Juan Pablo Duarte Day 2012

Today is the day one of the founding fathers of Dominican Republic was born. The Dominicans remember today is the 199th anniversary of the birth of Juan Pablo Duarte. He was born in Santo Domingo on January/ enero 26, 1813 and died in Venezuela in 1876. (more information about Juan Pablo Duarte).

The real day of Duartes birth is this Thursday the 26th but the official day of celebration is scheduled for Monday making for a long weekend off from January 27th to the 30th.

Today marks the Month of the Nation/ Mes de la Patria as there are several patriotic holidays starting on January 26 with the celebration of the birth of Juan Pablo Duarte then Mella’s birth on February 25, Flag Day on the February 19th and Independence Day/ la Independencia de la República. on February 27.

Activities:
There was a parade in San Francisco de Macorís.
There was also held a ceremony at the Iglesia Santa Bárbara where Duarte was baptized. Then they proceed to his birthplace and home at the Duarte Institute/ Instituto Duartiano on Isabel la Católica in the Colonial Zone. After this the official procession goes to the Altar of the Fatherland/ Altar de la Patria, in the Independence Park/ Parque Independencia to a wreath for the memory of the Founder of the Republic.

Founding Fathers statues at the Altar de la Patria in Parque Independencia

Founding Fathers statues at the Altar de la Patria in Parque Independencia

There are also wreaths placed in Parque Duarte in Colonial zone where festivities are held.

Duarte Park Celebrations Juan Pablo Duarte  2009

An interesting bit of information – This year there was a little – big mix-up when the governments Upper House/ Cámara Alta issued a statement in several newspapers to commemorate “the anniversary of the death” of Duarte. They later changed the statement after many forums, newspaper responses and social media venues brought it to their attention. The Senate president Reinaldo Pared was the person who signed the statement published today in the media. He gave his “deepest apologies for the inadvertent error contained in the publication of the Senate on Duarte.” / “más sentidas disculpas por el error involuntario contenido en la publicación del Senado sobre Duarte”. (diariolibre.com)

¡Viva Duarte!
Himno a Juan Pablo Duarte/ The Hymn to Juan Pablo Duarte