u/Caribbeandude04

For most countries that used to be colonies the answer tends to be our independence day, (for the Dominican Republic our indepdendence from Haiti in February 27th, 1844)

The Cigua Palmera (our national bird), is a small song bird which in nature builds communal nests on Palm Trees, but in cities they have adapted to building them in light posts.

Is there any species native to you country who has done something similar?

Basically, which genre or style of music from your country tends to be associated with heartbreak, lament and sorrow? In the Dominican Republic it would be old school Bachata, traditionally songs talk about people suffering from love

These are the most traditional ones in the Dominican Republic:

1- The base of a leaf of a Royal Palm (known as yagüita): these are used as sleds to slide down grassy hills, pretty fun!

2- A Flamboyant tree seed pod: it's hard shell and many seeds makes it perfect for a maraca! It produces a rattling sound and it's boomerang shape makes it perfect to throw at someone or just for fun to hear the noise it makes.

3- Manila palm seeds (known as coquitos "little coconuts"): about the size of a big marble this innocent looking fruit has witnessed uncountable epic battles between kids throwing it against each other weather by hand, slingshot or PVC pipe with a balloon on one side. It's hard shell when green but kinda bouncy properties makes it the perfect projectile to hurt but not harm the enemy.

4- An Amapola or African Tulip seed pod: this one doesn't need much explanation, when the pod opens and releases all of the seeds, the empty husk looks exactly like a little boat, when it rains you can throw it down the gutter and follow it down the street, perhaps even race your friends; or just have epic imaginary voyages around the sea

My favorite is the Mingolo Mango, extremely sweet, fragrant and flavorful. Very little fibers and dense meat. Other very popular varieties here are the banilejo and gota de oro mangoes, all coming from the province of Peravia, the major mango producer in the country

This is the only surviving cotton Cemi (idol) from the Taino culture, the indigenous people of the Greater Antilles. This particular Cemi has a real human skull as it's head, probably from a very important person.

They also made woodden, clay and rock Cemis and plenty of those survive, but the perishable nature of cotton has made that only one survived. It's currently in the italian city of Turin