Colors of La Romana - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Local people are very friendly and sociable, always treating tourists with respect and interest. They are all accustomed to a measured and unhurried pace of life so one should not be surprised if the service in a restaurant takes too long. Despite the widespread influence of modern culture, La Romana residents still honor their historical traditions. Throughout the year, many beautiful and symbolic holidays are celebrated here, including lush carnivals and historical festivals. A compulsory part of any celebration is unique dance performances that many tourists are eager to see.

There are several important features to take into account when communicating with local residents. They are very emotional, therefore in the communication process, they can often speak loudly and use gestures actively. Such manifestations should in no way be regarded as a sign of hostility - these are just some of the local character traits. Addressing each other formally is extremely rare here so do not be surprised if strangers go to first name terms. Such an informal address never means disrespect to interlocutors.

Travelers visiting La Romana for the first time may find its another feature very strange. Just like in many other regions of the Dominican Republic, here they have very soft rules regarding firearms. For men, the weapons have long become a symbol of prestige, so on the streets, men wearing a gun holster on a belt can be seen literally everywhere. Despite this peculiarity, weapons are used here very rarely. There are no rules regarding clothes at the resort, so you can literally choose any outfit you like for walking around the city and relaxing on the beaches. Dress code is relevant only in case of visiting some prestigious restaurants and casinos, as well as religious sites and shrines. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Local people are big fans of fun and noisy celebrations, which are organized here almost every month. In winter, the original ProCigar Festival is held in several Dominican cities at once. The city has several large factories where handmade cigars are produced. They are in no way inferior in quality to the world-famous Cuban cigars, many tourists buy cigars as a souvenir. Many interesting entertainments are available to tourists as part of the holiday, which lasts several days. They will have a chance to visit old tobacco plantations and factories or watch traditional golf competitions, which are also necessarily held during this period.

Workshops at the cigar factories are held specifically for guests of the festival who can learn to roll cigars on their own. The symbolic holiday of the region is never complete without tasting the best types of tobacco. The cigar festival is always accompanied by beautiful carnivals and solemn processions taking place right on the city streets. On festive days, street entertainment never stops until late at night.

One of the brightest and most beloved local holidays is Independence Day, which falls on February 26. In honor of this holiday, the largest and most colorful carnival is organized here, the festival is always accompanied by a rich entertainment program. Local people prepare colorful outfits for the carnival throughout the year, and participation of the best dance groups makes the procession even more spectacular. Each of these holidays attracts a huge number of tourists, they can become participants in all entertainment programs and learn more about the unique way of life of the population.

La Romana's festive calendar also includes many symbolic religious holidays. On January 21, here they celebrate the feast day of "Our Lady of Altagracia". On this day, interesting ceremonial events take place in local churches where symbolic rituals are performed and the most valuable religious artifacts are put on display for everyone to see.

On June 22, they celebrate the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, which is also accompanied by solemn processions. A mandatory attribute of this holiday is special dishes, which are extremely rarely prepared for the rest of the year. On Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25, it is also customary to conduct street entertainment programs in La Romana. Beautiful festivals available for free participation are held at the resort almost every month.