Christmas 2025
Christmas and New Years are some of the most joy-filled holidays around the world, and the Dominican Republic is no exception to that. Here we celebrate the holidays with color, warmth, and community. Homes and the local streets glow with Christmas trees, lights, wreaths, and decorations from October through December to set the tone for a season everyone eagerly awaits.
On December 24, known here as Noche Buena, families gather for one of the most meaningful meals of the year. The table is full: roasted pork at the center, joined by turkey or chicken, a variety of rice, vegetables, salads, and desserts. Apples, grapes, Dominican Christmas sweets, and classic holiday music complete the festive table setting.
Before anyone begins to eat, families pause to remember the heart of the celebration, the birth of Jesus and the hope He continues to bring. With gratitude the food is blessed, and the evening unfolds often with games, sometimes with karaoke, and almost always with simple family moments together.
A week later, New Year’s Eve, known here as Noche Vieja, brings another common gathering. Often dinner is enjoyed and then everyone waits for the clock to strike midnight. Many offer a countdown, and it’s not uncommon to hear or see a burst of fireworks at exactly 12:00a accompanied by a mix of cheers, kisses, tears, and gratitude. Some celebrate with dancing while others welcome the year in prayer, thanking God for what’s left behind and for what lies ahead.
The Christmas season wraps up on January 6 with Día de los Santos Reyes, when many children receive gifts in honor of the Three Kings.
And throughout this season, neighborhoods echo with aguinaldos (friends and family arriving at your door with a joyful Christmas serenade). It’s unexpected, warm, and so deeply Dominican.
This is Christmas in the Dominican Republic: full of light, family, faith, and celebration.
Our Christmas Wish
As we enter into this season of giving, we’re reminded of the students at Doulos who are still awaiting sponsorship. Your sponsorship means more than just financial support; it means encouragement, support, and stability. It means open doors (spiritually, academically, and personally) and allows you to become part of the story God is writing in that child’s life.
As we close out the year, would you consider stepping in for one of our remaining unsponsored students? This season, as we celebrate the greatest gift ever given, you can give a gift that lasts far beyond this holiday season and echoes into eternity.
If you’d like to be a part of that, you can visit HERE.
Maybe you're sensing a desire to give to Doulos this holiday season but don't want to commit to student sponsorship. If you're interested in supporting the ministry of Doulos in general you can visit HERE to give a one-time year end gift.
Staff Thanksgiving Dinner
Though Thanksgiving Day isn’t celebrated here in the D.R., our staff annually enjoys a meal together. Everyone brings a side to share and it's a beautiful mix of traditional American and Dominican foods. More than anything it is a chance for us all to eat together and signal the start of the Christmas season.
Student Christmas Parties
The day before we start our Christmas break, we have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas during the school day. This means lots of snacks, juice, and fun for each of the classes. Many teachers plan special activities for the kids to enjoy while also keeping the birth of Jesus at the center of all the celebrations.
Christmas Program
On December 11th our students had the opportunity to lead in the Christmas spirit through the annual Christmas program. This whole school event showcases the musical abilities of our students (and even staff!) while centering the season on the birth of Jesus.
Expedition Night
Our students did an incredible job sharing their learning with the community at this semester's Expedition Night! Their creative, fun, and heartfelt presentations generated a huge wave of positive feedback from everyone who attended!
Please join us in praying for...
✨ Staff and Students on Christmas Break: Join us in praying that Christmas break would be full of rest and wonderful time with family for our staff and students!
😀 Sponsorship Students: Join us in praying that our final sponsorship students would find sponsors! We’re so close!
🤝 Future staff: Many have committed but join us in praying that others would be called to serve here!