Vieja Belen -- a unique Dominican custom

umea

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Sep 28, 2006
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Traditionally in the Dominican Republic there are three occassions for getting gifts during the Christmas holiday season -- Chrsitmas itself from El nino Jesus (later from Santa Claus), then on January 6 when the three kings arrived, and then finally a week later when a woman named Vieja Belen arrived with gifts for the poor children who had not recieved gifts on the other two times (though she often left modest gifts to other children) The legend -- known only in the DR --is slowly disappearing from DR culture but still nostalgically remembered by many. This Saturday at 7:30 at the Ivan Garcia Theatre at The Meeting Place in Puerto Plata the story will be enacted in Spanish by the Balsamo Drama group with interpretationn in English. A unique opprotunity to see a unique story. For info or reservations ( suggested donation is 100 pesos) call 809 261 7393 or 829 455 6110, Location Calle 60 Jean Bosch Puerto Plata near Central Park and Melacon.
 

umea

New member
Sep 28, 2006
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My apologies for all the typos in the earlier post. Here is one that reads more like English :)
I tried to edit it but was not able to make the 10 minute deadline.

The Story of Vieja Belen
Traditionally in the Dominican Republic there are three occasions for getting gifts during the Christmas holiday season -- Christmas itself from El Nino Jesus (later from Santa Claus), then on January 6 when the three kings arrived, and then finally a week later when a woman named Vieja Belen arrived with gifts for the poor children who had not received gifts on the other two times (though she often left modest gifts to other children) The legend -- known only in the DR --is slowly disappearing from DR culture but still nostalgically remembered by many. This Saturday at 7:30 at the Ivan Garcia Theatre at The Meeting Place in Puerto Plata the story will be enacted in Spanish by the Balsamo Drama group with interpretation in English. A unique opportunity to see a unique story. For info or reservations ( suggested donation is 100 pesos) call 809 261 7393 or 829 455 6110, Location Calle 60 Jean Bosch Puerto Plata near Central Park and Melacon.
 

Hillbilly

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Jan 1, 2002
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Julia Alvarez has written on this. We were with here (and a few hundred other people) at Centro Le?n when she did a show with her mom...Great writer, good person.

HB