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New Year Dominican Republic holidays
New Year, or Año Nuevo, in the Dominican Republic is a real big celebration, think parties and festivals with a real sense of community and sharing. Just like at Christmas it is seen as a time to spend with friends and family with a huge New Year’s dinner feast including special dishes such as roasted pork, empanadas, and Russian salad. When the clock strikes midnight there will usually be fireworks, hugging of friends and family and cries of El Cañonazo! After a customary meal at home with close friends and family, the Dominicans usually hit the town whether at a beach party, street party or a club and party until the sun comes up.
Bring in the New Year with a difference, speak to one of our friendly travel experts today to start planning your dream holiday.
New Year holidays to the Dominican Republic
New Year traditions in the Dominican Republic
Cleaning your house on New Years eve is a common tradition with Dominicans who believe this rids your house of evil from the past year and that it also brings luck for the following year. Once the cleaning is complete it is traditional to throw out the old brooms before midnight and the new brooms wait outside the house until the 2nd of January, it is seen as bad luck to sweep away your new luck on New Year’s Day itself.
It is also very common for Dominican homes to have open their windows and doors at midnight to let the evil spirits out and it is also very popular for Dominicans to give their house a fresh coat of paint in time for the New Year. Clothing is an important tradition over New Year, many people will buy a whole new outfit for the occasion and will choose a specific colour theme believing that each colour represents a different wish for the year ahead. Green is for financial success, white for health, yellow will help you with work opportunities, and red for a better future.
Best places to celebrate New Year in the Dominican Republic
Almost all resorts will have a New Year’s Eve celebration to partake in. Gathering to watch the sunrise on the main beach boardwalk is commonplace in coastal cities such as Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata. Punta Cana offers some of the best nightlife year-round and they go big for New Year with parties in venues such as Coco Bongo who put on a show including light shows, balloons and confetti, acrobats, dancers, entertainers all rolling into a fun filled disco until the early hours. Other popular venues for New Year in Punta Cana include Pearl Beach Club, Casino Bavaro the 24-hour adult only playground and the Grand Teatro Bávaro.
Best hotels to celebrate New Year in the Dominican Republic
Punta Cana all-inclusive paradise perfection with Club Med is a fantastic all-inclusive hotel option. Set in a coconut grove where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean Club Med Punta Cana offers a vibrant island paradise full of fun-filled adventures. The hotel offers endless water sports including kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and sailing. Club Med include everything, one booking takes care of every detail including your flight and transfer to the resort, accommodation, meals, drinks, entertainment, sports, and recreational activities. You can bet that Club Med will go all out with their entertainment for New Year, fun for all the family!
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana would be a fantastic all-inclusive beach front resort for New Year. It will be lively with plenty going on and the amenities offered by the hotel are first class including international cuisine in 9 different restaurants, a variety of drinks and snacks with poolside service, 24/7 room service, daily activities on the beach and by the pool, kids’ clubs and daily and nightly entertainment including theme parties, shows, contests, concerts and live performances.