To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Sign Up. Travel Guides. Videos Beyond Hollywood Hungerlust Pioneers of love. Shimon Brathwaite. El Carnaval de la Vega. Christmas Traditions. You are what you wear. Kissing hands. Give us feedback. Read Next View. Greenland Bubble Glamping. Originally from Puerto Rico, Salsa has been a part of the Dominican music scene for decades. Dembow is an electric, up-beat music that originates from Jamaican Reggae and Puerto Rican Reggaeton.
It's the most popular music among the youth and shows no sign of slowing down. This fortnight-long festival fills the capital with the rhythms of merengue, bachata, bolero, reggaeton, salsa and more. The Merengue Dance Festival is usually organized every year by the company that brews the popular Presidente Beer and hosts the country's biggest names in the business with legends like: Fernando Villalona, Mili Quezada, and Los Hermanos Rosario.
A very popular costume that stands out is the Diablo Cojuelo , a masked devil with spiked horns. They might be a little scary at first, but they're harmless. Dominicans go hard when it comes to breakfast.
If at home, Dominicans typically cook up a huge pan of rice and gandules pigeon peas , Pollo Guisado chicken in tomato sauce , and a green lettuce salad with more avocado. Long live the avocado! This is the only meal where Dominicans eat lightly - usually toasted ham, cheese and ketchup like a grilled cheese sandwich, maybe with a glass of passion fruit juice.
If dining out, a typical dinner order is Carne Salada , a dry salted meat that's fried and served with a side of tostones , or maybe Yuca , another Dominican staple. Parents teach young children how to play, always encouraging the next generation of world-class talent to rise up the ranks of the Dominican league. Being a baseball player is a great honor here in the DR, and many young people can be seen practicing in their spare time, dreaming of making it big.
Here in the DR, the major league sees six provincial teams face off each year from October through to the end of December. Watching a game is a wonderful way to get involved in Dominican culture. You can read more about Dominican Baseball and how to get involved in our guide to Dominican baseball. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox. Head to the beach or to the river on the weekends, and you will see how Dominicans love to spend their free time with their loved ones, cooking outdoors and sharing jokes.
Life is to be shared, and lived fully. While certain traditions are less practiced in the cities than in the past, the importance of two major seasons remain—particularly in the countryside—and are celebrated in family: Christmas and Easter. Each of these holidays represents a symbolic time for Dominicans to head to their respective hometowns and families, and spend it around their loved ones, cooking and enjoying traditional dishes, dancing, and relaxing.
Christmastime is one of the most festive times of the year, aside from Carnival in February. This is particularly visible in the countryside, when families gather and visit from house to house to eat, drink, and dance. On Christmas Eve, entire pigs on a pit are slowly roasted out in the backyard all night long, while families listen to music and share drinks, with everyone keeping an eye on the meat.
The tradition is to stay up and celebrate until dawn, when the meat is finally cooked. First-time American visitors to a Caribbean island may assume the best choice in apparel is shorts, a loose t-shirt, comfortable sandals, and a hat for the sun. In reality, Dominicans choose fashion over comfort. In my opinion, compared to Americans who tend to dress very casually, Dominicans take much pride in their appearance and look very put-together.
As a New York native, I had become accustomed to wearing dark, inconspicuous clothes. Here, brighter and tighter is better. A quick walk through a major mall like Agora may make you question whether you are at a club or at a shopping center.
However, all of these rules are thrown out the window upon arrival to a residential neighborhood or once at home, where people swap their formal clothes for shorts, tank tops, and chancletas sandals. During the work day, or at night, men wear well-fitted pants and shirts.
Shoes are always perfectly shined, due in part to informal shoe-shiners who wait on street corners and by near major transportation hubs. For about 20 pesos, your shoes will look brand new while you wait.
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