EASTER IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

For many countries, Easter is a great time for discussing religious motives and secular holidays. For the Dominican Republic, and especially for our sponsored population, Easter is a time of reflection and a break from everyday life. It is a time when normal life is interrupted by processions, changes in eating habits and, in many cases, lots of entertaining public parades. Visiting the country during this time could be a very unique experience for learning about the local idiosyncrasies related to this holiday.

Many people take the opportunity to visit relatives outside of the community. The more well-to-do tend to travel within the country, while the rest of the population divides their time between the local spas, inflatable community pools, or simply stays home away from the hustle and bustle with a little more peace and quiet than usual or attends religious activities.

I'd like to share with you the religious activities that take place during this time of year. The most significant activities begin on Good Friday with processions and various public activities. On Palm Sunday, parishioners gather from various sectors of the parish with bouquets and intonations of"hosannas." This is immediately followed by retreats and gatherings of women, men, couples and youth the next Monday through Wednesday.

On Holy Thursday, the Chrism celebration takes place in the morning. At night, the celebration that is popularly known as "the washing of the feet" is set to the rhythm of songs that invite the expression of forgiveness and unconditional love for others.

Good Friday is the grand procession of the Cross. In some parishes it is performed in the morning, while others do it at the end of the afternoon, but all are done with the same sense of simulating Jesus's path to Calvary. Most do not eat meat, but for our sponsored population, one might say that is the situation they experience all year, given that their diet is modest and devoid of consistent meat or culinary variety. We cannot forget that on this day the famous "sweet beans" are cooked and shared among neighbors. In most neighborhoods, every house is scented with the distinctive aroma of this sweet delicacy.

Holy Saturday is a day of total retreat. No one speaks, "bad words" are avoided, and children enjoy a certain impunity since they cannot be physically punished by their parents on that day.

Finally, the Easter Vigil adds the momentous touch of the Christian faith with the Glory celebration announcing that death has been conquered through the resurrection of Jesus. Although it is not usually celebrated like Christmas and there is no gift exchange, the great Easter celebration is indeed an exalted event that Catholics and other Christian groups hold in very high regard.

If you visit the Dominican Republic at this time, I suggest not focusing on the beaches and resorts, but rather getting to know the special way that the Dominican people celebrate their faith.