Page 14 - AHATA

a8 local
Thursday 5 February 2026
Aruba’s kite flying tradition

papers, and glue made
from flour, water and salt
to dry faster (some people
even use cornstarch slurry
as glue), kids usually make
their own kites with their
friends, parents or other
close family members. Tails
are made from old bed
sheets, ripped and tied
together to create a long
string of fabric trailing be-
hind the back end of the
kite. To finish off the pro-
cess, people used fish lines
or thin rope to tie three cor- People usually fly their kites in which groups of people
ners of the kite together. in big open fields, like emp- would battle against each
(Oranjestad)—Every year Another long string of rope ty soccer and baseball other to see whose kite is
for King’s Day, Arubans The tradition of flying kites is tied in the knotted center fields found all around the the biggest, the prettiest,
gather with friends and starts at home in the weeks and bundled up, used to island around noon, when and whose could fly flaw-
family to fly kites. Big or leading up to King’s Day. steer the kite as it flies in the the sun is at its brightest. lessly and longer in the air.
small, paper or plastic, These kites were tradition- air. Decorating the kite was In the past few years, kite
blue skies fill up with these ally made with things found especially important, and flying has become a sport *Mondi: Aruban woods.q
colorful flying contraptions, in the nearby mondi* and children would use paint to
brightening our yearly cel- in the kitchen at home. Us- create their own designs—
ebration of the Dutch Mon- ing dried up cactus sticks the more colorful, the bet- Scott and Tina: “Aruba is to
arch. for the frame, old news ter! us an Oasis of relaxation”

ORANJESTAD — You are promotional purposes with-
back and we would like out compensation.
to portrait you! By inviting Last but not least: check
you to send us your favor- out our website, Insta-
ite vacation picture while gram and Facebook page!
enjoying our Happy Island. Thank you for supporting
our free newspaper, we
Complete the sentence: strive to make you a happy
Aruba to me is ……. Send reader every day again.
your picture with that text For today we received a
(including your name and lovely message from Scott
where you are from) to: and Tina Myers from Mas-
news@arubatoday.com sachusetts.
and we will publish your
vacation memory. Isn’t that They wrote to us saying:
a special way to keep your “Aruba is to us an Oasis of
best moments alive? Please relaxation. A place where
do note: By submitting stress is a foreign unknown
photos, text or any other object. Sleeping late is nat-
materials, you give permis- ural and smiles are abun-
sion to The Aruba Today dant. If short, the happiest
Newspaper, Caribbean place on earth.”
Speed Printers and any of Thank you for sending us this
its affiliated companies to wonderful message sharing
use said materials, as well what Aruba means to you
as names, likeness, etc. for with us and our readers!q