As the Christmas season approaches, thoughts focus on how to celebrate and embrace holiday customs from around the world. In the Dominican Republic, Christmas is a holiday staple. From mouth-watering holiday eats to unique festivities and gatherings, vibrant Dominican Republic Christmas traditions and celebrations come alive to reflect the joy and warmth of the holiday season.
When Is Christmas Celebrated in the Dominican Republic?
Celebrations begin in December, and several traditions occur all month long. However, the biggest celebration happens on Christmas Eve with Noche Buena and the traditional Christmas meal. Christmas isn’t over until after New Year’s on January 6, Dia de Reyes (3 Kings’ Day).
Let’s learn about 7 popular Dominican Republic Christmas traditions!
1. Charamicos and Nacimientos: Festive Decorations
The Dominican Republic has its own unique traditional Christmas decorations due to weather, culture, and resources. Two of the most important decorations are Nacimientos and charamicos.
Nacimientos (Nativity Stories)
Christmas in the Dominican Republic also means that many people set up Nacimientos (nativities). These figurine sets commemorate the sacred story of the birth of Jesus Christ and often find a place among other Christmas decorations within family homes.
Some towns host live Nacimientos with individuals portraying Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. These nativities sometimes even have live farm animals!
Charamicos (Christmas Trees)
Charamicos are the Dominican equivalent of Christmas trees, crafted out of wood and decorated with paper, cloth, and recyclable scraps. In the Dominican Republic during the holidays, the sight of colorful Christmas charamicos are integral to the festivities.
Since fir trees are not native to the Caribbean, artisans and families creatively use pieces of wood from regional trees, such as mahogany or avocado, to create these handcrafted trees.
Charamicos are then adorned with wooden stars, little animal figurines, and ornaments made of fabric or other scraps to serve as decoration for Christmas.
While no one knows who invented charamicos, they were traditionally painted white, and people say they originated from the desire to see snow-covered trees in the tropics. Today, charamicos come in all colors, shapes, and sizes as an iconic symbol of a Dominican Christmas.
2. La Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass or “Rooster’s Mass”)
Catholicism is the official religion of the Dominican Republic, with about 50% of Dominicans practicing the religion.
On Christmas Eve, many Dominicans of Catholic faith attend La Misa de Gallo, a midnight Catholic mass service also known as the “Rooster’s Mass.” The name refers to a belief that a rooster crowed on the night of Jesus’s birth.
The midnight mass is significant in symbolizing the spiritual essence of the Christmas season.
The Cathedral de Santa Maria in Santo Domingo (the capital of the Dominican Republic) hosts one of the most well-known and well-attended La Misa de Gallo celebrations.
3. Parrandas Navideñas: Christmas Parties and Festivals
Parrandas navideñas, lively Christmas parties and mini festivals, are part of Dominican Republic Christmas traditions. These gatherings bring families and neighbors together, transforming public spaces into dance floors. The air fills with the sounds of classic merengue, bachata, and salsa music, while people and their loved ones dance the night away.
These parties feature traditional food and drinks, ensuring that parrandas navideñas continue into the early hours of the morning. Parrandas happen throughout December to celebrate the spirit of the season. Many parrandas navideñas, especially those taking place in larger cities, also feature Christmas fireworks and light shows.
Christmastime gatherings, including parrandas, are especially significant because many family members who live abroad arrive to enjoy the holidays in their beloved homeland. The joy of reuniting with family that they don't see often or have not seen in years is one of the most important feelings during the Christmas season.
4. El Angelito
El Angelito (the Little Angel), a festive Christmas gift exchange, is similar to Secret Santa, which is a tradition popular in the United States and the United Kingdom. El Angelito is celebrated not only between family and friends, but also by Dominican religious institutions, schools, companies, and colleges.
Participants write their names on small pieces of paper, and after drawing paper slips randomly out of a hat or sack, each person becomes someone else’s “Angelito” or “Little Angel.” The Angelito remains a secret until the final day of gift-giving. Gift exchanges usually start from the first days of December until the last working day of the month.
5. Aguinaldos
Popular Dominican Republic Christmas traditions also include aguinaldos. Aguinaldos involve a group of family or friends who visit houses singing traditional Christmas villancicos (folk songs). As they go from house to house, more people join in until it becomes a street festival complete with dancing and hot drinks.
Here are some traditional Dominican aguinaldo and Christmas songs:
- El Burro y El Pavo
- Volvió Juanita
- Llegó la Navidad
- Salsa Para Tu Lechón
- Navidad Que Vuelve
- Cascabel
- Mi Burrito Sabanero
- Alegre Vengo de la Montaña
- Viejo Año
- Esta Navidad
- Navidad para el Pueblo
- En Estas Navidades
- A la Nanita, Nana
There are also several English Christmas songs that are well-loved in the Dominican Republic:
- Feliz Navidad (We Wish You a Merry Christmas)
- Venid, Adoremos (O Come All Ye Faithful)
- La Primera Navidad (The First Noel)
- Campanas de Navidad (I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day)
- Noche de Paz (Silent Night)
- El Niño del Tambor (The Little Drummer Boy)
- Los Doce Días de Navidad (The 12 Days of Christmas)
6. Noche Buena
All the month-long Dominican Christmas celebrations culminate in the grand family feast during Noche Buena, or the “Good Night,” on Christmas Eve. This celebration includes eating traditional Christmas food, and drinks, and fostering a sense of togetherness with family, neighbors, and friends during the Christmas meal. Many families give each other small gifts on Christmas Eve as well.
Do People Give Gifts for Christmas in the Dominican Republic?
In the Dominican Republic, gift-giving traditions vary according to family customs and economic resources, though many families only give gifts to the children of the family.
In most parts of the country, children don’t receive gifts on Christmas Day (December 25). Instead, they receive their gifts on 3 Kings Day (Día de Reyes Magos) on January 6. Traditionally, children who go to school have vacations until after January 6, so they can spend it peacefully with their family.
In other parts of the country, families have the tradition of having el Niño Jesus (Baby Jesus) bring gifts to children on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning. The influence of Santa Claus as the gift-bringer has increased in recent years, yet some regions maintain unique figures like “La Vieja Belén,” who brings gifts to children a week after 3 Kings Day.
7. Dominican Christmas Food
One of the most important aspects of a Dominican Christmas is the food. Food is a cultural aspect in many Latin American countries, and the Dominican Republic is no exception. Gathered around the table with family and friends, Dominicans indulge in a variety of mouthwatering dishes. Here is a short list of some of the central entrees, sides, drinks, and desserts:
- Cerdo asado—roast pork
- Pasteles en hoja—banana leaves filled with pork, chicken, or fish stuffed in plantain
- Pastelón—a casserole with layers of mashed plantains, beef, and cheese
- Moro de guandules—rice with pigeon peas, traditionally with raisins
- Ensalada rusa—a salad made with boiled potatoes, carrots, beets, chayote, and peas
- Telera—a baguette-shaped bread with a crunchy exterior that is typically only eaten at Christmas time
- Ponche—the Dominican version of eggnog, made with evaporated milk, egg, spices, and sometimes rum
- Jengibre—a strong tea made with fresh ginger
- Jalea de batata—a sweet dish made with white sweet potatoes, coconut milk, and evaporated milk
- Turrón—a nougat candy made from honey, eggs, sugar, and toasted nuts
- Dulces—jam-like sweets made of different fruits, like pineapple (dulce de piña), figs (dulce de higo), cashew fruit (dulce de cajuil), and peanuts (dulce de maní), to name a few
- Pudin de Pan—Dominican bread pudding
Preserve Your Family’s Christmas Memories
Traditions and celebrations are a way to stay connected with your ancestors and bind yourselves to the rich history of your family. One of the best ways to cherish these family customs for future years is to use the FamilySearch Memories app.
FamilySearch Memories helps you preserve the photos, stories, documents, and audio file recordings about your ancestors for free! This way, you can look back on those special Christmas moments for years to come. Start capturing your family’s unique celebrations today, and create a digital legacy that future generations can explore and enjoy.
At FamilySearch, we care about connecting you with your family, and we provide fun discovery experiences and family history services for free. Why? Because we cherish families and believe that connecting generations can improve our lives now and forever. We are a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To learn more about our beliefs, click here.
