As a loud and proud Dominican and Puerto Rican, I grew up going to the parties that made me who I am today. From Nochebuena, Thanksgiving, birthdays, and even backyard summer days, these parties hold a special place in my heart with memories that will last a lifetime.
This is a love letter to the family who raised me, the family friend’s parties I grew up with, and the millions of Hispanics who can relate to what makes these parties so messy but so sweet. To my fellow DominiRican friends all across the world, I’m certain you’ll find yourself agreeing with what it is that makes these parties forever special, from the time we were 10 years old and begging our parents to go home, to being the ones who will soon host these very functions in our future homes.
The music
You can’t have a party without the music. In fact, the music starts bright and early when your parents are cleaning the house and come to your room to tell you to start cleaning yours, even though no one will be entering it. In my household, the music always started with salsa and artists like Marc Anthony, Frankie Ruiz, Tony Vega, Eddie Santiago, Victor Manuelle, and so forth. Or, if I slept over my grandma’s the night before, I’d wake up to radio host Alex Sensation playing bachata, merengue, and salsa from artists like Aventura, Tito Nieves, Raulin Rodriguez, Anthony Santos, and many more.
However, whether the party is for a birthday, holiday, or a random summer day, there are several classics that can’t be missed, all included in my playlist, “dominirican party,” with over 100 bangers to prepare you for when it’s your turn to host. From old school reggaeton to salsa and merengue, this playlist is composed of all the hits your mom, grandams, aunts, and uncles make you stand up and dance to until 3 a.m. as if the night is never-ending. However, the music is the one thing that keeps the party going, and no matter where you look, you will see someone dancing and the small kids jumping, ready for the next party and the one after that.
the food
Similar to music, you can’t have a party without there being food, and we all know how famous the Caribbean is for our food full of flavor, color, vibrancy, and most importantly, love. I’m eternally grateful to have grown up with my dad’s mouthwatering arroz con gandules, pernil, and empanadillas; my mom’s potato salad and ensalada de coditos; and my grandma’s Dominican cake, flan, and habichuelas con dulce.
Whether it’s these exact foods or not, the food is a staple to every party and what every kid, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, and family friend looks most forward to. Along with our music, our food is what brings us together at each table and is the very gateway to start gossiping about events and people we probably shouldn’t be talking about in the first place. If you’ve ever been to a Dominican or Puerto Rican party, you know exactly the comfort that comes with eating the food that’s made with such pride and care. If you have yet to go to one, just know that if there’s one thing to take away, it’ll be how you instantly fall in love from your first bite.
the people
Now, what’s a party without the people? First up, you have the families with kids who (no offense Mami) are always late because of the moms who take so long to get ready and are still signing the birthday card upon arriving to the party. Next, you have the family members who are feuding over an issue that happened well over 10 years ago but still love each other and remain calm for the sake of the children, and so the party doesn’t turn into war. Then, you have the random children — sometimes cousins — sleeping in some bedroom or on chairs at 1 a.m. when you just want to lay down and take a break from dancing for hours on end. And why are you dancing for all that time? Because your mom, grandmas, aunts, and uncles grab your hand, pull you up from your seat, and make you dance to 20 songs that each feel an hour long.
However, all these people and many more are exactly what make the parties ever so unique. While talking to my sisters about the “did you knows,” dancing with my grandma, and watching the genuine smiles on everyone’s faces, I wouldn’t change it for the world. The people are what quite literally embody the spirit of the party and give it purpose, and without each of these individuals, it really wouldn’t be the same.
the Photos
At every party, there are moms and aunts who must be taking pictures. Whether it’s of themselves and the selfies they’ll later post on Facebook, or of others being told to gather with their siblings and cousins, there are hundreds of photos taken each time. With the kids complaining that they want to sit down, it’s always “una más,” which really turns into 20 more, and with many people you may not even know.
However, as annoying as posing can be to ensure the perfect photo is taken, these are the moments that are looked back on to admire when we grow older. When going through photo albums, I appreciate the many moments that were captured at parties when my family and I were younger. I even find myself asking, “who’s that?” about a random kid I’m sitting next to when my mom replies, “I don’t even know.”
While you can never relive moments that have passed, photos are the closest way to make that possible, documenting valuable memories with the people and emotions that deserve to be remembered forever. Looking back at one of my earliest New Year’s Eves, I adore the joy on my sister’s and my faces as we stand by the colorful Christmas tree in our small Washington Heights apartment, and am grateful for our beautiful sisterhood from nearly a decade ago.
Continuing the Legacy
Knowing all that makes a DominiRican party, it’s only right to continue carrying on the legacy. From the music, the food, the people, and the photos, I’m honored by the culture and traditions that have shaped my outgoing, prideful, and loud persona. Thank you to my family and family friends who have created memories that will always be part of who I am and hold a place in my heart that’s irreplaceable.
I hope to one day make the same memories for those who are part of the hours spent celebrating life and the heritage passed down from our Dominican and Puerto Rican ancestors. Whether you share the same background or not, simply coming together to enjoy life is what makes these days truly honorable. While we may often overlook or take advantage of these special days, it’s important to remember who they make us and the beauty they will forever continue to encapsulate.