Our family had not spent New Year’s Eve in Aruba in many years so we had forgotten just what a celebration it is! Fireworks are legal in Aruba so in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve the sound of fireworks can be heard all over the island. On New Year’s Day many businesses and families light a “pagara”, which is a long string of Chinese firecrackers that represent a celebration of the success of the past year while helping to ward off evil spirits in the coming year. Most of the largest pagaras are set off around noon on New Year’s Eve as companies close early so their employees can go home to their families. One of the largest pagaras in Savaneta, at one million pieces (!), is just two doors down at Rancho Josey Bar. They will literally block the road, lay the pagara down and set it off! The intensity builds from noon until midnight as fireworks can be heard and seen all over the island. Because the Old Aloe House is set high on a hill the view in all directions is breathtaking.

Aruban families typically “open” the New Year at home and if the family has a pagara, the youngest child helps to light it and the same child also takes the first step back into the house after midnight. Both traditions are meant to bring good luck in the coming year.

The celebration is far from over though because after midnight the parties begin! Our kids are grown so we stopped by “Machi’s house” to wish our mother a Happy New Year and continued to a party near the beach with three bands, an open bar and hors d'oeuvres. New Year’s Eve parties in Aruba don’t end until the sun comes up!   

Dande is also an important part of Aruba’s New Year celebration. Similar to our caroling in the United States at Christmas, the Dande is comprised of small groups of people bringing music and wishes of good cheer from house to house. A hat is passed for tips that will be split later.

Now that the New Year has arrived it’s time to look forward to the next big celebration in Aruba….Carnival!