Culture

Aruba's culture has many influences from other countries. Many believe this to degrade Aruba's culture, but the Arubans see this blend as being one of the unique things of the Aruban culture. Old traditions are mixed with modern influences, but the Arubans have their own way of making the Aruban culture their own. Some original Aruban festivities include Betico Day, Dera Gay, and the day of the Flag and Anthem.

Of course, Aruba also celebrates the yearly carnival, and many families keep with the practice and festivities of the Catholic liturgical year.

Today the Aruban population is mixed with people from South America (mainly Venezuela and Colombia), China and The Netherlands. These bring their own traditions and culture to the island.

Aruban People

Arubans are a people of striking appearance and are known for their warm and friendly personality. In fact the earliest inhabitants of the island were a peace-loving tribe, the Arawak Indians who were mainly farmers and fishermen. Arawak cave paintings and rock art designs are still well preserved although their significance continues to baffle historians.

Geologists have also found clay pottery and other artifacts in recent excavations showing the fine craftsmanship and artistic prowess that the Arawaks enjoyed. These qualities are a shared source of inspiration for many contemporary Aruban craftsmen and artists.

Some typical Aruban attributes such as high cheekbones are clear manifestations of Indian ancestry, although through the ages different nationalities such as the Spanish and Dutch have also left their mark on Aruban genealogy. Further blending of the population came about with the advent of increased industrialization and commercialization of the island. A fact that illustrates this blending is the fact that the present population of about 100,000 is comprised of over forty nationalities, besides original Arubans.

Religion

Although the predominant religion on the island is Roman Catholic, many other religions are also practiced and have their own places of worship and relative services. Outlined below are the main religious services.

St. Fransiscus Church (Catholic)

Oranjestad
Tel. +297 582 1434
Daily at 7:00 pm | Sundays at 6:30 am, 8:00 am, 10:00am and 7:00 pm.

St. Anna Church (Catholic)

Noord.
Tel. +297 587 1409
Saturdays at 7:00 pm | Sundays at 7:30 am and 6:00 pm.

Church Of San Nicolas (Catholic)

St. Theresitaplein 8. San Nicolas.
Tel. +297 584 5118

Protestant Church

Wilhelminastraat 1, Oranjestad.
Tel. +297 582 1435.
Sundays 10:30 am English & Dutch.

Beth Israel Synagogue

Adriaan Lacle Boulevard 2, Oranjestad.
Tel. +297 582 3272
Fridays at 7:30 pm

Corporate Impact Ministries

Caya Betico Croes 175. Oranjestad.
Phone: +297 593 5609
Sunday Service 09:00 am to 11:00 am
Wednesday Bible Class 07:30 pm to 09:00 pm
Services are in English
For transportation call from Monday to Friday +297 593 5609 between 08:30 am to 05:00 pm

Cristo Rey

Brazil 39, Brazil, San Nicolas.
Tel. +297 584 7106
Pastor Jairo Rodrigo Maduro. Monday to Friday 7:00 pm | Saturday & Sunday 9:00 am and 7:00pm

Bible-Way Baptist Church

Bernhardstraat 18. San Nicolas.
Tel. +297 584 8491
Pastor J.M. Hostetler. Sundays 9:30 & 10:30 am

Church Of Christ

Pastoor Hendrikstraat 107. San Nicolas.
Tel. +297 584 9733
Sunday Morning Bible Study: 9:30 Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30
Sunday Evening Worship: 6:00
Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00
Ladies Bible Class: Every 2nd and 4th Thursday: 7:00 p.m.

Church Of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints

Dadelstraat #16 (Oranjestad)
Tel. +297 582 3507
Sundays at 8:00 a.m.

Nijhoffstraat#148 (San Nicolas)

Tel. +297 731 0041
Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Language: English

Seroe Colorado Community Church

Seroe Colorado 244 (English non-denomination)
Worship Sundays 8:30 am.
Pr: Rev. Ernst Stutterheim
Phone: 00297 582 1435 ; Cell: +297 660 9870 (Diandra Alders)

Evangelical Church San Nicolas

Jasmijnstraat 7, San Nicolas.
Tel. +297 584 6759
Sundays 10:00 am

Holy Cross Anglican Church

Weg Seroe Pretoe #31, San Nicolas.
Tel. +297 584 5142
Sundays 8:00 am | Wednesday 6:00 pm | Fridays 7:00 am (English)

Jehovah's Witnesses

Guyabastraat #3.
Tel. +297 582 8963.
Meeting 7:15pm. Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays.

Methodist

Longfellowstraat. English.
Tel. +297 584 5243.
Oranjestad Sundays 11:00 am | San Nicolas 8:00 am | Brazil 11:00 am.

New Apostolic Church

Goletstraat 5A, Oranjestad.
Tel. +297 583 3762.
Saturdays 7:00 pm | Wednesdays 7:00 pm.

Pentecostal Apostolic Assembly

Church service on Sunday at 10:30 am
8 & 7:00pm. Bernardstr. #185.
Tel. +297 584 8710 / +297 584 5699.

Seventh Day Adventist Church

Weststraat, Oranjestad
Dr. Schaepmanstraat 3, San Nicolas.
Tel. +297 584 5896
Saturdays at 9:15 am | Sundays & Wednesdays 7.30 pm

Faith Revival Center

Rooi Afo 10, Paradera
Tel. +297 583 1010 / +297 583 3070
Sundays from 10am to 12pm and from 6pm - 8pm.

Baha'i Faith

Bucutiweg 19
Call Mr. Christian at Tel. +297 582 3104

Chapel Of Alto Vista

Noord
Tuesdays at 5:30 pm.

Betico Croes

A young ambitious schoolmaster/politician from the A.V.P. became the leader of a new political party - M.E.P. (Movimiento Electoral di Pueblo). This ambitious young politician emerged as the driving force for the next generation towards the realization of our new "Status Aparte" in the Dutch Kingdom. This was achieved in 1985 and made official as of 1st January 1986. Mr. Gilberto François Croes (better known as "Betico Croes") became the modern "liberator" of the Aruban cause, namely to become an independent partner within the Royal Dutch Kingdom.

Today, Aruba can look back and be thankful that 60 years ago the A.V.P. started off a cause that allows our island, through substantial economic reforms of the P.P.A. and the very persistant struggle of the M.E.P., to be proudly recognized as a highly successful, well-developed and tourism-oriented island economy within the Royal Dutch Kingdom.

Every year on 25th January, Arubans continue to celebrate Betico's birthday, which is a national holiday.