Living in Oblivion
The following information is based on the stories told and events observed in different regions of the country.
We do not regard it as complete nor necessarily apt for scientific research as we will not follow strict folkloristic
methodology.
We simply believe we owe our country and our people to keep up traditions, our national identity and spread their knowledge -- so
keep visiting as we will be updating and adding more every month ! -- watch out for the 
Dominicans believe that the name forms an essential part of the person itself, so many people hide their
"identity" by not revealing their real legal names.
You never know whether there is a "vendegete" --a person who sells alive persons to the Devil or another
"bewitched" existence. Only if they knew your real name they could do you any harm !
You even don't entrust members of your family with your full name , not to speak about foreigners.
So how will you be recognized and known by your friends and neighbors ?
Parents give their children an "apodo", something like a nickname which shall not give any clue
at all about their original name, more about their physical appearance like: La Negra (=The black girl) or
El Flaco (=the slim boy)
To make it more confusing La Negra is given the first name of her mother Maria and of her
father Julio -- of course both as well being "as known" names not their real ones ! So for the rest of her
life our girl will be called and known as Maria Julio or la Negra .
Beware of thunder and lightning . . .
In the Tropics you will come across heavy but mostly short thunderstorms not only during hurricane sesason but
all year round. So when you are travelling in the Dominican countryside and you are caught by thunder and ligthning
keep your mouth shut or better take your teeth out ! -- Here is why:
Gold attracts lightning, at least the older generations are telling that over and over. This is why you will see many
older people stop talking or even take their teeth out (if its their third set) during thunderstorms.
But there is much more do's and don'ts to prevent oneself and his home from being struck by lightning. Never
stand in the door and cover all your mirrors with a cloth. And if you want to prevent the strong winds to destroy
your crops use your " machete". Mount this cutting instrument upside down in the "farthest" corner of your house,
this will calm the winds. In the South farmers often even own two machetes: one for working out in the fields, and
one for the wife and kids to "defend" themselves against bad weather.
To prevent the rain from falling at all you shall make a circle of pebble stones in your yard and cover them
with ashes -- and don't forget a traditional "anti - rain " chant or ryhme:
San Isidro Labrador, quita el agua y pon el sol !
Got a mustache and we lend you the money ...
Still today, your hairstyle is regarded as part of your character, so if you are male and do not want to
bring disgrace to your whole family, you are better off with a nice and old fashioned haircut - long hair
is for the girls !
Now, if you are a real man you may grow yourself a mustache or a beard, and let us tell you that
because of their racial inheritance, Dominican have quite a hard time to grow something decent under
their noses. So sporting a big mustache is not only a macho symbol but moreover a sign of being serious, honest and
solvent. About 15 -20 years ago it was still quite common to receive a loan in exchange for your mustache as a
guarantee ! Although we asked a lot of people it could not be determined whether the mustache
you had cut off for the loan was returned to its owner once the money had been paid back.
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