Holiday Traditions Around the World

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Dominican Republic

One of the more unique things about Christmas here in the Dominican Republic is that there isn't much done on Christmas itself. The big celebration is on Noche Buena - or Christmas Eve - when families get together and have their
celebration. Gifts aren't given until el Dia de los Reyes - Kings' Day - on the 6th of January, when the Wise Men's arrival is celebrated. The most common food for Christmas is roast pig -- either roasted on a spit over an open fire, or done in an oven.

As in most places around the world, Christmas in the Dominican Republic is a family time. Most people return to their home towns in order to celebrate with family and friends. Here the Christmas trees are not green, but white.
Given that it does not snow, it is a nice replacement for those looking for a white Christmas.

Many Dominicans are not Christian thus the significance of Christmas is not as great as it is in other places. As a traditional gesture of Christmas cheer, most employees receive an extra months pay in December, and so have a little extra cash on hand. This means that many of them use the holidays for partying and shooting off fireworks. In the Dominican Republic, where temperatures rarely get below 70, the windows are always open and Christmas
is an unusually noisy holiday.

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