Spring+Break+-+Dominican+Republican+Culture

During spring break I went to the Dominican Republic. Although I spent most of my time on a beautiful beach, I also enjoyed experiencing a bit of the culture. I sampled some of the local food and the national drink **Mamajuana.** I also went on an excursion that took us through the streets of Punta Cana and then we watched a native dance show. Dancing is an obvious passion for the Dominican's and they are excellent at it! I've pasted the information from Wikipedia below in case anyone wants to read alittle about the Dominican Republic.

=Culture of the Dominican Republic=

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: [|navigation], [|search]**La Vega Carnaval in the Independence Month. One of the most famous carnivals in the country.** The people and their customs have origins in a unique mix of [|African], [|Taino] and [|Spaniard] roots. The [|Dominican Republic] was the first [|Spanish] colony in the New World. The newly-arrived Spainiards Raped many of the native African and Taino people through enslavement. Which is why [|spanish people] today such as Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Mexicans, and 85 percent of South Americans are a new mixed generation of Africans and Tainos. Diseases previously unknown to the native inhabitants, although many Tainos fled into the mountains where along with African escapees they formed [|Maroon] colonies. The colonizers imported [|African] [|slaves] to replace the natives. After the Haitian liberation of the entire island, slavery was abolished and free blacks (and those of mixed race) could be found all over the islands. However, there are some differences in class and education that separate different groups. The wealthy privileged status elite are mostly of Spaniard and African descent, while the majority of the poor are of mixed race and of large percentage of African descent. The metropolitan culture available to the upper class and vanishing (due to economic turbulence as of late) middle class is often comparable to the life of city dwellers in the rich countries of Western Europe and the United States. But this metropolitan culture doesn't reach the poorest people, who may not have the most basic amenities, necessities, running water, electricity, sanitary facilities nor consumer electronics. hide] * [|1] [|Religions] 
 * ==Contents==
 * [|2] [|Entertainment]
 * [|3] [|References]
 * [|4] [|See also]
 * [|5] [|External links] ||

[[|edit]] Religions
The Dominican Republic's Spanish cultural heritage is most evident in the national language and predominant religion, [|Catholicism]. 95% of Dominicans are in the [|Roman Catholic Church]. Other substantial religious groups are the Evangelical Christians and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Around one percent of the nation's inhabitants practice pure spiritism, although it is very common for Catholicism and spiritism to be mixed in [|Santeria]'s seances and "saint" parties. Because the Dominican Republic shares the same small island as Haiti, some people who live near the border with that country or who have immigrated from there practice [|voodoo] in the Dominican Republic. 

[[|edit]] Entertainment
The Dominican Republic has its own style of music. The earliest form of music is merengue, [|perico ripiao], which originated in the countryside as three-person re-interpretations of suggestive folk songs. [|Bachata] is also a Dominican invention, one that has become increasingly popular worldwide. [|Reggaeton], a style of music originating in Panamá and Puerto Rico, defines the party lifestyle of the country and is popular with the youth, although the music is disliked by most of the older generations. Salsa music, though not of Dominican origin, is also a part of the popular music scene of the country. the Dominican Republic, so did several instruments. Indians native to the island made [|güiros], hollowed out gourds with notches, which players grated with a fork. The [|güira] evolved similarly, a metal cylinder with holes, scraped to make a percussive beat. Just as important is the [|tambora], a two-sided drum. Traditionally, one side of the drum was made of a male goat's skin soaked in rum, while the skin on other side came from a female goat who had never borne offspring. The national [|beer] is Presidente, the national drink is [|rum], and the national game is either [|dominos] or [|baseball]. The Dominican Republic has its own baseball league which runs from October to January. Many MLB players and minor leaguers play in this six-team league during off-season. The winner of the Dominican winter league goes on to represent the country at the [|Caribbean World Series] against [|Puerto Rico], [|Mexico], and [|Venezuela]. 

[[|edit]] References

 * Manuel A. Patin Maceo (1947) //Dominicanismos//, 2do Ed. Ciudad Trujillo: Libreria Dominicana.

[[|edit]] See also

 * [|Music of the Dominican Republic]
 * [|Professional baseball in the Dominican Republic]
 * [|Latin American culture]
 * [|Literature of the Dominican Republic]

[[|edit]] External links

 * [|//Island Thresholds//], Peabody Essex Museum's interactive feature, showcases the work of contemporary Caribbean artists and their exploration of identity, culture, and social justice. (requires [|Macromedia Flash])
 * [|Dominican People and Culture]