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Folklore of the Dominican Republic analyses the cultural phenomena of the Dominican Republic going back to the period of colonization, when Christopher Columbus set foot on land and the aborigines were already on the island. From that moment on, a process of rational relations between the two began. From the beginning, these relations were conflictive, and led to the disappearance of the first settlers of the Island of Santo Domingo (as it used to be called). Later, the Spanish inhabitants of the island brought African slaves, giving rise to yet another mixture of customs and ethnicities. [1]
In the Dominican Republic, the word folklore (Folclore for Spanish) appeared for the first time on February 10, 1884, nearly several decades after its independence from Haiti. (Interestingly, the word had also appeared 38 years after it appeared in Europe, when it was used by William John Thoms on August 22, 1846). It was used for the first time in a newspaper in Santiago de los Caballeros, called El Eco del Pueblo, in a letter sent by a person known only by the name Valle de Gracia. Afterwards, other people continued to use it, until it gained prominence in both Dominican literature and Dominican culture. [2]
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The Dominican Carnival has its roots in colonial times. Some historians believe that the first Carnival celebrations came with the visit of Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, when the inhabitants dressed up as Moors and Christians. Over time, the Carnival evolved and merged with African traditions, creating a unique celebration that is characteristic of Dominican culture. After Dominican independence on February 27, 1844, the month of February was established as the Dominican Carnival month. [3]
An essential aspect of the Dominican carnival is its traditional characters. These characters include the robalagallina, diablos cojuelos, califé, tiznaos africanas and monos de Simonico. Each of these characters has its own story and personality, and are an integral part of the celebration. A little about some of the most popular ones:
Mythical figures in Dominican culture include Ciguapa, Jupías, Biembienes, Galipote, Bacá, Marimantas, and the Cuco.
The earliest Urban legend is of the Tapao, a faceless man from the 16th-century who was said to have once been an inhabitant of the Coloinial City. The story of El Negro Comegente, remains one of he darkest urban legends in the Dominican Republic. Other legends include Brujas and Botija. [4] [ citation needed ]
Throughout the historical development of the Dominican Republic in its struggles for independence, equality, and political reforms, many figures have been highlighted for having took part in these struggles and even recognized as folk heroes. Such examples include:
Dominicans are an ethno-national people, a people of shared ancestry and culture, who have ancestral roots in the Dominican Republic.
Sud-Est (French) or Sidès is one of the ten departments of Haiti located in southern Haiti. It has an area of 2,034.10 km2 and a population of 632,601 (2015). Its capital is Jacmel.
The culture of the Dominican Republic is a diverse mixture of different influences from around the world. The Dominican people and their customs have origins consisting predominantly in a European cultural basis, with native Taíno and African influences.
The Dominican Revolutionary Party is a political party in the Dominican Republic. Traditionally a left-of-centre party and social democratic in nature, the party has shifted since the 2000s toward the political centre. The party's distinctive color is white. Traditionally, the party has two presidents: the "Titular President" and the "Acting President" ; until 2010 the presidents and the Secretary-General were proscribed to run for any elected office.
Francisco del Rosario Sánchez was a Dominican revolutionary, politician, and former president of the Dominican Republic. He is considered by Dominicans as the second prominent leader of the Dominican War of Independence, after Juan Pablo Duarte and before Matías Ramón Mella. Widely acknowledged as one of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic, and the only martyr of the three, he is honored as a national hero. In addition, the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella is named partially in his honor.
The Republic of Spanish Haiti, also called the Independent State of Spanish Haiti was the independent state that succeeded the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo after independence was declared on 30 November 1821 by José Núñez de Cáceres. The republic lasted only from 1 December 1821 to 9 February 1822 when it was invaded by the Republic of Haiti.
The Barranquilla Carnival is one of Colombia's most important folkloric celebrations, and one of the biggest carnivals in the world. The carnival has traditions that date back to the 19th century. Four days before Lent, Barranquilla decks itself out to receive national and foreign tourists to join together with the city's inhabitants to enjoy four days of intense festivities. During the carnival, Barranquilla's normal activities are put aside as the city gets busy with street dances, musical and masquerade parades. The Carnival Of Barranquilla includes dances such as the Spanish paleo, African Congo, and indigenous mice y mica's. Many styles of Colombian music are also performed, most prominently cumbia, and instruments include drums and wind ensembles. The Carnival of Barranquilla was proclaimed a Cultural Masterpiece of the Nation by Colombia's National Congress in 2002. Also the UNESCO, in Paris on November 7, 2003, declared it one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and it was during Olga Lucia Rodriguez Carnival Queen year.
The carnival in Colombia was introduced by the Spaniards. The Colombian carnival has incorporated elements from European culture, and has managed to syncretise, or re-interpret, traditions that belonged to the African and Amerindian cultures of Colombia. There is documentary evidence that the carnival existed in Colombia in the 17th century and had already caused concern to the colonial authorities, who censored the celebrations, especially in the main centers of power such as Cartagena, Bogotá and Popayán. The carnival, therefore, continued its evolution and re-interpretation in the small and at that time unimportant towns where celebrations did not offend the ruling elites. The result was the uninterrupted celebration of carnival festivals in Barranquilla, and other villages along the lower Magdalena River in northern Colombia, and in Pasto, Nariño in the south of the country. In modern times, there have been attempts to introduce the carnival in the capital, Bogotá, in the early 20th century, but it has always failed to gain the approval of authorities. The Bogotá Carnival has had to wait until the 21st century to be resurrected, this time, by the authorities of the city. Colombia is recognized by its large variety of festivals, carnivals and fairs. Most towns have their own, ranging from those celebrating coffee to the ones held in honor of the town's Saint feast. The common characteristics of the festivals are the nomination of a beauty Queen and the setting up of public dance floor.
Afro-Dominicans are Dominicans of predominant or total Sub-Saharan African ancestry. They are a minority in the country representing 7.5% or 642,018 of the population, according to the 2022 census.
Puerto Plata, officially known as San Felipe de Puerto Plata; is a major coastal city in the Dominican Republic, and capital of the province of Puerto Plata. The city is a major trading port. Puerto Plata has resorts such as Playa Dorada and Costa Dorada, which are located east of the city proper. There are 100,000 hotel beds in the city. The first aerial tramway of the Caribbean is located in Puerto Plata, in which visitors can ride up to the Pico Isabel de Torres, a 793-meter (2600-foot) high mountain within the city.
Gregorio Luperón was a Dominican revolutionary, military general, businessman, liberal politician, freemason, and Statesman who was one of the leaders in the Dominican Restoration War. Luperón was an active member of the Triunvirato of 1866, becoming the President of the Provincial Government in San Felipe de Puerto Plata, and after the successful coup against Cesareo Guillermo, he became the 20th President of the Dominican Republic.
The National Dominican Day Parade in New York City is a parade organized by people of Dominican heritage in the city. The event started in 1982 as a local celebration with concerts and cultural events in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. Organized by Dominican American community leaders, the parade is held annually in August on 6th Avenue.
The Haitian occupation of Santo Domingo was the annexation and merger of then-independent Republic of Spanish Haiti into the Republic of Haiti, that lasted twenty-two years, from February 9, 1822, to February 27, 1844. The part of Hispaniola under Spanish administration was first ceded to France and merged with the French colony of Saint Domingue as a result of the Peace of Basel in 1795. However, with the outbreak of the Haitian Revolution the French lost the western part of the island, while remaining in control of the eastern part of the island until the Spanish recaptured Santo Domingo in 1809.
In the history of the Dominican Republic, the period of Era de Francia occurred in 1795 when France acquired the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo, annexed it into Saint-Domingue and briefly came to acquire the whole island of Hispaniola by the way of the Treaty of Basel, allowing Spain to cede the eastern province as a consequence of the French Revolutionary Wars.
General José María Cabral y Luna was a Dominican military figure and politician. He served as the first Supreme Chief of the Dominican Republic from August 4, 1865, to November 15 of that year and again officially as president from August 22, 1866, until January 3, 1868.
José Núñez de Cáceres y Albor was a Dominican revolutionary and writer. He is known for being the leader of the first Dominican independence movement against Spain in 1821. His revolutionary activities preceded the Dominican War of Independence.
The Carnival in the Dominican Republic is celebrated in most cities and towns in the main streets of the country. Among its most notable characteristics are its flashy elaborate costumes and traditional masks. The carnival held in the city of La Vega, which is one of the biggest in the country, and the national parade in Santo Domingo, were the first Carnivals held in the Americas in the early 1500s.
Martha Ellen Davis is an emeritus professor from the University of Florida, anthropologist and ethnomusicologist known for her multifarious work on African diasporic religion and music. Professor Davis' research has defied conventional tenets about Haitian and Dominican folk music, and her cultural preservation projects has raised awareness of the significance of the Samaná Americanos' enclave.
Mixed Dominicans, also referred to as mulatto, mestizo or historically quadroon or castizo, are Dominicans who are of mixed ancestry, these stand out for having brown skin. Representing 71.72% of the Dominican Republic's population, they are by far the single largest racial grouping of the country.
The Galipote, also called Zángano or Lugarú, is a legendary character from the Dominican Republic, originally from San Juan, which probably dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. It was a mythical being characterized by the ability to transform into different animals and inanimate objects, as well as enjoying atrocious strength and immunity against firearms. It was said that he used to feed on the blood of innocent children, with which he obtained eternal life; it is also said that they practiced macabre sexual acts with them.