We Are Proud and Always Will Be: Dominican Independence Day -

Dios, Patria, y, Libertad.

These three words founded a nation that was in ruins. They gave glory to those who fought for liberty with their hearts, mind, and soul—and they removed the shackles of a country plagued by despotism.

From a land ruled with hatred to a land built on trust and resilience, Dominicans are proud of the date February 27th.

Dominicans never ceased to give up, no matter how high they had to climb, no matter how many rallies and wars they had to fight; Dominicans continued to fight in spite of all the adversities they faced.

En los años 1844, la República Dominicana became its own. After being colonized and persecuted by the Spanish, French, and Haitians, the beautiful land of Dominican Republic finally gained its independence that day. For 22 years, the Haitian government ruled over Dominican Republic, all while Dominicans were subjected to harsh treatment.

“Under the Hatian rule, there was a lot of mistreatment. The prominent issues during this time were the differences of culture and beliefs that really came between us at times,” said Professor Anastacia Matos, an Educator in Santo Domingo, la capital.

“Being able to become dependent gave us the chance to think on our own,” she continued.

A lot of history comes with the independence of Dominican Republic, one that even younger generations learn about and the strides the country has taken with pride.

Crash Course History: DR Independence Edition

Juan Pablo Duarte, one of the “founding fathers” of the republic, was inspired by a verse in the Bible—Juan 8:32—and began creating ideas to separate his home land from Haiti and its tyrannical rule.

Duarte, along with Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and Matías Ramón Mella, created a group called “Los Trinitarios,” which secretly planned to overthrow Haiti’s government. This political group welcomed other Dominicans that wanted to fight for freedom, but also arduously organized to maintain everything a secret. Los Trinitarios sought out ways to fight for their freedom without compromising the safety of the country.

On the afternoon February 27th, 1844–after many years of detailed planning— “Los Trinitarios” met and seized La Puerta del Conde in the city of Santo Domingo, which commenced the last stride that led Dominican Republic to independence.

“For a long time, Dominicans believed that they were unable to govern themselves,” said Carmen Duran, a Dominican native who passionately celebrates Independence Day.

“This was until Juan Pablo Duarte came along and he gave new grown hope. Without him and the other Trinitarios, our freedom may not have happened,” continued Duran.

On February 27, 1844, the streak of mistreatment, overstepped suffrage, and the tumultuous history of a nation that never ceased to relinquish their human rights, ended with the declaration of Dominican Republic’s long awaited independence.

The land that had been constantly conquered by others was finally free.

“This is the day that we became independent so it is very important to me. We don’t depend on others we have our own land, our own government, and our own people—and I think this is something that was very important during that time and still is today,” shared Professor Matos.

The Celebration: Liberty Deserves a Big Party

Dominican Republic is known as a staple for global cultures and commerce; it is known for its vast lands and beautiful geographic regions. So its celebrations are a pure reflection of its cultural intricacies.

In the different provinces, there are many different celebrations that take place. Since Dominican Republic is a country founded on religious beliefs, there are many mass services that are centralised around the many events that led up to independence day. In churches, the politicians make speeches and have a moment of silence to reminisce about all the people that died fighting to create a better nation and all those who sought religious freedom.

Many people go to the memorial of ‘Los Trinitarios’ to leave flowers and give thanks for all that they did for the country. There are also many tributes to the war heroes that fought vigorously to protect the freedoms and the sovereignty of Dominicans.

Since this is a National Holiday in Dominican Republic, schools are closed and many people do not work this day to be a part of all the festivities.

“The day before independance day, students sing the national anthem in the morning and walk through the hallways with the flag. There are also many plays that depict all that happened and the history of Dominican republic. Homes and businesses are asked to place the flag on the outside to show their pride for the country,” shared proud Dominican Evenita Sanchez about how it is like to be in Dominican Republic for this special day.

Many people dress in the colors of Dominican Republic and paint flags on their faces to show pride for their countries. Because this is a special day, many families save money to go to El Malecon—a waterfront— where there is an aviation show by the armed forces. People from all the different provinces go to watch the aviation shows.

In many provinces, there are also carnivals that last a couple of days, which show the treatment of slaves and how the war was fought in the 1800s. The carnivals also feature people wearing religious masks that were meant to “chase out the demons in the country”—yes, Dominican Republic is a religious and proud nation.

“Our flag is one of our biggest treasures not only for its beautiful design and all that it may represent, but also for the beautiful bible it holds in the center which represents our connection to humanity and religion,” shared proud Domnican Magdalena Ramosqa.

Dios, Patria, y Libertad.

Happy Independence day to all Dominicans out there that are proud to represent their country; to those who love their culture and accept all the social and cultural stereotypes that are tied to Dominicans. Those who aren’t Dominican are welcome to learn about our culture and see why there is so much to love on the island, one that is filled with unity and a diverse sense of culture.

From the waves that flow through us when we dance, to the passionate music that runs through our veins and exudes our fingertips—to be called Dominican is an honor, one that us, natives of la República, have the pleasure of experiencing.