Tag Archives: holiday

New Year – Año Nuevo

New Year / Año Nuevo

Celebrating the New Year / Año Nuevo is a big night for all. Some people get all dressed up and go out to a big party with Champagne and all the glitz and glitter that bring in the new year is known for. Others just go out to their local Colmado (corner store) and party the night away with the neighbors. Of course, there are those that prefer to just stay home and bring in the new year quietly and peacefully.


 

Some of the old-time traditions for bringing in the Nuevo Año in the Dominican Republic.

*One should clear out the old and start the new year fresh and clean. The house needs to be scrubbed from top to bottom All drawers need to be cleaned out. All this cleaning brings good luck.

*Different colors mean different things. Wear the color that brings the wish for the coming year you want to come true. Green/ Verde helps out with the money situation, Red/ Rojo brings a bright future, Yellow/ Amarillo makes work better, White/ Blanco is for good health.

House painting on Calle Duarte
House painting on Calle Duarte

*You may notice that many of the homes get a new coat of paint for the holidays. This is part of the cleaning everything and making way for the new.


 

*When the clock strikes 12 make sure the doors and windows are open wide so the last years spirit can get out freely and the new one can enter.

A palm frond broom sitting outside on New Years Eve
A broom sitting outside on New Years Eve.

*At the end of the year you have to throw out your old brooms. Any broom you happen to have in the home needs to be placed in a corner of the house. Remember to leave the new broom outside overnight before bringing it into the house. I’m not sure why just to be safe you best do it.

*Never sweep the house on New Year’s Day. You may end up sweeping your luck away with the dirt.

*The traditional Christmas dinner is also served on New Years.


 

*Make sure to have 12 grapes / uvos per person. For each toll of the clock or each month of the year you need to eat a grape and make a wish for the coming year.

*If you are a Catholic you need to have a priest come and bless the house or at least give it a good dousing of holy water.

A typical Jumera with carbon inside to cleanse the air to bring in the new year
A typical Jumera with carbon inside to cleanse the air to bring in the new year.

*You need to burn some incense to purifying the home on the eve of the New Year. This tradition goes way back to the native Taino Indians that lived on the island. Many people use a “Jumera”. The most typical is made from a can with carbon/ charcoal inside. It comes with a small pouch of scent specifically for good luck and chasing away the bad spirits and some sticks for lighting.

* ew Years Day is usually spent resting and recovering from the all night parties. Many just take it easy and spend some time with family or visiting the church to pray for the coming year to be a good one.

Holiday Calendar 2018

Holiday Calendar of Dominican Republic 2018 / Días Feriados 2018

Holidays – The Minister of Work announced the calendar for the celebration of the holidays for the year 2018 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 2018, establecidos en la Ley 139-97. www.ministeriodetrabajo.gob.do

January/ Enero

1 – Monday – New Year’s Day / Año Nuevo
6 – Monday – Día de los Santos Reyes Magos – Epifania / Three Kings Day – Epiphany (what is 3 Kings Day?)
12 – Friday – 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)
16 – Friday – Chinese New Year (celebrations for the Year of the Dog in China Town)
21 – Sunday – Our Lady of Altagracia Day / Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia. (more information on Altagracia and a photo slide show of the Basilica de Higuey)
29 – 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 – Miércoles de Ceniza / Ash Wednesday – The first day of Lent
14 – Wednesday – Día de San Valentín / Valentine´s Day
25 – Sunday/ Domingo The big Carnival Parade on the Malecon in Santo Domingo.
27 – Tuesday – 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

26 – Domingo de Ramos / Palm Sunday
30 – Viernes Santo / Good Friday (long weekend from Thursday the 29th to Sunday April 1st)

Good Friday / Viernes Santo Procession in Colonial Zone

April/ Abril

1 – Sunday – one of the biggest vacation times here. How do Dominicans celebrate Easter / Semana Santa? Read all about it.
1 – Sunday – Domingo de Pascua – Semana Santa / Easter
30 – Monday – Día del Trabajo / Labor Day (official day May 1st) (long weekend from Friday, April 27th to Monday the 30th)

May/ Mayo

27 – 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.
31 – Thursday – Corpus Christi Day

June/ Junio

July/ Julio

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

August/ Agusto

16 – Friday – Restoration Day/ Día de Restauración (more information on Restoration Day)

September/ Septiembre

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

October / Octobre

8 – Monday – Día de Colón / Columbus Day

Calle el Conde, Zona Colonial, Día de la Constitución.

November/ Noviembre

7 – Monday – Día de la Constitución / Constitution Day (official date is the 6th but changed to make for a long weekend)

December/ Decembre

25 – Tuesday – Día de Navidad / Christmas Day (How Dominicans celebrate Christmas)
31 – Monday – New Years Eve (New Year traditions)
The dates of all the Patronales/ Patron Saints celebrations are on the Patron Saint Celebrations Page.

Navidad decorations at the Palacio Consistoral.

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 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