Rebecca Brayton: This festival has been held in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic since the 1500s. Hi, I’m Rebecca Brayton and welcome to watchmojo.com and today, we’ll be learning about Carnival and the DR.

February is the time when the Dominican Republic comes alive. City streets are crowded with locals and tourists alike. This celebration is a countrywide phenomenon which varies from city to city, region to region.

Many cities have their own styles of masks and carnival characters that they bring to the celebration. Sundays are the most glitzy and flashy part of the festival. Participants dress vibrantly in costumes created months in advance by local artisans.

The most popular mask and costume at the parade is the Diablos Cojuelos or horned devils. These devils are referred to as the punishers of the parade while spectators are the sinners. The devils therefore punish the crowds by using innocuous weapons such as water balloons.

Whereever you are in the country, it’s likely that celebrations will last late into the night with local beer and rum flowing freely.