On 18 March, we will once again celebrate our National Anthem and Flag Day. 

Since 1976, with great pride, we sing Aruba Dushi Tera, and we proudly fly our blue, yellow, red, and white flags. Each year offers us more to celebrate, and so we honour those who left us with these distinctive symbols of our nationality.

Our national colours, flag, coat of arms, anthem, and Baile di Cinta (Ribbon Dance) reveal our journey as a nation and make us proud. In them, we see our past, but they also point us toward our future.

As the day approaches, we want to fan into flame your patriotism. Let’s take a look at our national emblems.

The National Anthem

Aruba Dushi Tera

Aruba patria aprecia

nos cuna venera

chikito y simpel bo por ta

pero si respeta.

Refran:

O, Aruba, dushi tera

nos baranca tan stima

nos amor p’abo t’asina grandi

cu n’tin nada pa kibre (bis)

Bo playanan tan admira

cu palma tur dorna

bo escudo y bandera ta

orgullo di nos tur!

Refran:

O, Aruba, dushi tera

nos baranca tan stima

nos amor p’abo t’asina grandi

cu n’tin nada pa kibre (bis)

Grandeza di bo pueblo ta

su gran cordialidad

cu Dios por guia y conserva

su amor pa libertad!

Refran:

O, Aruba, dushi tera

nos baranca tan stima

nos amor p’abo t’asina grandi

cu n’tin nada pa kibre (bis)

Did you know? The national anthem of Aruba, Aruba Dushi Tera, or, in English, Aruba Precious Country, is a waltz composed by Juan “Padu” Lampe, Rufo Wever and Hubert Booi. Padu is said to have arranged the music and performed the song. Wever wrote the lyrics, with Booi contributing the last stanza. 

The Flag

The flag comprises a red star outlined in white against a sea-blue background with two yellow stripes running parallel.

According to World Atlas, the star represents the four points of the compass and denotes the varied source of more than 40 nationalities living in Aruba. The red star symbolises the love of the country, the star’s white outline represents the surrounding white sandy beaches of Aruba, and the blue represents the colour of the sea.

Lastly, the two yellow stripes represent Aruba’s relationship with the Netherlands; though autonomous, the island maintains a close relationship with the sovereign state. 

Did you know? Over 700 designs were entered in a competition to select the new flag. To create a flag that would represent all Arubans, the Flag Commission decided to use the ideas submitted by Arubans during the entire contest. The present-day flag emerged from a sampling of the varied designs and colours.

The Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms has seven components. They are the aloe plant, Hooiberg, the handshake, the gear, the lion and the laurel.

VisitAruba provides this description of the arms:

The Aloe plant signifies Aruba’s first source of prosperity. While Hooiberg, Aruba’s second-highest point of elevation and its most recognisable landmark, symbolises Aruba rising out of the sea.

The handshake represents Aruba’s friendly ties with other nations and people, politically and economically. And, the gear symbolises industry. The cross in the centre denotes devotion and faith. Next, the lion, sitting atop the Coat of Arms, signifies power and generosity, and the laurel leaves symbolise peace and friendship.

Did you know? Atelier voor Heraldische Kuns of Holland designed the arms. However, it was later modified to reflect symbols relevant to Aruba.   

Baile di Cinta

Our National Flag and Anthem Day could not be had without Baile di Cinta (Ribbon Dance). Male and female dancers clad gaily in our national colours dance as they simultaneously weave blue, yellow, red and white ribbons down a pole.

Did you know? Maypole dancing, in which Baile di Cinta has its roots, originated in Western Europe. It travelled through the British Isles and, in Great Britain, became associated with a spring fertility ritual. Usually, it was performed on 1 May or Mayday. Today, variations of maypole dancing are practised in some European countries and India. 

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Happy Independence Day from your Yello Aruba team!

Sources: VisitAruba, World Atlas and Aruba.