Christmas in the Dominican Republic

Merry Christmas from the Dominican Republic!  It is so funny driving down the street playing Christmas music while watching the man on the corner selling avocados and bananas and the palms swaying gently in the breeze.  We have spent the last month or so recording little glimpses of Christmas down here to share with you.

I play the music for Sacrament meeting in our Branch.  I believe it was the first week in November when the Bishop asked me if I could start playing Christmas music.  Back in the States, we always remark that there is not enough time to sing Christmas songs – the trick is to just start a month earlier.  Without Thanksgiving, there’s no reason not to start the first of November.  And remember, also, that the kids here receive their main gifts on Kings Day – Jan. 6^th. 

Around the end of October, the first Christmas decorations go up. Local La Sirena which is sort of like a Walmart, suddenly has Christmas decorations on the shelves and in the aisles.  Then along the main streets, dozens of decorations made out of woven twigs appear.  

Then a number of balconies sport Christmas lights.  Over the next weeks, many stores have decorations outside.  Stores carry lots of commercial cookies and other goodies, and most grocery stores have a section selling little decorated Norfolk Pine plants which I think are the cutest little trees. 

Early in December, Heather sent us a little fake tree reminiscent of one that I sent her when she was in college.  It has made our apartment so cute.  She also included a cute light string which Rob added to the front of our TV which we never watch.  

Rob stringing the lights (a lot more simple than back home)

I love Christmas!

 And then at Reyo del Sol where we attended a Humanitarian activity, they gave us this darling centerpiece and two angels all made out of rolled and painted newspaper (the students there make the most beautiful rolled newspaper baskets which they sell as well).  

 Here are a variety of decorations we have seen:

  A Hardware Store in Barahona
using some of those twig trees

A tall tree in Azua                  

Another store decorated with elves galore.

Regal Pack - a store that only does
upscale gift wrapping - amazing work

 A park on one of the main streets here.  They painted the outside wall green and red and put up little buildings inside - a lot of work...

No one objects to a full-size nativity scene on the corner of a busy street.  I love the fact that they combined painted figures with a little twig reindeer like some we've seen on the streets...

Sister Hammon, Sister Rucker, and Jill made cookies for everyone who works in the office (about 100 each).  The folks were really pleased, and it wasn't a lot of work for any of us!

The folks in the office prepared a wonderful 
musical presentation.

The Santo Domingo Men's A'Capella group came and 

sang to the Senior Missionaries.

But probably our favorite Christmas view here is of the sweet little nativity scene on the Temple Grounds that lights up at night.  Truly our Savior is the "reason for the season."