Thursday, 27 February 2025 is Independence Day in the Dominican Republic. It celebrates the day in 1844 when the Dominican Republic separated from the imposed economic and cultural domination of forces from Haiti. The Dominican Republic had already gained its independence from Spain in 1821 when invaded by Haiti forces.
History records are that the Dominican Republic was proclaimed at the Puerta de la Misericordia after the blunderbluss shot by the patrician Matias Ramon Mella in the early morning of 27 February 1844 and by the raising of the tricolor flag at the Puerta del Conde by patrician Francisco del Rosario Sanchez, both inspired by the ideals of their leader, Juan Pablo Duarte, who was in exile in Venezuela, thus ending 22 years of Haitian rule.
During the Haitian occupation of the Dominican Republic, the ruling Haitian government imposed heavy taxation, forced conscription into the Haitian army, suppressed Dominican culture and traditions, confiscated food supplies, and implemented harsh labor laws on the local population, essentially treating them as second-class citizens, leading to widespread resentment and eventually, the Dominican War of Independence.
For those not taking advantage of the holiday to go on vacation, the Independence Day holiday can be time for shopping, with major stores offering good deals. And of course, for those in Greater Santo Domingo, there is the Sunday, 2 March 2025 city carnival parade on the Malecon.
DR1 Forums remain open 24/7 for publishing updates. The news for the Independence Day long weekend that will happen now that Thursday is a holiday will be compiled for the Monday, 4 March issue.
Do not miss the 2 March 2025 Oscars ceremony, where for the first time a Dominican is a contender to win an Oscar – Zoe Saldaña for the film “Emilia Perez”. She had a stellar role in “Avatar” that won Best Visual Effects in a previous Oscars ceremony.
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26 February 2025