Firework downtown

[DushiHeidi]

On December 31st downtown around noon or so there will be lots of fireworks. The fireworks are called pagara. They light these traditional fireworks to get rid of the bad from the year before...

Who will be there watching them?

[richconway]

I'm surprised that they have fireworks at noon during the day? Assuming the sun is out, how do you see them well???

[Margarita]

I could be mistaken, but I thought that the Pagara was when the business and home owners set off a grand amount of firecrackers in front of the establishments and homes for good luck and to ward off evil.

Every year I have been in town during the Pagara (daytime) and it is extremely noisy, yet there are no fireworks in the sky.

Ling supermarket has a fireworks display one night during that week (it's pretty nice!)

The best is at midnight when the sky over the whole island is lit up with fireworks for the New Year's celebration. Definitely worth staying up for.

Happy New Year!

[rob o]

To say that they're firecrackers is understating them. They're quarter sticks stung together. It's noisy all-day-long! A real fun time.

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by richconway

I'm surprised that they have fireworks at noon during the day? Assuming the sun is out, how do you see them well???

This is a line of fire CRACKERS on the ground, not fire WORKS display in the air. The noise generated is the attraction which wards off evil in the upcoming New Year.
http://bloggingtoaruba.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/01/aruba-pagara.html explanation and video

[Margarita]

To Rob O,

Sorry, but your response seems a little petty that I used the term firecrackers rather than "quarter sticks." Oh, did you mean "strung together?"

It is a fun time and one has to experience it to understand, but you don't have to be so petty about the verbiage.

[rob o]

Originally Posted by Margarita

To Rob O,

Sorry, but your response seems a little petty that I used the term firecrackers rather than "quarter sticks." Oh, did you mean "strung together?"

It is a fun time and one has to experience it to understand, but you don't have to be so petty about the verbiage.

I'm petty . Yes, I meant strung....forgive me for such a grevious offense.

I've been there....I've experienced it...as I said...it was "a real fun time". I was referring to the question about seeing fireworks at noon that richconway asked about. They are quarter sticks...about 10x the size of firecrackers. These are not to be confused with the night-time fireworks which are also spectacular.

[Edronenburg]

I am absolutely certain that "Rob O" would never intentionally offend anyone. He is a frequent and courteous poster on the site. It is just a matter of semantics...is it not?

[rob o]

Originally Posted by Edronenburg

I am absolutely certain that "Rob O" would never intentionally offend anyone. He is a frequent and courteous poster on the site. It is just a matter of semantics...is it not?

Thank you.....

.....it was New Year's eve 12/31/1997 that got me addicted to Aruba....I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

[Arubensis]

This is a tradition that has been going for a long time.

This in a row Firecrackers are to scare the "FUKU"(Bad Spirits and Ghost) Spelled,Foo-Koo away so the next year will be as good or much better.
Most businesses do close at noon,so they will fire the crackers when they close.

During the new year's eve,people at home will ignite their Firecrackers and fireworks to get rid of the FUKU.

A video on Youtube about some years ago,when 3" inch and above Night Shells where still legal for public use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ3Yqagwx5I

And some other videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uaor6M_8znE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igGPivwq6jU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R53fv...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD9nt...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F6FL...eature=related