Dominican Republic

By: Andrew Franklin

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Brief History

• The Dominican Republic was discovered by Christopher Columbus on December 5, 1492 during on his first voyage.

• Columbus named the island Hispaniola.

• Was originally occupied by Tainos

Cultural and Religious Celebrations

• The holidays and festivals in the Dominican Republic are some of the most important and festive celebrations in the whole world.

• VIRGEN DE ALTAGRACIA

• LA CARNIVAL

• LA DIA DE INDEPENDENCIA

• LA NAVIDAD

• THE MERENGUE FESTIVAL

Sports• Baseball

• Basketball

• Football

• Boxing

• Volleyball

• Olympics

Food

• Breakfast- mangú, yautía (taro) or yuca (cassava)

• Lunch- bean stew, white rice and meat, rice with noodles, rice with sweet corn, or rice with vegetables, chicken, beef, pork or goat

• Supper- simple sandwich and hot drink, or in the hotter months, simply a glass of natural fruit juice, also particularly partial to ginger and lemon grass teas, and thick hot chocolate drinks.

Major Holidays

• Jan. 1-New Year's Day• Jan. 6-Epiphany• Jan. 21-Our Lady of Altagracia• Jan. 26-Duarte's Day• Feb. 27-Independence Day• Apr. 22-Good Friday• May 1-Labour Day• Jun. 23-Corpus Christi• Aug. 16-Restoration Day • Sep. 24-Our Lady of las Mercedes• Nov. 7-Constitution Day• Dec. 25-Christmas Day