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Culture
Culture
The culture of the Dominican Republic, like its Caribbean neighbors, is a blend of the European colonists, Africans, and Taínos, and their cultural legacies.
Spanish, also known as Castellano (Castilian) is the official language.
Other languages such as English, French, German, Italian and Chinese are also spoken to varying degrees.
European, African and Taíno cultural elements are most prominent in food, family structure, religion and music.
Many Arawak/Taíno names and words are used in daily conversation and for many foods native to the DR.
Cuisine
Dominican cuisine is predominantly made up of a combination of Spanish, Taíno and African influences over the last few centuries.
Typical cuisine is quite similar to what can be found in other Latin American countries, but many of the names of dishes are different.
One breakfast dish consists of eggs and mangú (mashed, boiled plantain).
For heartier versions, these are accompanied by deep-fried meat (typically Dominican salami) and/or cheese.
Similar to Spain, lunch is generally the largest and most important meal of the day.
Lunch usually consists of rice, some type of meat (chicken, beef, pork, or fish), beans, and a side portion of salad.
"La Bandera" (literally, The Flag), the most popular lunch dish, consists of meat and red beans on white rice.
Dominican cuisine usually accommodates all the food groups, incorporating meat or seafood; rice, potatoes or plantains; and is accompanied by some other type of vegetable or salad.
However, meals usually heavily favor starches and meats over dairy products and vegetables.
Many dishes are made with sofrito, which is a mix of local herbs and spices sautéed to bring out all of the dish's flavors.
Throughout the south-central coast, bulgur, or whole wheat, is a main ingredient in quipes or tipili (bulgur salad).
Other favorite Dominican dishes include chicharrón, yuca, casabe, and pastelitos (empanadas), batata, pasteles en hoja (ground-roots pockets) chimichurris, plátanos maduros (ripe plantain), and tostones.
Some treats Dominicans enjoy are arroz con dulce (or arroz con leche), bizcocho dominicano (lit.
Dominican cake), habichuelas con dulce (sweet creamed beans), flan, frío frío (snow cones), dulce de leche, and caña (sugarcane).
The beverages Dominicans enjoy include Morir Soñando, rum, beer, Mama Juana, batida (smoothie), ponche, mabí, and coffee.
Music
Musically, the Dominican Republic is known for the creation of the musical style called merengue, a type of lively, fast-paced rhythm and dance music consisting of a tempo of about 120 to 160 beats per minute (it varies wildly) based on musical elements like drums, brass, and chorded instruments, as well as some elements unique to the music style of the DR.
It includes the use of the tambora (Dominican drum), accordion, and güira.
Its syncopated beats use Latin percussion, brass instruments, bass, and piano or keyboard.
Well-known merengue singers include singer/songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, Fernando Villalona, Eddy Herrera, Sergio Vargas, Toño Rosario, Johnny Ventura, and Milly Quezada.
Merengue became popular in the United States, mostly on the east coast, during the 1980s and 90s, when many Dominican artists, among them Victor Roque y La Gran Manzana, Henry Hierro, Milly, and Jocelyn Y Los Vecinos, residing in the U.S.
(particularly New York) started performing in the Latin club scene and gained radio airplay.
The emergence of bachata along with an increase in the number of Dominicans living among other Latino groups in New York, New Jersey, and Florida have contributed to Dominican music's overall growth in popularity.
Bachata, a form of music and dance that originated in the countryside and rural marginal neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic, has become quite popular in recent years.
Its subjects are often romantic; especially prevalent are tales of heartbreak and sadness.
In fact, the original term used to name the genre was amargue ("bitterness," or "bitter music"), until the rather ambiguous (and mood-neutral) term bachata became popular.
Bachata grew out of, and is still closely related to, the pan-Latin American romantic style called bolero.
Over time, it has been influenced by merengue and by a variety of Latin American guitar styles.
Particularly among Dominican youth, a genre of music that has been growing in popularity in recent years in the Dominican Republic is Dominican rap.
Also known as Rap del Patio it is rap music created by Dominican crews and solo artists.
Originating in the early 2000s with crews such as Charles Family, successful rappers such as Lapiz Conciente, Vakero, Toxic Crow, and R-1 emerged.
The youth have embraced the music, sometimes over merengue and bachata, as well as salsa, and most recently reggaeton.
It must be noted that Dominican rap differs from reggaeton in the fact that Dominican rap does not use the traditional Dem Bow rhythm frequently used in reggaeton, instead using more hip hop-influenced beats.
As well, Dominican rap focuses on urban themes such as money, women, and poverty, similarly to American rap.
Sports
Baseball is by far the most popular sport in the Dominican Republic today.
After the United States, the Dominican Republic has the second-highest number of baseball players in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Some of the Dominican players have been regarded as among the best in the game.
Following are a few players born in the Dominican Republic: .
Carlos Peña, first baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays .
Sammy Sosa, 1998 National League MVP Award winner and member of the exclusive (only 6 other players have reached the mark) 600 home run club .
Carlos Villanueva, pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers .
Albert Pujols, 2001 Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award and 2005 & 2008 National League MVP Award winner .
Pedro Martínez, three–time Cy Young Award winner, and considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history .
Vladimir Guerrero, 2004 American League MVP Award winner and 2007 Home Run Derby winner .
David Ortiz, first baseman and designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox .
José Reyes, 2007 MLB stolen base leader; plays for the New York Mets .
Manny Ramírez, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers .
Miguel Tejada, shortstop for the Houston Astros .
Alfonso Soriano, infielder/outfielder for the Chicago Cubs .
Jhonny Peralta, shortstop for the Cleveland Indians .
Robinson Canó, second baseman for the New York Yankees .
Placido Polanco, second baseman for the Detroit Tigers .
Melky Cabrera, center fielder for the New York Yankees .
Hanley Ramírez, shortstop for the Florida Marlins .
Adrian Beltre, third baseman for the Seattle Mariners .
Historically, the Dominican Republic has been linked to MLB since Ozzie Virgil, Sr.
became the first Dominican to play in the league.
Other very notable players were Juan Marichal, Felipe Alou, Rico Carty, George Bell, Jose Rijo and Stan Javier, among many others.
The Dominican Republic also has its own baseball league, the Dominican Winter Baseball League, which runs its season from October to January.
It comprises six teams: Águilas Cibaeñas (Cibao Eagles), Azucareros del Este (Eastern Sugar-makers), Estrellas Orientales (Eastern Stars), Gigantes del Cibao (Cibao Giants), Leones del Escogido (Escogido Lions), and Tigres del Licey (Licey Tigers).
Many MLB and minor league players play in the Dominican League during their own off-season.
As such, the Dominican Winter League serves as an important "training ground" for these leagues.
The Dominican Republic has participated in the Baseball World Cup, winning one Gold (1948), three Silver (1942, 1950, 1952), and two Bronze (1943, 1969), placing it seventh, right after Puerto Rico's one Gold, four Silver, and four Bronze.
(Cuba holds a record twenty-five Gold, two Silver and two Bronze.) .
The country also participated in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, the inaugural tournament, in which they finished semi–finalists along with Korea.
Olympic gold medalist and world champion over 400 m hurdles Félix Sánchez hails from the Dominican Republic, as does current defensive end for the San Diego Chargers (National Football League [NFL]), Luis Castillo.
Castillo was the cover athlete for the Spanish language version of Madden NFL 08.
The National Basketball Association (NBA), also has had players from the Dominican Republic, such as: .
Francisco García, guard–forward for the Sacramento Kings; first round pick in the 2005 NBA Draft .
Al Horford, power forward, third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2007 NBA Draft .
Felipe López, former shooting guard for several teams.
Boxing is one of the more important sports after baseball, and the country has produced scores of world-class fighters and world champions, both professionals and amateurs, among them Carlos Teo Cruz, Leo Cruz, Julio César Green, Joan Guzmán, and Juan Carlos Payano.
The Dominican Republic hosted the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo.
Source: CIA Factbook, Wikipedia
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