On the 18th of March, Aruba celebrates our Dia di Himno y Bandera, the day in which Aruba got itâs own flag and anthem. During this day, locals will celebrate by proudly wearing the colors of our flag, Blue, White, Red and Yellow, as well as adorning cars, houses and themselves with the beautiful Aruba flag.
From the start of the week, various schools had special activities to teach the children about the history and importance of this special day.
The celebration starts with a Protocol Act in presence of the islandâs Governor, Alfonso Boekhoudt, during which our prime minister delivered a speech.
Yesterday the island was vibrant with lots of celebrations of Aruba culture. Cultural sites like the Library, Museums, and the National Park all had special activities to conmemorate, which included history readings, special walks, and a wide variety of possibilities to truly savor the local cuisine!
Arubaâs National Anthem :âARUBA DUSHI TERAâ
In the years 1975 and 1976, the government wanted to give Aruba itâs own national anthem and flag, since these two are the symbols that identify of each country. The flag and anthem are symbols of love and patriotism. It was Gilberto François âBeticoâ Croes who made this special request.
âAruba Dushi Teraâ is the name of our national anthem. The history of this song started in 1951. It was a composition of two very well-known musicians, Rufo Wever and Juan Chabaya âPaduâ Lampe. They felt the urge to compose a song that would express the love of our people for our island and the feeling of patriotism of each person.
Together with âDe Trupialenâ group and under the guidance of FrĂšre Alexius they managed to put this song in their repertoire with the purpose of making it popular. The song became very popular in a short time. In 1954, they even recorded the song on a long play disc. The song was played during every official ceremony of Aruba.
In the 70âs installed a comisiĂłn consisting of Maybeline Arends-Croes, Rufo Odor, Padu Lampe, Eddy Bennet, Hubert âLioâ Booi y Rufo Wever to see if they could proclaim âAruba Dushi teraâ as the national anthem. The commitee unanimously recommended this to be played on the air waves. By that time, a third verse had been added which stated the cordiality and the love of freedom for our island.
On March 16th, 1976, the island council approved âAruba Dushi Teraâ as the Arubaâs national anthem, and on March 18th, 1976, during an oficial ceremony at the Wilhelmina Stadium in Dakota, the flag was raised for the first time while âAruba Dushi Teraâ resonated for the first time as the national anthem of Aruba. The presentation was under the guidance of Maybeline Arends-Croes, together with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Aruba directed by Joy Kock.
Lyrics of âAruba Dushi Teraâ:
Aruba patria aprecia,
nos cuna venera,
chikito y simpel bo por ta
pero si respeta.
Refrain: O, Aruba, Dushi tera,
nos baranca tan stima
nos amor pa bo tâasina grandi
cu nâtin nada pa kibre!
Bo playanan tan admira
cu palma tur dorna,
bo escudo y bandera ta
orguyo di nos tur!
Refrain: O, Aruba, Dushi tera, etc.
nos baranca tan stima.
nos amor pa bo tâasina grandi
cu nâtin nada pa kibrâe!
Grandesa di bo pueblo ta
su gran cordialidad,
cu Dios por guia y conserva
su amor pa libertad!
Refrain: O, Aruba , dushi tera,
nos baranca tan stima.
Nos amor pa bo tâ asina grandi
cu nâtin nada pa kibrâe!
cu nâtin nada pa kibrâe!
