How Dominicans Celebrate Independence Day

Independence day is a reminder to all Dominicans of how hard it was for our founding fathers, Juan Pablo Duarte, Matias Ramon Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sanchez to lead us to freedom. This is why it is really important for people to commemorate this day.

For us Dominicans, it was a hard journey towards our independence. First, our Founding Fathers worked to create a secret society called “La Trinitaria”. This group's purpose was to spark the ideas that would liberate us from the Haitian government of president Boyer, whose troops had invaded our side of the island. They worked for months to create a plan. The plan had a lot of twists and turns. Juan Pablo Duarte was even exiled to Venezuela, and he was there when the independence war began.

It was on the night of February 27, 1844, when Francisco del Rosario Sanchez raised the flag for the first time in la Puerta del Conde. At the same time, Matias Ramon Mella fired his “trabucazo” at “ La Puerta de la Misericordia” and declared our Independence. These events make these landmarks two of the most popular and loved places in the Dominican Republic.

Many Dominicans like celebrating Independence day, but some people don't. According to google the 27th of February is normally celebrated with a walk at the “zona colonial” or visiting “ La Puerta del Conde”. This reminds me and many people of how awesome, great and beautiful our country is. 

I decided to gather some information from people at school. I asked them how they celebrate independence day and why they think it is important to commemorate it. This is what they responded:

"We celebrate a family dinner and before eating, we pray and say thank you, kind of like we do on Thanksgiving. It is important because we have to celebrate our achievements and what other people did for us so we can be free and be the independent country we are today."

"I celebrate Independence day by going out to eat with my family typical Dominican food. But mainly we celebrate at school and we do fun activities like singing the anthem, dressing up or doing plays. To honor our country and to feel pride in our nationality."

"I don't really do anything special, but it's important to celebrate it because our independence may have saved us from lots of things."

"I celebrate Independence Day by going somewhere out of the city with my family and spending quality time with them. It is important to celebrate Independence Day since it is the day where we as a country got our independence."

"I usually just celebrate it in school, but don't really do anything else.  I think it's important because it allows us to be proud of our freedom and commemorate our founding fathers for everything they did for this country."

In conclusion, Dominicans celebrate Independence Day in different ways. What really matters is that we take time to thank and remember our Founding Fathers: Duarte, Sanchez, and Mella for all that they did for this country. Our Independence Day is an important and precious day for all Dominicans. Happy Independence day!!!

Daniella Garcia

7th Grade