Christmas in the Dominican Republic is true party time, rivaled only by Easter Week. It is a time when people travel home from wherever, bringing presents from afar. It is a party in every sense of the word. However, the current pandemic situation has changed a lot of that.
Curfews and restrictions on gatherings, even of families in public spaces, have put a damper on much of the joyous stuff people are used to doing: ginger tea for dozens of neighbors, community decorating of entire blocks, the much-anticipated company partying, the gift baskets, the carol-singing known as aguinaldos, and the “secret Santa” at the office or place of employment, all on hold for at least a year. While some of these activities might be doable via Zoom, it is just not the same.
Neither is Christmas the same without midnight mass, because the churches cannot be filled as usual. Christmas season merengues keep Dominicans in Christmas spirit since October. “De la Montaña” and “El Pavo y el Burro” are two favorites.
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N Digital
20 December 2020