue artist Sergio Vargas is one.

* A man (boy) has to be 16 to get married and a girl (woman) needs to be 15 years of age. Even if the parents agree that the kids can be wed in matrimonial bliss most likely the government will not grant their wish. My thought: Many people here do not have birth certificates or birth records so how can they really prove their correct age? (they are trying to change this law now 3-17)

* Dominican Republic in position 74 of the 121 nations classified in the Global Peace Index in 2007 according to the British magazine The Economist, for reference The United States and Iran appear in positions 97 and 98. Norway and New Zealand are number 1 and 2. Sudan and Iraq come in the last place.
more information at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2091513,00.html

* Parque Colon is considered one of the great public places by PPS – Project for Public Spaces. It was voted on because of its vegetation, the nearness to historical landmarks, its accessibility, and its usability. They describe it as an “urban living room” and a “magic space”. see the article(7/09)

Saturday afternoon in Parque Colon
Saturday afternoon in Parque Colon

* According to an independent research group in Britain that has the goal of building a new economy, “centered on people and the environment.” in their “Happy Planet Index,” that seeks countries with the most content people. Surveying 143 countries Dominican Republic ranked second in 2009. Each year our little island country makes the top of the list as do many of the smaller islands. Check out the map of the Happy Planet Index for 2011 and make sure you come and visit one of the happiest places in the world!