Calendar

As in aid in planning for holiday gifting, we have compiled a list of common holidays from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and other islands throughout the Caribbean. Feel free to contact us with suggestions for other dates for inclusion in this calendar.

January

• New Year’s Day
• Three King’s Day (Epiphany)
• Our Lady of Altragracia Day (Virgen de Altagracia) - Most important religious day in the Dominican calendar
• Duarte Day - Holiday in honour of the Father of the Dominican Republic, with public fiestas in major towns in late January

February

• Carnival - Pre-eminent celebration of the year, held on every Sunday in February and culminating in late Februar
• Independence Day - Celebration of independence from Haiti and the culmination of the Dominican Carnival at end of month

April

• Semana Santa - The Christian Holy Week (variable, usually early to mid-April) is also the most important week of Haitian and Dominican vodú

May

• Espiritu Santo - Seven weeks after Semana Santa, celebrations held in the capital’s barrio Villa Mella, pueblo Santa María near San Cristóbal and the El Pomier caves, and San Juan de la Maguana
• Presidential Election Day

June

• San Pedro Apostol - Cocolo festival in San Pedro de Macorís at end of June, with roving bands of guloyas performing dance dramas on the street

August

• Festival of the Bulls - Fiesta patronal in Higuey with processions coming into the city from all sides - some from as far as 30km - with cowboys on horseback and large herds of cattle
• Restoration Day

September

• Our Lady of Mercedes Day

December

• Festival of the Bulls - Traditional cattle festival in Bayaguyana
• Christmas Day - Guloya festivals in San Pedro de Macorís, Haitian Voodoo celebrations in the Haitian bateyes and rural groups of Caribbean-style Navidad carollers in the campos