Two long weekends are scheduled for August and September. The historic Restoration Day, marking the day the DR recovered its independence from Spain in 1865, falls on Thursday, 16 August. But this year, Thursday will be a working day and the holiday will be celebrated on Monday, 20 August. For many people this could mean taking time off from Friday, 17 August through Monday, 20 August, making for a long weekend right before school resumes on 21 August.
The next long weekend before the Christmas holidays will be of a religious nature. It will commemorate Las Mercedes Day, in honor of Our Lady of Mercies, the patron saint of the Dominican Republic, and is celebrated by followers of the Roman Catholic faith. Las Mercedes Day falls on Monday, 24 September, and some will take the opportunity to enjoy an extended break from Friday, 21 September through the Monday.