Every November 25 I wear a butterfly, ever since I read Julia Alvarez’s novel In the Time of the Butterflies. The novel, although partially fictionalized, tells the true story of a dark era of the Dominican Republic’s history. General Rafael Trujillo was dictator of the Dominican Republic 1930-1961, and under his tyranny many thousands were murdered. Those who opposed him or neglected to submit to his authority publicly or privately, even for being found without his portrait hanging in their house, would mysteriously be found dead. At the darkest of all moments, in 1937, multiple thousands of Haitian immigrants were massacred to keep their dark skin from mixing with white.

Alvarez’ novel tells the incredible story of the three Mirabal sisters, Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa, who were a part of the underground movement to overthrow Trujillo and were known underground as Las Mariposas (The Butterflies).  On November 25, 1960 they fell into an ambush and were killed, just six months prior to Trujillo’s own assassination. They became the nation’s symbol for all the many thousands who met the same fate. Thus every November 25 butterflies are worn in honor of the fallen.

There was a fourth sister, Dedé, who was not assassinated and has helped to tell the Mirabal story. Author Julia Alvarez is not far removed from the story either. Her father was involved in an underground plot that was cracked by Trujillo’s secret police, and her family escaped to NYC from Trujillo’s tyranny in August 1960. Four months later the Mirabal sisters were killed.

In the Time of the Butterflies captured my heart and became my all-time favorite novel, one I have recommended over and over again. So I wear my pin.

Here's a video of the movie trailer. The movie, however, imo, does not come close to the book in any way:

For my Spanish-speaking friends, here's a video that includes a part of an interview with Dedé and a photo of the sisters: