The 3 Kings bring gifts

Many different areas throughout the country distribute gifts to much of the countries poorer families.

Saturday January 5th, 2013 the ChuChu Colon will be carrying the Coro de Niños de Rita Almonte Children’s Choir around the streets of the Colonial City starting at 6PM. (last week the You c) to celebrate the Dia de Reyes Magos/ Day of the Three Kings.

Last week the Children Chorus rode the Horse and Buggy Carts with Santa. Read about it and see the video here Santa Claus and His Childrens Chorus

One of my favorite Christmas songs El Burrito de Belén with video and song lyrics translated.

A little more information about Christmas traditions in Dominican Republic.

The choir will also be at the Church/ Iglesia Santa Bárbara on Saturday December 29, 2012 at 6:00 pm. Santa Barbara is located on Calle Isabel La Católica in the Santa Barbara section of Zona Colonial.

Iglesia Santa Barbara

Religious things happening in the Cathedral de Santa Maria, the Oldest Cathedral in the Americas in Parque Colon, Colonial Zone.

*Midnight Mass/ La Misa del Gallo is celebrated at 10 pm in the Cathedral on Christmas Eve/ Noche Buena

*Christmas Day Choral Concert starting at 8PM. If you want to sit inside you better get there hours early. There will be giant screens set up outside for those who cannot get inside the oldest cathedral in the new world. The choir will be singing traditional religious Christmas songs.

*New Year’s Mass/ la Misa de Año Nuevo December 31 at 11:00 pm in the Cathedral

For information n the way we celebrate Christmas in Dominican Republic

The display is from November 23, 2012 through Christmas Day, 25 December from 6 to 10pm.

The theater will also be putting on a play based on the adaptation of the Christmas story “A Bethlehem to love and serve”/ “A Belén para amar y servir” by Padre Manuel Maza. Directed by Claudio Rivera. The performences will be from Thursday November 23,2012 until the 25th of December.

El Teatro Guloya located on Calle Arzobispo Portes #205, Zona Colonial.

For more information and exact dates and times call 809 685-4856.

¡Cheers! and be careful out there.

The normal restrictions on the hour alcoholic beverages can be sold from December 10, 2012 until January 8, 2013 has been lifted for Christmas/ navideñas – New Years/ Año Nuevo celebrations. All places that serve drinks can stay open as long as they like. After Dia de los Reyes / 3 Kings’ Day also known as Epiphany all will go back to normal hours for these businesses.

Through a press release, José Ramón Fadul known as Monchy, said that the Interior and police will increase surveillance on these businesses for the purposes of preventing and avoiding actions that violate the security of the citizens and the public order.

How do Dominicans celebrate the Christmas holiday season and the and New Years traditions?

As usual the Ministry of Interior, the Police and the Armed Forces Ministerio de Interior, Policía y las Fuerzas Armadas gave their Ok for no restrictions on businesses selling alcohol for the Holiday season 2011. This will happen from December 20, 2011 to January 8, 2012. so get out there, have fun, party to your hearts content but please be careful. Remember that there are many drunk drivers. There are also many thieves out there looking for those with extra money in their pockets. Be aware or your surroundings, be cautious and have a great time!

There will be lots of extra police and security around the streets to make sure people are safe and to deter criminal activity. The ministries of public health, public works, armed forces, police, tourism police, civil defense, firemen, public transport authorities and services, and the Red Cross are all going to be full staffed to serve all.

*Blue Mall has the Coro Navideño/ Christmas songs. Live Christmas music every Saturday from 5:30PM to 7:30PM

*Nove Centro Shopping Mall
November 23 until January 1, 2012 on the 3rd floor level. The children will find the Christmas Village a unique atmosphere with rides. From 12 noon to 6:30.

*Megacentro has been converted into the house of Santa Clause. Created by Fidel Lopez for customers to live the joy of Christmas with their colors, music and characters of the time.

*I remember years past La Sirena on Churchill had Ice skating on a fake ice rink. not sure if its happening or not this year.

Here are links to many of the malls web sites so you can check for yourself.

*The Miracle of Christmas/ El Milagro de la Navidad. Banco Popular infront of the Torre Popular in Santo Domingo. Sunday December 18 and 25 begining at 7:00 pm. The show recreates the birth of Baby Jesus written and directed by famed Dominican playwright Iván García. There will be a total of 43 actors and 30 singers.

*Plaza España in Colonial Zone has the giant Coca-Cola sponsored Christmas tree and Santa Village. Santa is usually there on the weekends.

*Colonial Zone has so many decorations and celebrations throughout the area. You can see beautiful decorations outside of peoples homes, in the parks and all along the Conde. Walk aroud and check out all the lights, sounds and entertainment of the Christmas season celebrated Dominican style.

The Centro de Inventario de Bienes e Inmuebles del Ministerio de Cultura, has an exhibition. “How People Live in the Colonial City.” located on Luperon and Hostos, opposite the Ruinas del Hospital San Nicolas de Bari, Colonial Zone. Hours: 8 AM to 4 PM and 7:30 PM to 10 PM. Runs from December 20 to January 10, 2012. Admission is free.
Open from 20 December through 10 January 2012.

Toque Profundo at Casa de Teatro, Colonial Zone Thursday, December 22nd at 9 PM cost: $500rdp

Religious things happening in the Cathedral de Santa Maria, the Oldest Cathedral in the Americas in Parque Colon, Colonial Zone.

*Midnight Mass/ La Misa del Gallo is celebrated at 10 pm in the Cathedral on Christmas Eve/ Noche Buena

*Christmas Day Choral Concert starting at 8PM. If you want to sit inside you better get there hours early. There will be giant screens set up outside for those who cannot get inside the oldest cathedral in the new world. The choir will be singing traditional religious Christmas songs with a few surprises thrown in.

*New Year’s Mass/ la Misa de Año Nuevo December 31 at 11:00 pm in the Cathedral

For information n the way we celebrate Christmas in Dominican Republic

Monday December 26, 2011/ Lunes 26 de diciembre 2011, 9 p.m,
at the Teatro La Fiesta in the Hotel Jaragua, Santo Domingo
More information: 809-482-1120
Advanced sale tickets are priced from $1,000 RDP to $2,500 RDP and can be purchased at the hotel.

For a little more information about Sergio Vargas.

By Sergio Vargas music at ITunes
Buy Miriam Cruz music at ITunes