La Misa de Gallo, Roast a Pig, sip Jengibre & Sing with the Aguinaldos for a DR Christmas

#DominicanRepublic, December 20, 2023 – Christmas in the Dominican Republic is magnificent and magical and the traditions are engrained and enjoyed in a seasonal mix which caters to spirit, body and soul.

In exploring the many traditions of this joyous holiday, a few of them stand out as most intriguing customs held dear by our Latino-Caribbean friends in the DR.

Many will attend, La Misa de Gallo, translated to English, this is a Midnight Mass.  The service sits significantly at the very start of the day which is remembered as the birthday of the Saviour, Jesus Christ and is also known as the Rooster’s Mass.

Legend has it, the name of this ceremony comes from the belief that a rooster crowed on the night when Jesus was born. In the Dominican Republic, one of the most popular La Misa del Gallo celebrations takes place at Cathedral de Santa Maria in Santo Domingo.

With the coming of Jesus Christ properly commemorated, holiday cheer also brings islanders to a buffet of traditional dishes.  It is said, the occasion of a savior of humanity being born demands a roast of the most delicious kind and similar to the dread a turkey must feel at American Thanksgiving in November, so is the lot of pig in December in the DR.

According to Barcelo.com, “A traditional and typical dish prepared for Christmas Day is cerdo asado (roast pork). Dominicans also enjoy pasteles en hojas — banana leaves that are filled with pork, meat, chicken, or fish. And don’t forget dessert! Dominicans conclude their Christmas feasts with sweets, including pudding, jalea de batata, and turrón. And never mind eggnog. Dominicans prefer a nonalcoholic beverage known as jengibre, which has a ginger flavor that goes perfectly with an after-dinner cigar and is drunk during all the holiday festivities.”

Consummate entertainers, it is not an unusual thing to learn that Dominicans love singing Christmas carols and will unapologetically wake you out of your slumber as they do it.  For those that find fancy in this popular activity and feel the joy of the holidays is worth sharing in song, you would absolutely adore the robust music emanating from this parade of people the islanders call: Aguinaldos.

Described by our friends at Barcelo.com as a casual group of family or friends or both who walk from house to house, singing with great cheer, the Aguinaldo apparently even grows as it moves.

Sure, why not, in this passionate performance of holiday songs, it also makes sense that others will add to the numbers as the singers move through neighborhoods which are cheerfully decorated in holiday lights and ornaments.

Dominicans love Christmas and its traditions and that includes decorating from as early as late October and belting out beautiful music like a favourite, “A las Arandelas” which is a traditional holiday hit in the DR about a musical instrument and the joy it brings at this special time of year.

Feliz Navidad!

With the coming of Jesus Christ properly commemorated, holiday cheer also brings islanders to a buffet of traditional dishes.  It is said, the occasion of a savior of humanity being born demands a roast of the most delicious kind and similar to the dread a turkey must feel at American Thanksgiving in November, so is the lot of a pig in December in the DR.

According to Barcelo.com, “A traditional and typical dish prepared for Christmas Day is cerdo asado (roast pork). Dominicans also enjoy pasteles en hojas — banana leaves that are filled with pork, meat, chicken, or fish. And don’t forget dessert! Dominicans conclude their Christmas feasts with sweets, including pudding, jalea de batata, and turrón. And never mind eggnog. Dominicans prefer a nonalcoholic beverage known as jengibre, which has a ginger flavor that goes perfectly with an after-dinner cigar and is drunk during all the holiday festivities.”

Consummate entertainers, it is not an unusual thing to learn that Dominicans love singing Christmas carols and will unapologetically wake you out of your slumber as they do it.  For those that find fancy in this popular activity and feel the joy of the holidays is worth sharing in song, you would absolutely adore the robust music emanating from this parade of people the islanders call: Aguinaldos.

Described by our friends at Barcelo.com as a casual group of family or friends or both who walk from house to house, singing with great cheer, the Aguinaldo apparently even grows as it moves.

Sure, why not, in this passionate performance of holiday songs, it also makes sense that others will add to the numbers as the singers move through neighborhoods which are cheerfully decorated in holiday lights and ornaments.

Dominicans love Christmas and its traditions and that includes decorating from as early as late October and belting out beautiful music like a favourite, “A las Arandelas” which is a traditional holiday hit in the DR about a musical instrument and the joy it brings at this special time of year.

Feliz Navidad!