Kites
Seasonal street vendors appear at different times of the year here. The largest group arrives in late October and stays until Christmas, selling candies and fruits that are not generally available here (apples, pears, grapes).
Another group selling toys appears at Christmas and stays until Epiphany. The major gift exchange here is on Epiphany (when the three wise men arrived with their gifts) rather than Christmas Day. Consequently, the big shopping rush here begins at Christmas and ends very shortly thereafter.
Another seasonal vendor is the kite salesman. He shows up just prior to Independence Day (27 February). The week before Independence Day is called Dominican Week and is marked by special events, school pageants, and the like. It is a festive time.
Shortly, thereafter comes Carnival – a good kite selling time.
And then Lent and Holy Week arrive. Paradoxically, perhaps, Lent and Holy Week are also good times for kite vendors. Lent is often seen as a good vacation time.
Holy Week is especially seen as a vacation week. Some say that during Holy Week the whole Dominican population divides into three groups:
1) Those that go to the beach.
2) Those that go to church.
3) Those that try to do both.
Of those groups, two out of three might be in the market for a kite.
PPOTW 034