The people of Aruba traditionally visit family & friends on Christmas & Boxing day and New Year's day. Christmas decor starts as of October 1st in downtown, shops & homes. On Dec 31st, all businesses and houses also light up a pagara which is a string of firecrackers to ward off all back luck.
SAINT NICOLAS DAY—December 5
On December 5th, children receive gifts from “Sinterklaas” (Saint Nicolas) because its his birthday. Sinterklaas, dressed in bishop's robes and accompanied by his “Zwarte Pieten” (helpers), officially arrives in Aruba a couple of weeks before his birthday. His arrival by boat at Paardenbaai Harbor in Oranjestad is celebrated with great fanfare. Brass bands head the parade through downtown Oranjestad as children enjoy their first glimpse of the season of Sinterklaas. Treats of spice cookies and candies are passed out to the children by his helpers. In the days before December 5, hopeful children leave out shoes and treats for Sinterklaas' white horse in anticipation of Sinterklaas' nighttime arrival. Sinterklaas and his helpers are often spotted during the daytime at events sponsored by schools and commercial establishments.
The Dande
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New Year Day celebrations in Aruba include a number of cultural traditions, the main one is called Dande. The name Dande, also spelled Dandee, derives from the Papiamento word, Dandara, meaning to revel, to carouse, or to have a good time. A group of five to six people (or more) usually form a musical band, and accompany a singer, traveling door-to-door to express their best wishes and blessings for the New Year.
The quick-paced melody driven by guitar, accordion, rasp and drum beat, signals the arrival of the Dande group. The singer begins to spin his or her own variation of an age-old song bespeaking of both blessings and the promise of opportunities for the coming year.The chorus consists of the words "ai nobe"(aña nobo) – "new year" – which is sung after each phrase. The celebratory travel usually leads to the houses of the singers' friends and family, where the host collects money in his hat to give to the group. Certain districts may have their own Dande groups performing till the sixth day of the year.
Each year a festival is organized to elect the Dande King or Queen. The festival usually takes place on the last Saturday of the year. In 2007, the festival celebrates its 36th anniversary as it has been taking place since 1971. |
The Gaita's
As December approaches, the harmonious voices of the Gaita groups signal the start of the holiday season. Gaita is the name of a Venezuelan folk music from Maracaibo state which was adopted by Aruba. According to Joan Corominas, it originates from gaits, Gothic for "goat."
The music and the rhythm was born in early the 60s and was popularized in the middle 70s, eventually it fused with other types of music like salsa and merengue. The Gaita in the modern day, consists of approximately 18 to 20 musicians dominating (not the original instrument) such as: piano, bass guitar, guitar and (the original instrument) such as: Cuarta, tambore, raspa (Guiro), wiri and furucu.
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These groups start composing and arranging their songs in June/July and start recording their music in August/October. The Gaita groups perform at public and private celebration activities from beginning of November until December the 25th. |
The Aguinaldo
On the 25th of December another musical tradition enjoyed by the locals also adopted from Venezuela is called “Noche Buena” better known as Aguinaldo or Serenal. This music genre used in paranda, can be compared to Christmas caroling. The musicians announce their arrival thru a song and seek to gain entry to the homes of family and friends to tell the story of the birth of Christ, and to share in joy of the message of Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all men. |
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