Bryan Morris - Aruba’s Premier Wedding Photographer

On March 18th, 1948 during a Netherlands-Suriname-Curacao conference in the Hague, the seeds of independence and a National Day for Aruba were sown by the then Aruban leader Shon A. Eman who presented a petition signed by more than 2000 Arubans in favor of independence.

Almost thirty years later during a parliamentary session on March 16th, 1976, it was agreed that March 18th would be Aruba’s National Day - the day to celebrate Aruba’s national anthem and flag and this was celebrated for the first time in 1976.

Exactly 10 years later, in 1986 also on this important date, Aruba celebrated the achievement by Betico Croes of a dream that had been three generations in the making - Status Aparte - an autonomous status withing the kingdom of the Netherlands. On this date in 1996, a monument was inaugurated in remembrance of the 2.147 people who, back in 1947 and 1948 had signed a petition in favor of Status Aparte.

Aruba’s National Anthem, “Aruba Dushi Tera” is a waltz composed by Juan Chabaya “Padu” Lampe (lyrics) and Rufo Wever (music)

The Aruba flag has four colors: Bunting Yellow, Larkspur (or U.N.) Blue, Union Jack Red and White. The flag of Aruba consists of a red star with white outline set against a sea-blue background with two parallel yellow stripes.

The star symbolizes the four points of the compass, denoting the varied source of more than 40 nationalities living in Aruba. Each of these colors is significant: the color RED symbolizes love for the country and the WHITE outline surrounding it represents the white sandy beaches around Aruba as well as the purity of Aruba’s inhabitants who respect justice, freedom and righteousness. The BLUE color of the flag denotes the color of the surrounding sea.

The TWO yellow stripes on the flag denote the free position of Aruba with respect to the Netherlands and other islands while maintaining closeness with them.

The YELLOW color is used to symbolize abundance - as evidenced by the sources of economic and industrial prosperity, representing the island’s past and present industries of gold, aloë, tourism, the oil refinery and so forth.

Aruba Dushi Tera

Aruba patria aprecia

nos cuna venera

chikito y simpel bo por ta

pero si respeta

Chorus:

O, Aruba, dushi tera

Nos baranca tan stima

nos amor pa bo t’asina grandi

cu n’tin nada pa kibre

Bo playanan tan admira

cu palma tur dorna

bo escudo y bandera ta

orgullo di nos tur!

Chorus

Grandeza di bo pueblo ta

su gran cordialidad

cu Dios por guia y conserva

su amor pa libertad!

Chorus

Congratulations Aruba,

Bryan Morris