Happy BMW day!

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beeza

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Fancy naming a public holiday after a German car!

At least I think it's BMW day, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!
 

AlterEgo

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Is this a holiday in DR?:confused:


OP is joking - it's the Feast of Our Lady of Mercedes.

Dominican Republic Our Lady of Mercedes Day
September 24
A national holiday that illustrates the strong influence of Spanish colonialism and the Catholic Church on Dominican culture, this feast day honors Mary the mother of Jesus, often referred to by Dominicans by her patron saint title—Nuestra Se?ora de Mercedes (Our Lady of Mercedes). Observance of this celebration dates back to 1615, the year the Mercedians, a Spanish order, established the feast day.
According to legend, before returning to Spain Christopher Columbus placed a cross atop a hill overlooking El Cibao, a region on the northern end of the island. In 1495, during a battle between the Spanish and the native Taino Indians, the Lady of Mercedes appeared, scattering the frightened Indians and thereby securing the Europeans' victory. There were subsequent visitations reported at the site, and eventually settlers marked the spot by erecting a church and pilgrimage site they named Iglesia Las Mercedes.
Every year Iglesia Las Mercedes receives thousands of worshippers, many of whom arrive on the saint's day to pay homage. Another church in Santo Domingo, the Church of Las Mercedes, also attracts many followers on September 24. Typical ceremonies at the church in the capital city include masses throughout the day, the Blessing of the Waters, and a procession from the church through Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone.

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Dominican+Republic+Our+Lady+of+Mercedes+Day
 

caribmike

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wrecksum

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OK. So I get that the day is not in celebration of a fine vehicle,so why did they name a Saint after a German car in the first place then?
 

AlterEgo

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OK. So I get that the day is not in celebration of a fine vehicle,so why did they name a Saint after a German car in the first place then?

Read post # 4. Observance of this celebration dates back to 1615, the year the Mercedians, a Spanish order, established the feast day.

Mercedes is also a common name for a Dominican woman.

Neither has anything to do with a car.
 

Chirimoya

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Mercedes the car was named after a girl called Mercedes:
Emil Jellinek was an Austrian diplomat based in Nice who ran a profitable business selling cars, and, as a racing enthusiast, had been racing DMG automobiles under the pseudonym Merc?d?s, after his daughter, Merc?d?s Jellinek.[1] Later he contracted with DMG for a small series of dedicated sports cars containing an engine that officially bore his daughter's name. He raced them very successfully, gaining recognition that increased interest in customers and Jellinek was placed on the board of directors of DMG. This model was a significant advancement in the history of automobiles. The model was released for sale in 1901 under the name of Mercedes 35 hp and, because of the success of the model, DMG began to apply the name as a series to other models such as, Mercedes 8/11 hp and Mercedes 40 hp Simplex. Jellinek seems to have become obsessed with the name and even had his name changed to Jellinek-Mercedes. Maybach quit DMG in 1907 and started up his own business.
The name, Mercedes, later was used to represent DMG in another new brand name, Mercedes-Benz, created in 1926 when it was applied to all vehicles produced by the new company, Daimler-Benz AG, resulting from the merger of Benz & Cie. and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft in that year. The last name of Karl Benz was retained in the new brand, but since DMG had sold exclusive licences to foreign companies, they couldn't use the name of their founder, Daimler, legally in all countries and decided to use the name of their most popular model. Since Jellinek was a member of the board of directors by the time of the merger, the name was promoted for continued good luck to the new company.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes_(car)

Mercedes in Spanish means mercy.

La Virgen de las Mercedes = Our Lady of Mercy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_of_Mercy

DR1 News yesterday had some background:
Thursday is a public holiday
Tomorrow, Thursday 24 September 2015, is Dia de Las Mercedes, a public holiday in honor of Our Lady of Mercy, patron saint of the Dominican Republic. While Friday, 25 September is a working day, many schools and offices will take the long weekend off. Nevertheless, it will become a major shopping weekend in the cities and a popular time to head to beach and mountain vacation spots.

...

The main Mercedes Day celebration takes place in the central province of La Vega at Santo Cerro, the shrine that honors the Virgin, who is said to have helped save the Spaniards from death at the hands of the indigenous Tainos who were defending their home from the conquistadors.

Another historical account says that the Virgin of Las Mercedes was credited for the low death toll after a strong earthquake affected the island.

Read more about the devotion to the virgin in Spanish at: http://www.jmarcano.com/mipais/cultura/religion/virgen1.html
 

AlterEgo

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Hoy es D?a de las Mercedes, Patrona de la Rep?blica Dominicana

[google translate]

Santo Domingo. Considered since 1844 the "Employer of the Dominican Republic", Our Lady of Mercy and Our Lady of Mercy is the spiritual mother of thousands of Dominicans who profess the Catholic faith.

Every September 24, the country is celebrated the day of the Mercedes, who is the oldest holy after owning the Marian title Merced dating back to the founding of the religious order of Mercy on August 10, 1218 in Barcelona , Spain.

"Mercy, forgiveness, compassion, mercy, they are synonymous with the word Merced, which define the particular mission that was granted to the Virgin, which was to have mercy Christian captives in the hands of Muslims, many of them members of the They order to exchange their lives for the prisoners and slaves.

The Virgen de las Mercedes is not only worshiped in Dominican Republic, also countries like Spain, Italy, Peru and Venezuela call special protection of this saint.

Legend has it that the devotion of the virgin on the island of Santo Domingo originates 14 and March 15, 1495, the return of Christopher Columbus after the trip where he discovered Cuba and Jamaica, where he found that the picture was in an uproar because rapes and robberies committed by their own.

To abuses committed by the Spaniards to the Indians, a coalition between the chiefs, led by Maniocatex, brother of Caonabo, he agglomerated a huge army of Indians in La Vega, to destroy the attacking strengths and Isabela.

According to legend, Columbus immediately set out to fight and get on a high hill, 5 kilometers from La Vega placed a cross of two meters in the center of the hill, with two branches improvised loquat.

This altar was made knowing that the Spaniards were so few that they would need a miracle to stop as many Indians as there were only about 220 Spaniards against 30,000 Indians.

"Coming indigenous and see the cross, they attacked directly to destroy it, understanding that the power of the Spaniards derived from it, the battle between the two and despite the heroism of the Indians finally gave victory was the Spanish."

The Spaniards recognized that this event happened in the filing of a miracle and rejoicing gathered to give thanks to the Virgin.

Since then Our Lady of Mercy is venerated in the Holy Hill, first Marian shrine of America, established at the direction of Christopher Columbus, who said in his will that the church was made.

In some cities such as Cabrera, Constance, Hato Mayor, Imbert (Bajabonico) Pimentel and Sabana Grande de Palenque, the Virgen de Las Mercedes is its spiritual patron and every year they celebrate festivities in commemoration.

Dominicans traditionally devotees make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady until the Holy Hill, located in the province of La Vega, hoping to turn a profit and provide vows and promises to the Virgin. After the procession, the devotees partake of the Eucharist taking place.

Every Catholic parish celebrated a Mass in honor of the patroness of the Dominican people and for the Eucharistic liturgy of the feast of Our Lady of Mercy white color symbolizes peace, purity and joy time is used.

The Virgen de la Merced has characteristic features such as the tunic, the scapular and the layer, all in white, with Mercy shield chest, chains and shackle are badges of slavery. It has a gig with queen crown and the scepter in his right hand, while in other images in the left hand holding the baby Jesus.

Several institutions such as the National Guard and the Fire Department has also patroness country to the Virgin, who receive the protection of a spiritual mother who saved each of its outputs in response to a fire or to protect the population times when your help is needed.

http://www.actualidaddominicana.com...s-mercedes-patrona-de-la-republica-dominicana
 

CristoRey

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Thanks. I try to do my best keeping up with all of the national holidays and this thread helps.
 

wrecksum

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Read post # 4. Observance of this celebration dates back to 1615, the year the Mercedians, a Spanish order, established the feast day.

Mercedes is also a common name for a Dominican woman.

Neither has anything to do with a car.


Really?

Well you live and learn..

When's Ford's day then?
 

chic

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always wondered why all these poor dom's would celebrate a car they can afford...probably never get in one and the same withe the beem...
 
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