69 Interesting Dominican Republic Facts For Kids

There are interesting facts about every place on Earth and the Dominican Republic is no exception!

In fact, this land has both political history and cultural diversity attached to it. If that isn't enough for you to plan a vacation, the landscape surely will be!

You may have heard of Santo Domingo, the capital state of the Dominican Republic, and it is undeniably beautiful, but the cultural heritage of the land extends much beyond that.

With its colonial history and rather recent freedom from Haiti, the Dominican Republic has never failed to attract some curious minds.

To add to the charm of the land, the people of the Dominican Republic are warm and welcoming. Whether it be through the many cuisines and local delicacies or simply the fact that the people there are loving, you are sure to enjoy your time at this beautiful, sunny place!

Keep reading for some Dominican Republic facts, and some things that you shouldn't miss out on during your stay there!

If you enjoy reading this article, why not also check out Florida facts and facts about Cuba here at Kidadl!

Dominican Republic Culture

As is the case with most countries that were colonized previously, the culture of the Dominican Republic is an amalgamation of the natives of the land and the culture that was brought by colonialists like the Europeans and Spaniards.

The land was discovered by Christopher Columbus and the entire island that the Dominican Republic is a part of is an island named Hispaniola. It was eventually that Hispaniola came to be divided in two - Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Since it is only in recent history that the Dominican Republic was able to gain independence, the cultural integrity of the place is yet to get its entire shape. Although, there are some particular features about the culture that are sure to catch your eye if you ever decide to visit this beautiful land.

The Dominican population is known to be very family-oriented.

Hence, the people of this old country often live in large, joint families. The people are also very open-hearted and warm in their approach, which also acts as a boon for the tourism industry of the country.

Apart from this, the people of the Dominican Republic are also very religious. The Cathedral de Santa Maria La Menor is believed to be the oldest still standing cathedral that was ever built in America.

Furthermore, the religious sentiments of the people of this country can also be understood through the signs that they hang up outside their shops. The signs and banners usually thank God for bringing business to them and letting them live in the beautiful country.

This shows that the populace also draws a relationship between commerce and religion.

The country's flag also has the Holy Bible in it, which clearly indicates that the religious sentiments of the people of the land are deep-rooted and are not to be upset. In fact, it is the only country to have the Holy Bible on its flag.

The patriotic sentiments that are a part of the culture of the country are also made visible through the national dish of the land. The national dish is called La Bandera, which translates to 'flag'.

This is because the components of the dish and its colors resemble the Dominican Republic flag! The national anthem, called Quisqueyanos Valientes, was written by Jose Reyes and holds a special place in the hearts of all the residents of this old country.

Caribbean countries and Latin America are especially renowned for the music that they generate. Merengue, which is the official dance of the land, is a testament to how rich the Dominican culture is.

It is a rural, folk dance that is similar to Bachata, and it's now taught and learned all around the world. The dance is coupled with groovy music and usually involved two partners. If you happen to visit this country, make sure to witness one of these performances!

Dominican cuisine is an amalgamation of the flavors that the colonialists brought and what the Taino people had as a part of their own culture.

Spanish cuisine is very famous and is made in every household in this part of the world. Since Hispaniola island is located near the Caribbean sea, there is a lot of greenery and a lot of fruits grow in the country.

Understandably, the cultivation of fruit forms a huge part of the culture of the Dominican populace.

The cuisine also includes many kinds of fruit and usually revolves largely around the produce of the land. The use of legumes and vegetables is also prevalent and it is clear from the fact that the national dish, named after the Dominican flag, includes stewed beans!

To name a few of the most famous dishes that you must try during your stay in the Dominican Republic - huevo frito, cassava crackers, and the street donuts would be the forerunners!

The culture in the Dominican Republic also revolves around the consumption of alcohol. It is absolutely normal for them to be indulging in a drink or two any time of the day. In fact, you should not be surprised if you catch a few of the locals having a drink on a weekday.

To add to how much they like to enjoy themselves and lead a laid-back life, people of the Dominican Republic are infamous for their habit of getting late to places. If you happen to have a friend from this populous country, expect them to be late for brunches and meetings.

In the Dominican Republic, it is in fact expected that if a meeting is scheduled at a certain time, everyone would be at least an hour late!

The Dominican Republic's culture also surrounds the national sport, which is baseball. In fact, a baseball player named Juan Marichal was the first Dominican who made his way into the baseball Hall of Fame!

Talking of famous Dominicans, did you know that the famous designer, Oscar de la Renta is also from the colonial city of Santo Domingo! His work is so appreciated around the globe that celebrity faces wear his clothes.

One of the interesting facts about the habits of the people of this country is that they enjoy honking at other cars when stuck in traffic. In fact, they even have a special language when it comes to car horns.

Any of the Dominican Republic's natives would be able to tell clear differences between a small beep and a longhorn. If you plan to go to the Dominican Republic for your next beach vacation, make sure you are prepared for some excessive honking at every red light!

What is the Dominican Republic known for?

The Dominican Republic was discovered by the explorer Christopher Columbus in 1492, while he was working for the Spanish Crown. This country is a seat for rich cultural diversity, and people who have visited the country once find themselves going there again and again.

It is common for people to keep returning to the Dominican Republic since the people there are very warm and welcoming.

Tourists are helped by the national police and guided whole-heartedly by the locals. The country is also famous for its many golf courses; enthusiasts and players keep returning to the Dominican Republic to indulge in the rich landscape while also playing their sport.

It is understandable that the golf courses there would be so famous and attract so many visitors since the grounds provide a clear view of the Caribbean Sea and the country's temperate climate is very pleasant.

The country is also famous for its colonial history. In fact, it is through the influence of the colonizers that the people of the Dominican Republic have emerged as a population of diverse cultures and sentiments.

Santo Domingo, the capital city, is the seat for the most diverse group of people. The many tourist destinations also help the colonial city in achieving a thriving commercial status.

The country is also famous for Lake Enriquillo, which is a beautiful sight to behold.

Lake Enriquillo also forms an integral part of the history of the Dominican Republic, since it is named after a Taino individual who rebelled against the Spaniards in the early 16th century.

While this lake might be famous, the most visited destination remains to be the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor, which is believed to be the oldest still standing cathedral in all America - that is Central America, South America, and North America.

The Dominican government is a presidential republic, which means that the country is led by a president and some elected individuals. One of the most interesting facts that are a part of the Dominican constitution is that in this country, members of the armed forces and the national police cannot place their votes.

It is so believed that the armed forces need to remain unbiased and removed from the politics of the land, and should only be concerned about the wellbeing and protection of the people.

This country of the western hemisphere is famous for its endless summer. Hispaniola and the two countries that were later made from it are surrounded by water bodies, which keeps the temperatures moderate. If you happen to visit the Dominican Republic, also make sure to visit the bordering country, that is Haiti.

If you want to explore some lesser-visited areas and find some hidden gems, make sure to visit the Amber Museum in Puerto Plata. Here, you will find a prehistoric mosquito fossilized in amber stone!

Dominican Republic Population

Dominican Republic's population stands at approximately 10.56 million at the present day.

The people here mostly use the official language, that is, Spanish; and the Dominican peso is used for all forms of commercial activities.

Dominican Republic Tourism

The two countries, Haiti and the Dominican Republic attract many tourists throughout the year. Since the land is blessed with an endless summer, millions of people try to escape the chilly seasons of their own countries by taking a vacation at this beautiful place. Understandably, millions of tourists also bring economic prosperity to the people of the land.

Santo Domingo is undeniably one of the largest tourist attractions and its many historical spots make it irresistible to people who would like to indulge in some colonial history. Even if you aren't interested in understanding the colonial impacts on the land, the breathtaking landscape should be reason enough to plan a trip with friends and family!

Did You Know...

The Dominican Republic occupies five-eighths of the island Hispaniola.

The official language is Spanish.

Hispaniola was found by Christopher Columbus.

Santo Domingo is the capital city.

Palmchat is the national bird.

The Dominican Republic's national flag is the only flag in the world to have the Holy Bible on it.

Baseball is the national sport of the land.

The national flag consists of the colors blue, red, and white.

Juan Marichal is the first Dominican player to make it to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Dominican Republic currency is the Dominican peso.

The Dominican Republic was named after the natives, Domingos or Dominicos.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Dominican Republic facts then why not take a look atfacts about Canada, or facts about Russia?