Holidays & Observances in Aruba

Aruba is a Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela. It is an autonomous state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and has its own constitution, but still falls under the Netherlands’ jurisdiction. It is a multicultural country with several different languages and religions, though the official language is Dutch and the predominant religion is Roman Catholicism. Many people in Aruba and surrounding islands still practice a religion called Santeria, which developed during the slave era as a mix of Catholicism and traditional African religions. Because of its association with the Netherlands, Aruba celebrates many of the same holidays including St. Nicolas’s Day, and Queen’s Day. Holidays are celebrated enthusiastically with food, family, and often gift giving.