Dominican Republic main language is Spanish but they are other languages that are spoken such as English because of emigration to US, German, French, and Italian.Its main religion is Roman Catholicism but other religions are also practiced. For example some are evangelicals and voodoo is practiced secretly.
Dominicans celebrate many holidays which some are similar of the ones we celebrate here in Puerto Rico.
Some holidays are :
- Christmas (New Years, Three Kings, etc.)
- Juan Pablo Duarte's Birthday (Jan. 26)
- Independence Day from Haiti (Feb. 27)
- Pan- American Day (April 14)
- Labor Day (May 1)
- Founding of Santo Domingo (Aug. 5)
- Restoration Day (Aug. 6)
- Colombus Day (Oct. 12)
- United Nations Day (Oct. 24)
- Christian Holy Week
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| The Diablo Cojuelo Mask |
Festivals- celebrated with lot of music, dances, people wearing costumes, and everything very colorful.Some of them are the Cocolo Festival, Latin music festival, Merengue festival on Malecon of Santo Domingo, Fiestas Patronales, every town has its own (Boca Chica, Saint Andrew Fiesta Patronal). Carnivals- the biggest and colorful event in which people dance in the streets, participate in parades, wear costumes, and have lot of FUN!
FOOD
The food of this country has been influenced by Taino Indians, African slaves, Spaniards and many other emigrants. The typical food is rice and beans, plantains in any form (mofongo-mached plantains, fried ripe plantains, mangu- is like mofongo usually for breakfast) vegetables, different types of meals, sancocho- kind of dense soupwith lot vegetables, corn, meal, sometimes with rice. Many of the fruits they eat are the same as in PR including avocado, banana, and papaya. The desserts include Cheese cake, coconut candy, Tres leches, and flan. Dominican Republic have a unique style of cooking. One of the best meals is named La Bandera which consist of white rice, beans, meat, plantains, and vegetables. They also have a typical beer of DR named Presidente and other drink called Mamajuana. The other drinks are really common such as tropical juice.ART
They are many old and interesting architecture which still beautiful such as religious buildings & government houses. In DR paintings has developed after literature. The literary works have an European influence. People that makes part of the literature are Don Pedro Mir; a national poet, Julia Alvarez; an author that is creating its own dominican style and some painters; Ramon Oviedo, Jose Rincon Mora, and Leopoldo Navarro. Since there are many tourists dominicans start creating new handicrafts such as dolls, jewelry, baskets, ceramics, textiles, and wood carvings. I've gone there many times and in the hotels there are many stores in which they sell their own creations and some of them are made with natural objects such as palms and coconuts. They said that Santo Domingo is an open air art gallery, is important in art and paintings.
MUSIC and DANCE!
MUSIC and DANCE!
They are music and dancing lovers. The most popular music and dancing is Merengue in which they are really good at, other important type of music are bachata & salsa. They are other influences like Jamaican reggae, reggaeton, Hip-Hop, and Rock. Sometimes they use instruments. Some of them used for typical music are guira, guiro, tambora, and indian gourd. Africans also have influenced Dominican Republic dance.Their dancing is a great entertainment for tourists, in many hotels they make shows.
Greetings
Dominican Republic people are very happy, animated, friendly, hospitable, and polite. One of the most important greetings is the hand shake that is usually between men or people that don't know each other, but usually when they know each other between they kiss in the cheeks except when they are men. Old people may be addressed by Don or Do-a. Something unique in them is that instead of pointing with their fingers their use their lips. In there they used a lot good morning or what corresponds, "buen provecho" when they are eating, god bless you from parents and aunts, and how are you?
ETIQUETTES
- Meeting Etiquettes:
Handshake and smiling. Always maintaining eye contact and when hand shaking use good morning or what is appropriate.
- Gift Giving Etiquette:
When you are invited to a dinner, bring a gift such as something to drink or chocolates. The gifts are always open when received.
- Invitation to a Dominican house Etiquette:
Dress good for the occasion and have a nice appearance. Get there punctually or 15-30 minutes later is not consider late. When you are in table watch your manners and before sitting on the table you should wait until they tell you where to sit. Guests are always serve first and they should say buen provecho that means have a good meal. Always keep hands visible and do not rest elbows on the table. Most of the time leave a small amount of food on the plate and after finishing eating place the knife and fork across the plate.
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This country is viewed as a very poor country even though everybody is not poor. Far from tourists attractions most of the houses are small, usually without running water and without electricity, and man streets are narrow and have no concrete.
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