When is santo domingo carnival

To fully enjoy and understand Dominican carnival, familiarize yourself with the main characters, and their significance in Dominican folklore. They distinguish themselves with their masks—representing the face of a pig, with a long snout and tall horns—and their elaborate costumes featuring a colorful, beaded romper encrusted with bells and bows. Their role is to maintain order in the streets during festivities, which they attempt by swinging their fouet in the air.

They are a version of the diablo cojuelo , mixing three cultural influences in their outfits: a mask to represent the Taino gods, blouses and coats representing Spanish heritage, and handkerchiefs that symbolize African deities.

They represent Afro-descendants from neighboring English-speaking Caribbean islands who migrated to the DR in the early 20th century to work in the sugar industry. Los Pintaos — from Barahona—parade in intricately painted bodies in various colors, from head to toe, with just a piece of cloth covering their nakedness.

They represent the Maroons—escaped slaves who took refuge in the southwestern mountains of Bahoruco in the 16th century. Within that group, the most popular are Tribu Yucahu, who have won multiple awards over the years for their ingenuity in costume and dance, including the highest national Carnival prize.

A unique Afro-Caribbean group in the Dominican Republic are the Cocolos: the descendants of enslaved Africans who were brought to the DR in the late 19th century from the British islands of the Caribbean.

Approximately 6, originally came from Anguilla, Barbados, St. Dominicans first gave them the name Tortolo—assumed to have derived from Tortola in the BVIs—which later evolved into Cocolos. Their dancers, known as the Guloyas, participate in the Carnival and wear gorgeous, beaded costumes with feathery hats. They dance to their own drums and twirl happily in the streets in their unique Afro-Caribbean moves.

Some of the comparsas or carnival groups have more recent origins yet carry great cultural significance. They made their debut in the national parade in , and in were awarded the highest Carnival award granted by the Ministry of Culture: the Premio Nacional de Carnaval Felipe Abreu. The Pintaos represent the Maroons, who rebelled against Spanish colonialism and slavery and took refuge in the mountains of Bahoruco, southwest of the DR, in the early 16th century.

Their costume is the intricate paint that covers their naked body, save for a piece of cloth covering their private parts. They dance in the street, sometimes holding sticks, and spread their joy and rebellious nature to the crowds, celebrating the Maroon heritage. It all ends with a big, loud folkloric ceremony on Monday after Holy Week, when they burn Judas in effigy in the village cemetery. Adults and children dress up in grass skirts and feathers, bodies smeared in brown paint, torsos bare for the men.

They carry bows and spears. It was believed that there once were witches living in the southwestern city of San Juan de La Managua. Witchcraft was a common practice, hence the name of one of the Carnival troupes from this region. To showcase the importance of farming in the area and its gastronomy, participants from this border town with Haiti wear masks resembling goats.

Some are fun folkloric characters that are meant to evoke laughter. The most beloved is El Roba la Gallina or the hen robber. This is usually a man dressed up as a woman in an extravagant layered dress, with huge breasts, hips, and elaborate makeup, who goes around the neighborhood colmados or shops begging for food, money, or sweets for her pollitos or children. These costumes are a mix or all the cultures, beliefs, peoples and ideas, making for a unique viewing experience.

The costumes are only limited by the imagination of the creator. It is enjoyable watching the children delighting in the carnival activities. Some are afraid and hide behind their parents. The parents love getting the pictures of their little ones taken with the masked creatures.

Many children like to get dressed up in masks or paint their faces. They will mask themselves in whatever they have available. It is fun to see just how creative the children can be when need dictates. The future generation of carnival parades are being spawned. The Carnival is very good for the economy to bring in tourists by the droves. All are coming to observe this spectacle.

It helps the entrepreneurs with their home businesses creating masks and souvenirs that are all carnival orientated. The mask-makers, the trinket manufacturers, the food vendors, the transportation industry. All have a chance to make a nice profit during the month of February thanks to the carnival. Mask makers can start creating as soon as the carnival is over, preparing and designing for the following year.

Readying a town for carnival usually starts immediately after the Christmas celebrations. Getting all ready to make money for the town and its people and to have a good time. Each troupe will represent different regions and towns throughout Dominican Republic.

A town or barrio will have his or her own unique costumes and customs. For many, each year the costumes must be different. Some burn their costumes after the carnival, which represents change or closure, while others give their used costumes to the children. These costumes are widely diverse, some made of bright materials including satin and taffeta.

Some are decorated with small round and square mirrors, bells, ribbons, whistles, tiny dolls. While other costumes are fierce, repulsive and quite hideous. Many can be very beautiful and elegant. Some of the troupes portray past historical events and tragedies. There are men dressed as ladies, bodies covered in black grease, and other bodies brightly painted. Carnival can be a very competitive pageant as there are prizes given for the best of the best in many different categories.

With artists and participants working together to get the right fit and the look they desire. They can work all year making their costumes so they can join to celebrate and compete in this festival. Costume design and character presentations come together for the judging of the best groups in Carnival. The capital celebrations only permit up to groups participating per region.

Here the winners of the local Carnival events merge for this the grandest of competitions. Original masks, costumes, floats and masked dance groups fuse to create a flood of activities in the streets.

There can be more than 50, parade participants joining in the Malecon parade in Santo Domingo with over half a million people that bombard the capital to watch and join in the carnival celebrations. All this is presided over by the King of the Carnival who is elected every year. The flavors of Carnival Dominican style. The most popular Carnival activities are in the town of La Vega.

Normally a very quiet town with not many tourists draw. During the carnival here is where thousands of people go every Saturday and Sunday during the month of February. People gather on Calle Padre Adolfo with the cathedral lurking in the distance , in front of the Parque de las Flores or to watch the spectacular event.

The registered groups, known as comparsas, participate in the Carnival parade. These groups can be well organized. Many have participated together for many years. The groups may include from 10 to 15 people and sometimes many more. The traditional costumes are carefully sewn months in advance and are very intricate and colorful. Traditionally in old Santo Domingo now known as Colonial Zone, the night before Carnival, people lit their homes, balconies and streets. Illuminating the entire town. The boats would be decorated.

There would be oranges and egg shells filled with scented water, the hole plugged with wax. They were thrown at the crowds. The procession was held on Calle el Conde. It has been used by many cultures. The Egyptians and Greeks used eggs in their burial rituals. Mexico fills eggs cascarones with confetti or small prizes and throws them.