Photo by Neidy Gutierrez / SOC Images.
Walking into La Bodega, it’s almost as if you’re transported to the Dominican Republic with their warm atmosphere, tasty smells and tropical decor.
On Saturday Feb. 22, La Bodega hosted a Mercadito Dominicano where Dominican vendors and entrepreneurs sold jewelry, pins, accessories, hair products and more, ahead of Dominican Independence Day on Thursday, Feb. 27.
“Dominicans are people that work hard. We have a big heart. When you go to a Dominican home, you feel that you’re really welcomed,” Luisa Pascual, a Dominican artist told Slice of Culture. “We try to make people feel good!”
Pascual is a Dominican artist from New York who was selling personalized cups with designs like a tropical flower, the Dominican flag and foods from Dominican Republic like tres golpes (a dish consisting of fried cheese, pickled onions, fried salami, fried egg and mangu, another traditional food).
Other vendors included Numa Torres who makes sandals of all styles, colors, patterns and her favorite design—her unique butterfly.
Raysa Veras, another Dominican artist from the Bronx, makes intricate handmade earrings with colors and designs like that of her country’s flag through her brand, Rouge Hoops.
Traditionally, Dominicans celebrate their independence through parades, dancing and dressing up as unique carnival characters. Santo Domingo, the country’s capital, hosts one of the largest parades, remembering what happened in those same streets centuries ago.
The History
The Dominican Republic ended the 22-year long Haitian reign in the country.
A group known as La Trinitaria seized the fortress of Puerta del Conde in the city of Santo Domingo, which began the Dominican War of Independence.
In 1838, three educated Dominicans named Juan Pablo Duarte, Ramón Matías Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez founded a resistance organization called La Trinitaria because they decided to operate in three different sections.
Not knowing what other groups were planning, they sought to gather support from the public in order to create a well-organized regime.
Word was spread that the Haitian army had insight on their plans to overthrow the Haitian government, so La Trinitaria took over 100 men and stormed Puerta del Conde, forcing the Haitian army out of Santo Domingo.
Sánchez fired a cannon shot from the fort and raised the blue, red and white flag of the Dominican Republic, which still flies over the country today.
To honor the day, you can check out these artists online and visit La Bodega, located at 407 Palisade Ave. in Jersey City, for a taste of Dominican culture.
