The culture and people of the Dominican Republic, like its Caribbean neighbors, is a blend of the cultures of the Spanish colonists, African slaves, and Taíno natives. The cultural elements of European, African and Taino are most prominent in food, family structure, religion and music. Many names and words Arawak / Taino used in daily conversation and for many foods native.
Gastronomy
Dominican cuisine is predominantly a mixture of Spanish, African and Taino. The typical cuisine is quite
similar to what can be found in other Latin American countries, but many of the names of dishes are
different. A typical breakfast consists of mangu (mashed green plantains boiled) and eggs, a dish that
the Dominican Republic shares with Cuba and Puerto Rico.
In other versions accompanying fried meat (usually with Dominican salami) and / or cheese. As in Spain,
lunch is the main meal of the day and more important. Lunch usually consists of rice, meat (chicken,
beef, pork or fish), beans (beans), and a portion of salad, commonly called "the flag." The Sancocho is a
stew often with seven varieties of meat.
Sport
Baseball is the most popular sport in the Dominican Republic. The country has a baseball league of six
teams. The season usually begins in October and ends in January. After the United States, the Dominican
Republic is the second country with the highest number of major league baseball. Ozzie Virgil became
the first Dominican to play in the majors in 1956.
Some others born in the Dominican Republic are: Julian Javier, Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Juan Marichal (Hall of Fame), and Sammy Sosa. Felipe Alou has also had success as a manager, and Omar Minaya as general manager.
Music
Musically, the Dominican Republic is known for the creation of the musical style called merengue, a
type of fast-paced and dance music consisting of a tempo around 120-160 beats per minute (though it
may vary) from musical elements like drums, metals, strings, and accordion, as well as some elements
unique to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, such as the drum and calabash. Its syncopated beats use
Latin percussion, brass instruments, bass, and piano or keyboard. Between 1937 and 1950 merengue
was promoted internationally by groups like Billo's Caracas Boys, Damirón Chapuseaux and "Los Reyes
del Merengue", Joseíto Mateo, among others. In radio, television, and international media popularized
it further. Some better known merengue performers are Johnny Ventura, Juan Luis Guerra, Fernando
Villalona, Eddy Herrera, Sergio Vargas, Toño Rosario, Milly Quezada, Chichi Peralta, among others.
Merengue became popular in the United States, especially in the east coast during the 80 and 90, when
many Dominican artists, including Wilfrido Vargas, Victor Roque and La Gran Manzana, Henry Hierro,
among others.
Bachata, a form of music and dance that originated in the countryside and rural areas of the Dominican
Republic, has become very popular in recent years. Their subjects are often romantic (commonly called
bitter), especially with letters of anguish and sadness.