Winter in the DR is rarely cold...but Dominicans still celebrate what Americans consider to be "winter" holidays, such as Christmas Eve, Christmas and Three Kings Day. In this field note, I'll talk a little about the traditions surrounding these holidays.
In the DR, Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) is usually a bigger occasion than Navidad (Christmas Day) and is an important day for spending time with family. Many Dominicans will leave their house in the city to visit relatives in the campo and celebrate the holiday by cooking a feast for everyone to enjoy. For this year's Noche Buena, my host mom served roasted chicken, lasagna, bread, rice and red apples. It's a good idea to dress up in nice clothes for the celebration. On Día de Los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day/Epiphany), which happens on January 6th, children often receive gifts. Similar to the U.S., many Dominicans decorate their houses with Christmas lights for the holiday season, and holiday parties for friends and coworkers are very popular.
