Carnaval

We've disappeared from blog-land again! This month has really flown by, especially since we've been hosting students, residents and attendings from Brown during their International Internal Medicine rotation. For the past two weekends, we've been attending the Carnaval parades in downtown Santiago.

Carnaval is celebrated each weekend for the entire month of February. The celebration is filled with colorful costumes and masks, lively music, and spirited dancing. The streets are filled with people and the energy of the entire city runs high. Below you'll see the gallina (hen) leading the parade.

The "diablos" (devils) are the most popular costume. Each region of the country makes their own masks and they compete for cash prizes. Some people work all year on their costumes.

It's important to be on full-alert at the Carnaval, however, because most people carry vejigas (inflated animal bladders that look like big white balloons) that are used to whack people on the backside. It is said that getting hit brings good luck, but to me it seems more lucky if you can make it out of Carnaval without getting hit. I wasn't so lucky.

A lot of characters also carry látigos, or whips. The whips are not to hit people, but rather to wind up, and crack with all your might. They make a really loud "pop" and it's incredible nobody lost an eyeball...that I saw, at least.

Here is a Dominican flag costume, and below that, a dance troupe.

A vendor watches and hopes I'll buy some of his peanuts or coconut water.

Today is the 27th of February, which is the Dominican Independence Day. Soon we'll venture downtown to see what celebrations we can find. Happy Independence, DR!