--- title: "Dominican Christmas" url: https://www.casadecampo.com.do/blog/2016/12/19/dominican-christmas/ date: 2016-12-19 modified: 2026-09-02 lang: en author: "Casa de Campo" description: "Here in the Dominican Republic, we take Christmas seriously! The holiday season starts near the end of October and continues into January, making Casa de Campo Resort & Villas the..." categories: - "Blog" image: https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Cup-1_-Horizontal-Altos-Holiday-900x550-1.jpg word_count: 499 --- # Dominican Christmas ## Key Takeaways - Casa de Campo Resort & Villas starts its Christmas season near the end of October and continues into January, with festive lights, nativity scenes, carolers, and fireworks across the property and streets. - Altos de Chavón hosts Christmas music on December 24th and 25th, with the Madrigalistas Choir performing traditional carols and the Armonia Choir offering a family-friendly, interactive Christmas Concert. - Casa de Campo adds December 25th Santa visits at Plaza de Chavon and a Christmas Eve feast at La Piazzetta Restaurant, followed by Christmas Eve Mass at St. Stanislaus Church and an eggnog toast. Here in the Dominican Republic, we take Christmas seriously! The holiday season starts near the end of October and continues into January, making Casa de Campo Resort & Villas the perfect place to immerse yourself in the festive spirit. ## Celebrate ![A choir sings during a Dominican Christmas celebration at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Choir.jpeg) The revelry here begins on the streets. Lights twinkle from lamp posts and palms, while nativity scenes decorate the lawns and windows of shops and government buildings. Giant Poinsettias bloom outside of homes, while inside, snowy white Christmas trees replace evergreens. Over the noise of fireworks, carolers can be heard traveling door to door, visiting with neighbors and chatting over coffee, rum, and homemade ginger tea. Music can also be heard throughout the streets of [Altos de Chavón](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/), as we celebrate Christmas Dominican-style. Listen to the Madrigalistas Choir perform traditional Christmas carols on December 24th, or stop by on the 25th to enjoy the Armonia Choir's family-friendly, interactive Christmas Concert. ## Give ![Santa and his elves at Altos de Chavon, Dominican Republic](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Santas-Arrival.jpeg)Traditionally, January 6th, *Dia de los Reyes Magos* (Day of the Kings) is the day we exchange gifts in the Dominican Republic. At Casa de Campo, we've added a twist to our celebrations by having Santa visit on December 25th. After all, with so many guests visiting from away, we couldn’t exclude the jolly fellow from our holiday festivities. Gather with family as Santa arrives at Plaza de Chavon to meet the kiddies and hand out treats. Of course, there’s no need to wait for Santa to bring presents. Get into the local spirit and set up *Un Angelito* (little angel) gift exchange. Like Secret Santa, participants draw names and leave anonymous gifts each week throughout the holidays, revealing themselves on the final day of the exchange. You need not look far for ideas either, the shops at Casa de Campo boast a large selection of holiday gifts options. From locally crafted jewelry and cigars to designer goods, we’ve got your gift guide covered. ## Feast ![A festive turkey dinner.](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TurkeyDinner.png)For Dominicans, the real highlight of the season is not Christmas day, but *Nochebuena *(Christmas Eve), when friends and family gather to enjoy a feast. Some seasonal favorites include roast pork or chicken, Russian salad, bread, sweets, and the famed *pasteles en hojas*, a steamed banana leaf wrapped pouch filled with meat, cheese, and vegetables. After dinner, locals usually spend the evening on their porches, enjoying wine or rum and socializing with family and neighbors before Midnight Mass. Here at Casa de Campo, we replicate this communal celebration for our guests by holding our own Christmas Eve celebrations. At Plaza Chavón, we are proud to host our own delicious traditional feast at La Piazzetta Restaurant. Following dinner, we invite guests of all denominations to stop by Christmas Eve Mass at St. Stanislaus Church, and cap off your night with an eggnog toast before whisking off to bed with thoughts of sugar plums dancing in your head. Just because you’re away for the holidays, doesn’t mean you can’t feel at home. Visit our [events](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/events/) page for more details on Casa de Campo’s holiday celebrations. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: When does Christmas season start in the Dominican Republic at Casa de Campo?** A: The holiday season starts near the end of October and runs into January, so Casa de Campo, Casa De Campo, Casadecampo gives you a much longer Christmas window than a typical one-day celebration. That matters if you want to plan around events, meals, and family visits instead of squeezing everything into December 24 or 25. The page also points readers to the [events](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/events/) page for more details on holiday celebrations. **Q: What Christmas events happen in Altos de Chavón?** A: Altos de Chavón is where the music-focused Christmas celebrations happen. On December 24th, the Madrigalistas Choir performs traditional Christmas carols, and on December 25th the Armonia Choir puts on a family-friendly, interactive Christmas Concert. If you want the most festive public atmosphere on property, this is the part of Casa de Campo to watch. For more context on the area itself, see [Altos de Chavón](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/experiences/altos-de-chavon/). **Q: What is the best way to do Christmas gifts in the Dominican Republic?** A: The local tradition is to exchange gifts on January 6th for Dia de los Reyes Magos, but Casa de Campo adds Santa on December 25th for guests who are celebrating earlier. That gives families two different holiday rhythms to work with: local tradition or a more familiar Christmas morning setup. The page also mentions Un Angelito, a Secret Santa-style exchange where names are drawn and anonymous gifts are left each week through the holidays. **Q: What should I expect from Christmas Eve dinner in Dominican culture?** A: Nochebuena, or Christmas Eve, is the main meal of the season in Dominican culture, not Christmas Day. The page lists roast pork or chicken, Russian salad, bread, sweets, and pasteles en hojas as seasonal favorites, followed by time on porches with wine or rum before Midnight Mass. At Casa de Campo, that communal feel is recreated with a traditional feast at La Piazzetta Restaurant in Plaza Chavón. **Q: Is Casa de Campo a good place for a family Christmas trip?** A: Casa de Campo works well for families because the page mixes kid-friendly moments with broader holiday traditions. Santa arrives at Plaza de Chavon to meet children and hand out treats, while the Armonia Choir concert is described as family-friendly and interactive. That combination matters if you want something beyond a standard resort stay: kids get holiday activities, and adults still get Nochebuena dinner and Christmas Eve Mass at St. Stanislaus Church.