Since this day falls on a Monday and it is a day off work for many Dominicans this will be a long weekend for many. Many take advantage and get out of the city for a short vacation.

For more information about why we honor Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes and why the church in La Vega was built in her honor.

Here is the Colonial Zone there is a yearly procession in her honor.
This video I took from my balcony of the procession in 2008.

The Church and Convent of Our Lady of Mercy/ Iglesia y Convento de las Mercedes located on Calle Mercedes is where the big service will be held in the Colonial Zone area. On Monday this church and tho outside area will be packed full of the faithful and also vendors selling food and trinkets.

Iglesia Las Mercedes, Zona Colonial

There are many churches throughout the country that will be holding masses and special marches to celebrate Our Lady of Mercy/ Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes.

Inmaculada Concepción in Residencia Italia will be having a special concert titled Concierto del Música Sacra Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes with Juan Cuevas, Casandra Award winner, and others on the 24 of September at 7PM to honor the patron saint.

Concierto Musica Sacra

The real day of Duartes birth is this Thursday the 26th but the official day of celebration is scheduled for Monday making for a long weekend off from January 27th to the 30th.

Today marks the Month of the Nation/ Mes de la Patria as there are several patriotic holidays starting on January 26 with the celebration of the birth of Juan Pablo Duarte then Mella’s birth on February 25, Flag Day on the February 19th and Independence Day/ la Independencia de la República. on February 27.

Activities:
There was a parade in San Francisco de Macorís.
There was also held a ceremony at the Iglesia Santa Bárbara where Duarte was baptized. Then they proceed to his birthplace and home at the Duarte Institute/ Instituto Duartiano on Isabel la Católica in the Colonial Zone. After this the official procession goes to the Altar of the Fatherland/ Altar de la Patria, in the Independence Park/ Parque Independencia to a wreath for the memory of the Founder of the Republic.

There are also wreaths placed in Parque Duarte in Colonial zone where festivities are held also.

An interesting bit of information – This year there was a little – big mix-up when the governments Upper House/ Cámara Alta issued a statement in several newspapers to commemorate “the anniversary of the death” of Duarte. They later changed the statement after many forums, newspaper responses and social media venues brought it to their attention. The Senate president Reinaldo Pared was the person who signed the statement published today in the media. He gave his “deepest apologies for the inadvertent error contained in the publication of the Senate on Duarte.” / “más sentidas disculpas por el error involuntario contenido en la publicación del Senado sobre Duarte”. (diariolibre.com)

¡Viva Duarte!
Himno a Juan Pablo Duarte/ The Hymn to Juan Pablo Duarte

The official celebration day is Saturday the 21 of January/ Enero. Many people make the trek to Higuey to pay homage to their beloved saint.

See a picture slide show with the history of the Basilica de Higuey

.

How Dominican Republic celebrates Christmas and 3 Kings Day.

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.

The concerts will have all the good and typical Dominican music one would expect to here including merengue, reggaeton/ reguetón, salsa, dembow, bachata, rock, baladas, fusiones, tecnotipicos, son y typical music/ musica típico at the big fiesta on the Malecón. There will be five platforms along The Malecon, the road running along the Caribbean Sea.

There will be new artists and the old favorites all there to entertain and kick off the Christmas season. Luis Medrano, the shows promoter, says there will be more than 70 artists and 20 presenters. The artists include Omega, Secreto, Toño Rosario, Sergio Vargas, Rubby Pérez, Sujeto, Milka, La Materialista, Villanosan, Mozart La para, El Lápiz, Poeta Callejero, Julián Oro Duro, Los Potros, Silvio Mora, Kinito Méndez y Pochy y su Coco Band, Fernando Villalona, Eddy Herrera, Miriam Cruz, Ramon Orlando, Juliana, el Jeffrey, Pablo Piddy, el Prodigio, Krisspy, el Gringo de la bachata, Fefita la grande, Joseito Mateo, MC Joa and more.

There will also be lots of cultural activities for people to enjoy the Creole folklore, food and lots of other great entertaining and educational stuff.

See you there!!