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local Tuesday 24 June 2025
Aruba celebrates Dera Gay!

(Oranjestad)—Every year
on June 24th, the Aruban
community come togeth-
er and celebrates one of
our most authentic tradi-
tions: Dera Gay*, or Dia di
San Juan (St. John’s Day).
This is a national holiday
for us, and families and
friends usually spend the
day visiting several places
around the island to delight
in traditional cuisine, music,
games, ambience and the
famous Dera Gay Dance.

Brief history of Dera Gay
Dera Gay is a celebration in the hole up to its neck. struments are the fio, wiri,
with various origins and his- Blindfolded revelers would and tambu. The Dera Gay
tories. The cultural festival then be given three tries to chant dates back to 1862.
of San Juan (St. John the decapitate the rooster with Of course, this celebra-
Baptist), known locally as a long pole (piñata-style). tion is not complete with-
Dera Gay, dates back to (The Catholics considered out traditional local food
1862 and is celebrated ev- this ritual to be symbolic and drinks. The festival of
ery year on June 24th. of the decapitation of St. San Juan and Dera Gay
John the Baptist while the regained popularity in the
This holiday is rife with both pagans believed that the 1970s among the local
pagan and Christian sym- spilling of the blood would population, and schools
bolism reflecting the influ- ences of the Arawak na- fertilize the earth for the also started paying atten-
tives and Spanish mission- According to tradition, the next growing season.) The tion to this popular festival.
aries on the Island, respec- festival begins on June 23rd one to carry out the deed “San Juan is coming, San
tively. The origin story of this when people light corn- was rewarded with bottles Juan is going.”
religious and cultural festi- stalks as a symbolic cleans- of alcohol and other prizes.
val has several versions. The ing to prepare for the new
*Dera Gay: The word “gay”
religious origin is associated harvest season. On June Today, a dummy is used, in Papiamento means
with the birth date of St. 24th, after sunset, the cele- and the dance takes place “rooster”,
and
John the Baptist, while the bration of San Juan starts in during public festivities or nounced like “guy”. is pro-
cultural origin is tied to the different districts with Dera neighborhood club hous-
harvest festival. Although it Gay dance, candle dance, es. Those who still perform
has a religious aspect, Dera and flag dance. The can- the dance in the fields or
Gay is predominantly rec- dle dance is performed for on the ground use a cala-
ognized as a cultural festi- protection against illness bash. There is also a flag
val featuring music, dance, and bad luck. The most dance, where small flags
and singing. The dominant well-known dance is the are placed on the ground
colors are red and yel- Dera Gay, where a dancer, and a person with their
low. Yellow symbolizes the with his eyes covered and eyes covered by a cloth
flowering kibrahacha tree, a stick in his hand, attempts searches for the flags. The
while red represents the to kill the “gay” (rooster). ceremony is accompanied
candle that is lit on the eve Traditionally, a hole was by folk music.
to announce the festival of dug in the ground, and The prominent musical in-
the following day. a live rooster was buried
Dining in? Try making a local favorite
How to make “pan bati”

(Oranjestad)—If you’re 2 tbsp baking powder In a hot pan with oil, pour in
ever up for an Aruban 1 1/3 cup of milk enough batter to cover the
snack, try making another 1 pinch of salt bottom of the pan. Just like
Aruban classic appetizer 2 tbsp of granulated sugar pancakes, flip the pan bati
called Pan Bati. Similar Oil for cooking when one side turns golden
to a pancake both in brown. When your pan bati
appearance and cooking, Instructions: is ready, place on a plate
this is a super easy meal Add all the dry ingredients and cover with a clean
that adults and children will in a bowl first, and stir until kitchen towel.
both enjoy. Here’s how to well mixed. Then add
make it! the milk and beat until Traditionally, pan bati is cut
reached a pancake-like in triangle pieces, and is
Ingredients: consistency. If more moister often eaten as a side dish
2 cups of all purpose flour is needed, add some water with soup, fried fish or stews.
1 cup grams of fine until reached desired However, it is also casually
cornmeal (we recommend consistency. enjoyed with some butter
the Harina PAN brand) and cheese on top!