What Holidays Do Dominicans Celebrate | Life In Dominican Republic | Dominican Republic Culture

Summary

This video offers an insightful exploration of holidays celebrated in the Dominican Republic, comparing those observed in both the U.S. and Dominican Republic. It covers major celebrations like New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, Easter, and Independence Day, highlighting unique Dominican traditions. The host also delves into Dominican-exclusive holidays, providing a rich cultural perspective. The video is a vibrant guide for those interested in Dominican culture, complete with recommendations for experiencing these festivities firsthand.

Takeaways

• 🎉 The video discusses holidays celebrated in the Dominican Republic, dividing them into two categories: those also celebrated in the United States and those exclusive to the Dominican Republic.
• 🌍 New Year's Day is universally celebrated in the Dominican Republic and the United States, with Dominicans often going out until the early morning hours after midnight.
• 💕 Valentine's Day is celebrated similarly in both countries on February 14th, with an emphasis on gifting chocolates and flowers to loved ones.
• 🐣 Easter, or 'Semana Santa', is observed in both countries for the resurrection of Christ, but in the Dominican Republic, it's a day of rest with bars and clubs closed until midnight.
• 🏡 Memorial Day is exclusive to the United States, honoring military service members who have died, and is marked by fireworks and cookouts.
• 👩 Mother's Day is celebrated in both countries, but the date differs, with the U.S. celebrating on the second Sunday of May and the Dominican Republic on the last Sunday.
• 👨 Father's Day is also celebrated in both countries, but again with a different date, the third Sunday in June for the U.S. and the last Sunday of June for the Dominican Republic.
• 🎆 Independence Day in the U.S. is on July 4th with fireworks and barbecues, while the Dominican Republic's Independence Day is in February, celebrated throughout the month with parades and festivities.
• 🔨 Labor Day in the U.S. is on the first Monday of May to honor workers, while in the Dominican Republic, it's simply a day off on May 1st with no significant celebrations.
• 🎃 Halloween is a major holiday in the U.S. with costumes and parties, but it's not celebrated in the Dominican Republic, except in tourist areas.
• 🦃 Thanksgiving is not celebrated in the Dominican Republic, but a similar tradition of a big family dinner occurs on Christmas Eve.
• 🎄 Christmas is celebrated in both countries with church visits and gift exchanges, but the Dominican Republic has additional unique holidays like Three Kings Day and the Feast of the Virgin Altagracia.
• 📜 The Dominican Republic has its own set of holidays not found in the U.S., including Juan Pablo Duarte's Day, Corpus Christi, Restoration Day, and Constitution Day.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video?

The main theme of the video is to discuss the holidays celebrated by Dominicans both in the Dominican Republic and in the United States.

How does the celebration of New Year's Day in the Dominican Republic differ from that in the United States?

In the Dominican Republic, most Dominicans wait for the New Year at home with family and then go out after midnight, whereas in the United States, people often start going out before midnight to celebrate at clubs and bars.

What is the significance of Valentine's Day in the Dominican Republic?

Valentine's Day is celebrated similarly in the Dominican Republic as it is in many other countries, with advertisements, chocolates, and flowers given to loved ones on February 14th.

How is Easter celebrated in the Dominican Republic?

In the Dominican Republic, Easter is a sacred day where bars and clubs are closed, and people are expected to be quiet, attend church, and have a family dinner.

What is the difference between how Mother's Day and Father's Day are celebrated in the Dominican Republic?

Both Mother's Day and Father's Day are celebrated in the Dominican Republic with advertising and gift-giving, but Mother's Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of May, while Father's Day is on the last Sunday of June, and some people give more importance to Mother's Day.

What is the significance of Independence Day in the Dominican Republic?

The Dominican Republic's Independence Day is celebrated on February 27th, and it is observed throughout the entire month with parades, activities, and festivities, especially in larger cities.

How is Labor Day celebrated in the Dominican Republic?

Labor Day in the Dominican Republic is celebrated on May 1st, and it is a normal day off with not much special activity happening, although some people might take the opportunity to spend an extra day in the Dominican Republic.

Why is Halloween not a traditional holiday in the Dominican Republic?

Halloween is not a traditional holiday in the Dominican Republic, but it is celebrated in tourist areas and resorts, and some Dominicans in urban areas may acknowledge the day.

What is the significance of Thanksgiving in the Dominican Republic?

Thanksgiving is not celebrated in the Dominican Republic, but they have a similar tradition on Christmas Eve, where families gather for a big dinner.

How is Christmas celebrated in the Dominican Republic?

Christmas in the Dominican Republic is celebrated by attending church and spending time with family, often with a focus on enjoying the day together.

What are some unique holidays celebrated only in the Dominican Republic?

Some holidays exclusive to the Dominican Republic include Three Kings Day on January 6th, the Virgin Altagracia Day on January 31st, Juan Pablo Duarte's Day on January 26th, Corpus Christi on June 11th, Restoration Day on August 16th, and Constitution Day on November 6th.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 Dominican and US Shared Holidays Celebration

This paragraph introduces the video's theme, which is about the holidays celebrated by Dominicans both in the Dominican Republic and the United States. It discusses New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, and Easter, highlighting how these holidays are observed similarly in both countries with gatherings, fireworks, and festivities. The speaker emphasizes the importance of family and church attendance during these celebrations, and gives a personal recommendation to experience New Year's in the Dominican Republic due to its vibrant atmosphere.

05:01

🎈 Exploring Unique Dominican Holidays and Their Celebrations

The second paragraph delves into holidays that are either exclusively celebrated in the Dominican Republic or observed differently compared to the United States. It covers Memorial Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Independence Day, noting the specific dates and customs associated with each. The speaker discusses the significance of family and the sharing of gifts during these occasions, and also mentions the Dominican Independence Day, which is celebrated throughout the month of February with parades and festivities, particularly recommending the La Vega Carnival as a must-see event.

10:02

🎃 Holidays Exclusive to the Dominican Republic and Their Significance

The final paragraph focuses on holidays that are unique to the Dominican Republic, starting with the Three Kings Day celebrated on January 6th, followed by the Virgin Altagracia Day on January 31st, and Juan Pablo Duarte's Day on January 26th. Each of these holidays holds religious or historical significance and is celebrated with various traditions such as leaving offerings, attending church, and honoring national heroes. The paragraph also mentions Corpus Christi, Restoration Day, and Constitution Day, explaining their importance in the Dominican Republic's cultural and religious calendar.

Keywords

💡Dominican Culture

Dominican Culture refers to the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, as well as the traditions, language, and values of the people from the Dominican Republic. In the video, the theme revolves around the cultural celebrations and holidays that are either shared with the United States or unique to the Dominican Republic, showcasing the richness of the Dominican cultural experience.

💡Holidays

Holidays are special days or periods set aside to celebrate events or commemorate people and traditions. The video script discusses various holidays celebrated by Dominicans, both in the Dominican Republic and in the United States, highlighting the cultural significance and the manner in which they are observed.

💡New Year's Day

New Year's Day is the first day of the Gregorian calendar, celebrated worldwide on January 1. The script describes how it is celebrated in both the United States and the Dominican Republic with gatherings, fireworks, and festivities, marking the beginning of a new year.

💡Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14, is a holiday honoring romantic love and affection. The script mentions it as a day celebrated in many countries, including the Dominican Republic, with the exchange of gifts like chocolates and flowers.

💡Easter

Easter, also referred to as 'Santa' in the script, is a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is observed in both the United States and the Dominican Republic, with the script highlighting the religious observance and family gatherings that occur on this day.

💡Independence Day

Independence Day, known as the Fourth of July in the United States, commemorates the country's independence. The script contrasts this with the Dominican Republic's Independence Day, which is celebrated on February 27th, with parades and festivities throughout the month.

💡Mother's Day and Father's Day

Mother's Day and Father's Day are holidays honoring mothers and fathers, respectively. The script notes the celebration of these days in both countries, with a focus on the advertising and gift-giving associated with these occasions, and the cultural differences in the dates they are celebrated.

💡Labor Day

Labor Day is a holiday honoring the contributions of workers to the country's economy and society. The script explains that while it is celebrated in the United States, it is also observed in the Dominican Republic, albeit on different dates, with a focus on the importance of recognizing workers' contributions.

💡Halloween

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31 in the United States, characterized by costume parties and trick-or-treating. The script indicates that while it is not a traditional Dominican holiday, it is celebrated in tourist areas and some urban centers.

💡Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a North American holiday, originally associated with giving thanks for the harvest. The script explains that while the Dominican Republic does not celebrate Thanksgiving, they have a similar tradition on Christmas Eve, with family gatherings and a large dinner.

💡Christmas

Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, typically observed with church services and gift exchanges. The script describes the celebration of Christmas in both the United States and the Dominican Republic, emphasizing the religious and familial aspects of the holiday.

💡Dominican Republic Exclusive Holidays

The script mentions several holidays that are exclusive to the Dominican Republic, such as the Three Kings Day, the Virgin Altagracia Day, and Juan Pablo Duarte's Day. These holidays reflect the country's unique cultural and historical identity and are celebrated with specific traditions and customs.

Highlights

Introduction to Dominican Republic's cultural channel with a focus on holidays, food, language, and fashion.

Invitation to support the channel via Patreon and download a free ebook for an introduction to Dominican culture.

Discussion of holidays celebrated in both the United States and Dominican Republic, categorized into two groups.

New Year's Day celebrations are similar worldwide, with Dominicans staying out late into the morning.

Valentine's Day is universally celebrated with advertisements, chocolates, and flowers for loved ones.

Easter, or 'Santa', is a shared holiday with a focus on the resurrection of Christ and family gatherings.

Memorial Day is exclusive to the United States, honoring military service members who have died.

Mother's Day is celebrated with advertising and gifts of flowers for mothers in both countries.

Father's Day is also celebrated worldwide, with some cultural differences in the level of importance.

Independence Day in the U.S. is compared to Dominican Republic's independence celebrations in February.

Labor Day is a U.S. holiday honoring workers, while Dominican Republic has its own labor day celebrations.

Halloween is a major U.S. holiday, with costume parties and trick-or-treating, not traditionally celebrated in the Dominican Republic.

Thanksgiving is a U.S. tradition of giving thanks with family dinners, similar to Dominican Christmas Eve celebrations.

Christmas is celebrated with church visits and gift exchanges in both countries.

New Year's Eve is a time of preparation for the upcoming year with dinners and celebrations.

Introduction of holidays exclusive to the Dominican Republic, starting with Three Kings' Day.

The Virgin of Altagracia Day is a significant religious celebration in the Dominican Republic.

Juan Pablo Duarte's Day commemorates a key figure in Dominican independence with marches and tributes.

Corpus Christi and Restoration Day are among the religious and national holidays exclusive to the Dominican Republic.

Constitution Day is a holiday in the Dominican Republic with limited celebrations.

Conclusion of the video with an invitation to like, comment, and subscribe for more content.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi guys welcome back to my channel if

you're new to the channel welcome if you

like dominican culture learning how to

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and if you want to know more about

dominican culture go ahead and download

my free ebook

a new day in paradise the beginner's

guide to dominican republic

at northeastart.com and on today's video

we are discussing

holidays celebrated by dominicans in

dominican republic

and we are gonna divide it into category

first

the holidays that we celebrate here in

united states that are also celebrated

in dominican republic

and the other one will be the one that

are exclusive celebrated in dominican

republic

so let's get started so let's get

started in january with new year's day

this day is celebrated for the most part

in the entire world and we also

celebrate this day

and it's for the most part celebrate

just like here in united states

when people start going out at midnight

with friends and family

getting together going to paris a lot of

fireworks a lot of drinks

so we celebrated this week where

dominicans go out

midnight and they stay open to six seven

eight

even until nine am then after that go

back home

rest in a little bit and then continue

celebrating later on that day do i

recommend anybody to go

to dominican republic for this holiday

yes i do it's a lot of fun and part in

dominican republic for new year

the only difference that i see is that

here in united states

for the most part people start going out

before midnight

because they want to be in clubs and

bars celebrating

before the new year in dominican

republic most dominicans wait

for the new year at home to celebrate

with family and then after

after midnight they start going out to

paris the next

big holiday is valentine's day this is

another day that is also celebrated in

lara countries and is celebrated also in

dominican republic the same day that is

celebrated here

february 14th this day is celebrated

just the same way

a lot of advertisement a lot of

chocolate a lot of flowers

give for your spouse for your girlfriend

boyfriend or the person that you love

the next big holiday is easter or how we

call it

santa this holiday is celebrating

dominican republic

and also here in united states and is

celebrated for the same reason

the resurrection of christ for my

experience what my husband's family do

is

and easter sunday they go to church and

usually they go to church for a long

time

and after church they get together for

dinner

and i don't know what all the people

here do in the united states because you

have so many different religions

that i don't know what other people do

to celebrate easter but that is my

experience

what i see here in the united states now

in dominican republic

it's a little bit different also on this

day bars

and clubs are supposed to be closed no

music

or anything going on on this day until

midnight i remember when i was growing

up

my grandma used to tell not even to

touch the broom

because this day was so sacred that you

wasn't supposed to do anything just be

quiet

go to church and eat nowadays a little

bit

different people party drink

but people still get together with

family and going to church do i

recommend

for you to go and dissolve to dominican

republic yes

and no yes you will have a lot of fun

but if

you know people if you know people it's

good because they're gonna

they're gonna take you wherever they go

close to their friend and the family

no for you to know anybody usually this

day for the most part the city

like santo domingo if you go

that weekend or easter weekend you will

see a

empty city because most for the most

part people go down to the campus we're

close to the rivers

and the beach and also you need to be

careful if you are a dominican republic

in easter because it's a lot of drunk

drivers

during this weekend the next holiday is

memorial day this is a big holiday

here in united states it is honoring the

military service

who dies serving the eu of course this

day

is just exclusively at the united states

and the wave day

we celebrate it is a lot of fireworks

a lot of cookouts and barbecue outside

and

usually some people get the day off and

the people don't the next big holiday is

mother's day

this day is celebrating a lot of

countries around the world and we also

celebrate in dominican republic and is

celebrated the same way

a lot of advertising a lot of give

flower for your mother or your mother

figure

the only difference is that here in the

united states the second sunday of

may and in dominican republic is the

last sunday of may the next big holiday

is

father's day that is also celebrated in

a lot of countries around the world

and we also celebrate in the dominican

republic same way

a lot of advertising and give for

fathers

of your father figure and here is the

only difference is this is celebrated

here in the third

sunday of june and in dominican republic

is the last

sunday of your life even though the

fathers and mothers they should be the

same for some people this day is not

celebrated the same way they don't give

father's day the same importance as they

do the mother day and i

also agree that it should be the same

importance because you wouldn't be here

if

you don't have a father and a mother and

i think that we

should give the same reports that

father's day that we do a small day

the next holiday is independence day

fourth of july this is a big holiday

here in united states and the waste that

is celebrated is a lot of cookout

barbecue picnic at the park a lot of

fireworks

in dominican republic we also have an

independence day but it's not in july

it's in february 27th the way that we

celebrate

is even though the independence date is

on february 27th

we celebrate it for the entire month

like if you are in a small

campus they don't do anything there but

if you are staying in big city like

santo domingo

on this day they do parade at malecon so

people go down to the malecon to enjoy

the parade and have fun

some people are put on a costume on this

day

and if you are staying in city like la

vega it's a lot of fun in la vega

they do parade every sunday of that

month do i recommend for you to travel

for the popularity of dominican republic

yes i do you will have a lot of fun they

do a lot of activities on the tourist

area for people that travel there all

the time so you will have a lot of fun

and if i do recommend for you to travel

and hourly

independence day yes i do you will have

a lot of fun

in dominican republic especially if you

travel to

to enjoy the la vega carnival it's a

good experience that you don't want to

miss the next big holiday is

labor day this day is to celebrate the

honor of the contribution of the worker

to the country this date is also

celebrated in dominican republic

the only difference is that here in

united states it celebrated the first

monday

of may and in dominican republic is the

first day

of may late birthday in dominican

republic it's just like here

is not much going on it's just a day off

and do i recommend for you to go to in

labor day to dominican republic

hey if you have an extra day that you

want to spend in dominican republic

yes i do recommend to go over there but

other than that it's just a normal day

in dominican republic and the next big

holiday is

halloween yes this is a big holiday here

in united states

i celebrate it too even though i don't

even know what is the reason

why halloween is celebrated and we all

know how to celebrate

costume go get cardio outside and a lot

of parties

in dominican republic this is not a

holiday

however in tourist area our reserves

they do celebrate this uh holiday

and instead area and some of the indian

dominican republic there

is they are static acknowledging this

day the next big holiday thanksgiving in

this day

we give thanks we usually celebrate here

in united states with family getting

together

for dinner some people travel to visit a

family

in dominican republic we don't celebrate

thanksgiving

however we have something very similar

but it's in

uh christmas eve we usually have our big

dinner

and it's celebrating the same way just

getting together with family

have a big dinner we don't cook

here for the most part people cook

turkey over the over there we don't cook

turkey

we do uh we cook chicken and pork

but it's celebrated in the same way

getting together with families some of

the family

travel to visit all the family big

dinner and celebrating the next big

holiday is christmas

america recognizes the pair of christ

typically on this day people go to

church

and change gift with friends and family

typically after dinner

in dominican republic we celebrate this

day going to church

and stay with family having fun and

enjoying this day the next big holiday

is new year's eve on this day pretty

much people prepare

to celebrate the new year the same thing

in dominican republic

people celebrate to wait for a new year

and some people will make a big dinner

to celebrate with friends and family and

with this complete

the big holidays that are celebrated

here in united states that are very

similar to the one that we celebrate in

dominican republic

and now we're gonna mention the ones

that are exclusive to the dominican

republic

and let's start with january and in

january we have

three very important holidays and the

first one is january the sixth

which is the three kings day of the

epiphany day

and this day hope very important just

like christmas and this day

pretty much celebrating the visit of the

three kings after

baby jesus crossed the desert for 12

days and on these days when the kids

received kids

the tradition iso used to be when i was

growing up that you used to live on the

dubai

cup of water cookie and some grass but

when the three kings passed by

they received this as a gift and they

leave you present and this is a very

important and dominican republic which

most if you don't say everybody

most people celebrate in dominican

republic and the second

big holiday in january is the virgin

alta gracia day and this day is

celebrated on january 31st

this is also a very important date in

dominican republic and this is the queen

that protects all the meaning this is a

religious date

a celebrated by catholic people this is

a very important day in dominican

republic

in this day thousands of the voters

travel across the country

to the basilica they way which is

located in new way

and people go to worship pray for health

a miracle and the last holiday of

january is in january 26th which we

celebrate juan pablo duarte's day

which he was one of our biggest fighters

for our independence

on this day kicks march alongside with

the military

across the country usually people leave

flowers

on his grave in the altar de la patria

the next holidays

is june 11. this is corpus christi this

is a religious day and most catholic

people

celebrating going to church our next

holiday is our restoration day which is

on august 16th

on this day every four years when it's

an election year

the president will take office if it's

not an election

a year the president will give a speech

when he highlights the progress of the

country and the last holiday is november

6th when we celebrate

our constitution even though it's a

holiday and we take off

it's pretty much not a lot going on and

with that i conclude the holidays here

in the united states and in dominican

republic

in dominican republic we do have more

holidays

just like here in united states i know

there are more holidays that people uh

celebrate but i choose the one that i

thought that was most important here

and in dominican republic so that is all

what i have today thank you for watching

this video don't forget to like comment

and subscribe and i will see you my next

one

bye

[Music]

[Applause]

you