Dominican Republic – Carnival Season
Carnival, or Carnaval, is the most significant, lively, colorful and joyous expression of Dominican
popular culture you will find, and the entire population stars in it. Carnival is a tradition of free
recreation and integration as well as a historic expression of Dominican identity.
History
The origins of Carnival in the Dominican Republic (DR) date back to 1520, to the country’s
colonial period. Some researchers say the first Carnival events took place as a celebration of a
visit by Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, when its inhabitants disguised themselves as Moors and
Christians.
It is believed that these celebrations were linked to certain religious festivals, which were later
incorporated into the actual Carnival celebrations. In 1795, Carnivals took place on the saint’s
day festivities in honor of James the Apostle, Corpus Christi and Carnival season in the city of
Santiago.
The custom of wearing costumes during religious festivities almost disappeared during the
period of Haitian occupation between 1822 and 1844. However, these costumes returned after
the country achieved its independence on February 27, 1844 and were no longer associated
with church celebrations. They evolved into actual Carnivals, celebrated during the three days
prior to Ash Wednesday and established the month of February as Carnival month in Dominican
Republic.
Carnival Today
Each Sunday during the month of February, different cities in the country’s interior hold their
parades. The La Vega Carnival is the most popular and most internationally famous. The Grand
National Carnival parade takes place along the city of Santo Domingo’s seaside promenade
(the malecón), and is usually held on the last Sunday in February or the first Sunday in March.
The major groups from the provinces and the capital’s districts participate in this majestic
parade, organized into dozens of floats and groups, creating a striking collective event that
closes the entire Carnival celebration. The Santo Domingo Carnival also includes recognition
and awards for the best costumes and groups in different categories from the Ministries of
Culture and Tourism.
Each year the country also celebrates its Carnival at a private event, the famous traditional
Carnival Gala held at the La Fiesta theatre at the Jaragua Hotel, a lovely show that has great
artistic values, including excellent choreography, set design and other attractions.
In regard to foreign influences on the Dominican Carnival, it cannot be denied that Spanish
culture has contributed greatly to it. However, it also has significant contributions from other
countries, including some in Africa.
Carnival Characters
There are many major costumed characters in the Dominican Carnival, along with a variety of
groups presenting unique music and dance skits based on a festive theme or traditional
Dominican culture.
“El diablo cojuelo” is Carnival’s most famous leading character. He wears a colorful caped suit
with small mirrors, rattles, ribbons and cowbells meant to parody pretentious medieval
gentlemen. A mask with large horns covers the devil’s face. The people call him “diablo
cojuelo,” but not because it is a devil cult. Instead, they do it to mock the devil, who goes by
different names in each province’s Carnival.
“Roba la gallina” or The Chicken Thief, is a costumed character who has a large chest and
posterior and carries an open parasol. He goes to the “colmados” (small cheap retail shops)
begging for his chicks, the town’s young people, who follow along with him in a happy march.
“Se me muere Rebeca” or Rebecca is dying is a character representing a desperate mother
who goes shouting along the parade route that her daughter is gravely ill. She begs for sweets
for her daughter, which instead she distributes among the children.
“Califé” is a poet who playfully criticizes personalities from the political, social and cultural scene
in rhyme. He is followed by a chorus and is dressed in a black tuxedo.
“La muerte en Jeep” or Death in a Jeep is represented by a character dressed as a masked
skeleton. He escorts the diablos cojuelos.
“Los indios” or The Indians is a group that portrays the island’s first inhabitants, the Taínos,
wearing body paint, feathers, bows and lances.
“Los africanos o los tiznaos” or The Africans or The Blackfaces are characters whose bodies
are painted black with coal and burned car oil. They portray black slaves and dance along the
streets.
“Los Alí Babá” or The Ali Babas is a group with Oriental themes, whose main characteristic is
synchronized choreography.
Carnival Costumes
Production of the costumes, masks and additional elements worn by Carnival characters
demands professional artistic work and much dedication. The costumes’ variety and coloring is
truly impressive. Their decorations have spiritual meaning and their capes are artistically
designed with elements of religious symbolism. The sound of the rattles hanging from their
capes serves to clear out negative energy and get positive energy flowing, while the little dolls
that the diablos cojuelos wear on their chests represent the new things that must flourish.
Traditional production technique of Carnival masks originated in Spain. It was modified by
contributions from African slaves and freedmen, which gave rise to the current tradition of
craftsmanship used by the “careteros” (the artisans who manufacture the Dominican masks).
They are made with papier-mâché, and elements such as feathers, a painted gourd or lining
made with cotton and nettles, newspapers, plantain leaves, jute, aluminum foil, small bottle
caps, cloths and a great variety of discards and other materials, in a process that involves
different stages, in which some craftsman use more modern methods and materials.
In addition to their costumes and masks, the diablos cojuelos are also distinguished by the
“vejiga” (an inflated “bladder”) or the whip they carry in their hands, according to the local
customs. It is used to strike the participants as a symbol of purification, in order to eliminate the
negative forces so that positive energies begin to flow into the person through the blows from
the vejigas or whips.
The vejigas are handmade through a process which initially used some animal organs, but
which now uses synthetic materials, while the whips are made from vegetable fibers.
The Most Popular Carnivals
The Carnival of La Vega is one of the country’s oldest and the one that enjoys the greatest
international recognition, besides being the most important cultural event in this province.
Among its major groups are the “Broncos” or Wild Horses and the “Fieras” or Savage Beasts.
You can visit its website at: www.CarnavalVegano.do.
The Carnival of Santiago is an important Carnival with expressions that note the class
differences in this city, particularly in the La Joya and Los Pepines neighborhoods, where the
Lechones and Pepines groups originated.
The Carnival of Bonao is this town’s most important celebration and is a creative parade that
has its own identity. The Charamicos and Caraduras are among its main groups.
The Carnival of San Pedro de Macorís’ most characteristic feature is the presence of the
Guloyas, descendants of the English-speaking black people who immigrated to this city, and
who are the masters of very striking music and dance.
The Carnival of Azua is one of the oldest, incorporating native motifs with other fantasy
characters. In addition, this celebration is combined with the festivities commemorating the
Battle of March 19th, a battle of historical significance during the War of Independence.
The Carnival of Cabral is where the Cachúas are the most popular group, thanks to their horns.
One of the most beautiful masks, it is left unpainted and instead uses multicolored papiermâché as its base and is distinguished by its huge head of hair.
Other important cultural events are the Carnivals of San Cristóbal, Cotuí, Montecristi, Elías
Piña, Puerto Plata, Salcedo and the San Juan de la Maguana Carnival.
Carnival Tours
To enjoy the colors and joy of Dominican Carnival season, there are several agencies that
organize tours, mostly to the city of La Vega. Some also include a tour of the Santiago and
Bonao Carnivals.
These companies offer very complete packages including transportation in comfortable tour
buses, t-shirts, promotional items, lunches and snacks, open bars, security, medical services,
musical concerts by live bands, and access in La Vega to the caves where the diablos cojuelos
sally forth.
News releases, images and the press kit also can be accessed from the official DR
Ministry of Tourism website: www.GoDominicanRepublic.com. For additional photos, broll and more specific needs, please contact Annie Holschuh ([email protected])
or AJ Trela ([email protected]), BVK Word for the Dominican Republic Ministry of
Tourism.
###