Sinterklaas, gaita, Dande and fireworks
The holiday season in Aruba is a mix of Dutch, Latin American and Caribbean traditions. Arubans celebrate Christmas not once but three times: with Sinterklaas on 5 December, Santa Claus on 25 December and the Three Kings on 6 January.
In between there is gaita music, festive food, house-to-house Dande singers and some of the loudest New Year's Eve celebrations in the Caribbean. Here is what to expect if you spend the holidays on the island.
Sinterklaas (5 December)
In the second half of November Sinterklaas arrives by boat in the harbour of Oranjestad, welcomed by hundreds of children. In the weeks that follow, children put out their shoes in the hope of finding a small present in the morning.
On the evening of 5 December families exchange gifts, often wrapped with a playful poem, and eat chocolate letters and other sweets.
The Christmas season
From November onwards you will hear gaita, a festive music style from Venezuela, in shopping centres, restaurants and at family parties. Many families clean and repaint their homes before putting up the decorations.
On Christmas Eve families dress up for mass and wish each other "Bon Pasco" (Merry Christmas) before the holiday dinner. 26 December is also a public holiday, and many locals spend it at the beach.
In Oranjestad the Renaissance Marketplace and Main Street host Christmas markets with lights, music and local crafts in December; check the event calendar for this year's dates.
Holiday food and drinks
- Ayaca: cornmeal dough filled with chicken, pork or ham, olives, raisins and capers, wrapped in a banana leaf and boiled
- Pan di jamon: bread rolled with ham, raisins and olives
- Ponche crema: a creamy, rum-based eggnog
- Bolo pretu: a dark fruit cake soaked in liquor for weeks
- Oliebollen: Dutch doughnut balls dusted with powdered sugar
Dande
Dande is a New Year tradition unique to Aruba. Small groups of musicians with a tambu drum, wiri and cuarta go from house to house singing a traditional song, with improvised verses that wish every family member a happy new year. A hat is passed round for a contribution.
At the end of December the best Dande singers compete in the Festival di Dande, a popular local event with a long history.
New Year's Eve: pagara and fireworks
On 31 December businesses and hotels set off a pagara: an extremely long string of firecrackers, laid out on the street and lit to chase away bad luck (fuku) for the new year. The biggest pagaras go off around midday, for example in downtown Oranjestad and at several resorts.
At midnight fireworks light up the sky over the whole island, with a big show along Palm Beach. Consumer fireworks are only sold in the last days of December, so expect a noisy night.
Three Kings Day (6 January)
On 6 January the Three Kings bring presents for the children, which marks the end of the holiday season. It is not a public holiday.
Read more
- Culture of Aruba
- Shopping in Aruba
- Restaurants in Aruba
- Aruba Carnival – the next big celebration starts on 11 November
Good to know
- Public holidays: 25 December, 26 December and 1 January
- Shops: most shops and supermarkets are closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January, and close early on 24 and 31 December
- Peak season: the weeks around Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive of the year; book hotels months ahead
- Restaurants: reserve well in advance for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve
Opening hours and event dates change every year, so check the latest information before you travel.
See also: all events in Aruba.
Last updated: September 2026.