CARNIVAL 2012

Here you will find photos of Teacher Helen and Teacher Victoria enjoying Carnival time with our kids. Teacher Teresa has also been organizing some fantastic projects. Thank you to the 3 best teachers in the DR!!

Dominican Carnival usually runs throughout the entire month of February until February 27th which is Dominican Independence Day. Carnival has been celebrated since the early 1500's. It is thought to have been introduced to the DR by Christopher Columbus. It has been celebrated by families as a traditional curb-side parade in the main streets, with each town adding their own spin. Parades are full of music, masks and coloured costumes full of whistles, bells and mirrors. The main characters of carnival are Diablo Cojuelo (Limping Devil) and Lechones. These are usually found carrying whips and their masks have spikey horns, bills like a duck and/or lots of scarey teeth. You will find most children at the parade with a Vejiga in hand. These are dried pig or cow bladders that are inflated like a balloon. They were originally used during the parades for crowd control. The object is to hit anyone and everyone that walks past.....and they do hurt!