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Jan 1
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New Year's Day
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Jan 6
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Epiphany
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Jan 21
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Our Lady of Altagracia. Altagracia is the spiritual mother of the Dominican
people and is revealed like the Virgin Mary. This day and the day before are marked by avid churchgoing, candle lighting,
singing, dancing, and other modes of celebration. This takes place in various towns and cities accross the country.
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Jan 26
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Day of Duarte. Juan Pablo
Duarte, one of the founding fathers of the Republic, was born on this day. The holiday is celebrated with patriotic gestures
such as flag raising and offering flowers to his statue or to the Altar de la Patria.
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Feb 27
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Independance Day. On this day in 1844, the Dominicans won independance from the
Haitians and established the Dominican Republic.
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Good Friday and Easter. Just before Easter, on the weekend of La Semana Sainta,
the country shuts down and almost all Dominicans head for the beach. Loud music is not allowed to be played anywhere on Good
Friday, including clubs and discotheques, but the next several days are major fiesta time.
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Apr 14
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Pan-American Day
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May 1
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Labour Day
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Jul 10-12
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Bachata Festival of Sosua. This distinctly Dominican form of song and dance is extrememly
popular and is celebrated by, you guessed it, lots of song and dance.
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Jul 16
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Foundation de la Sociedad
Trinitinara. This day celebrates the founders of the Sociedad Trinitinara, led by Juan Pablo Duarte, who later went on to
win the country's independance from the Haitians.
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Jul 24
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Merengue Festival of Puerto
Plata and Santo Domingo. This festival is not only about dance, there are food and drink exhibitions as well as various games
and events.
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Aug 16
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Restoration Day. Also celebrating the country's independance from Haiti, this
day is honoured by festivals in the capitol, Santiago, La Vega and San Marco de Macoris.
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Sep 24
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Our Lady of Mercedes. Mercedes is the patron saint of the Dominican village and
the day is celebrated by a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Cerro, a hill that is close to the city of La Vega.
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Oct 12
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Columbus Day. In recognition of the anniversary of the New World's discovery,
flowers are offered to the tomb of Columbus and the Faro de Colon, a monument in Santo Domingo.
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Sep - Oct
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Merengue Festival of Puerto Plata. For five days, Puerto Plata is alive with dance,
art displays, expositions of food, auto shows, and many other
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Oct 24
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United Nations Day
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Nov 1
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All Saints Day
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Dec 25
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Christmas Day
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