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local Wednesday 17 May 2023
The Chico Harms Foundation prepares for Brazil

Neighborhood Day celebrations

(Oranjestad)—On May
14th, the Chico Harms
Foundation held a press
conference where the new
board of directors, Mr. Chi-
co Harms, Mr. Leo Harms
and Mr. Tito Tromp, gave an
extensive explanation of all
the activities taking place
ahead of the 11th edition
of the Brazil Neighborhood
Day celebrations.

Mr. Chico Harms explained
that the first official activity
to open the celebrations
will take place on May
28th and is a musical pa-
rade. The parade will start
at 4:30pm at the Church
of Brazil and finish at the
Neighborhood Center Bra-
zil.

As it is already known, June
24th is National San Juan
Day, and to keep our cul-
ture alive, the foundation
often organizes activities in
hopes of passing this on to
younger generations.

For the celebration of San
Juan Day/Dera Gai, there sing include tumba, dansa, indicated that there will it is important to state that He explained that during
will be activities taking calypso crioyo and tambu. be no elections, replacing this will only include lantern the pandemic, they have
place at the Neighborhood On this with the coronation in- and not flashlights or any lost many participants, be-
Center in Brazil. On this day, stead. This they decided af- type of lights. cause of the risks for older
as Mr. Tromp explained, On August 19th, during ter groups participating in On September 2nd, there adults participating.
there will be prices for the the festivities of Batacaso the parade have showed will be another annual tam-
participating dancers, both Tipico, the finalists of the their preference for the bu showcase, in which there On the other hand, he said,
young and old. Cantica di Caya contest coronation during their first are already five groups it gives them much satis-
will reunite and perform at meeting with the founda- that have registered to par- faction to see that there
He added that they are the Neighborhood Center tion. ticipate. The Grand Cultur- are many young people
very happy that they no- Brazil. Mr. Leo Harms further al Parade takes place on that are participating: “This
ticed an increase of inter- elaborated on the corona- Each group must pick one September 3rd. Mr. Chico tells us that our tradition will
est from children: “That’s tion night of the folkloric category and appoint a Harms explained that both surely keep thriving.”
good, because it guaran- culture queens, which will queen who will represent cultural parades has a to-
tees that our tradition will take place on August 26th. their groups and who will tal of 11 groups that have Brazil Day takes place on
continue to live on in the He explained that there are be crowned for the cate- registered, four DJs and October 29th, and will in-
future,” he remarked. seven categories, starting gories they choose. six bands. He also pointed clude a multicultural food
from the category for ba- that it seems that this year fair. Tromp indicated that
On July 29th, the Cantica di bies to adult culture lady. The Lantern Parade takes will see the biggest parade they want to introduce
Caya (Street Song) event Additionally, they will also place on September yet, because the school in more cultural event on the
will take place, for which coronate the Pillar of Cul- 1st. This, as Mr. Tromp ex- the Brazil district neighbor- island, so that the commu-
there are already seven ture. The Pillar of culture is plained, gives the groups hood will also be partici- nity can learn and appreci-
groups that are confirmed an elderly person who has the opportunity to make full pating: “We have made a ate culture from other parts
to participate. Just like in made significant contribu- use of their costumes, while request to all school to par- of the world, while also rec-
previous years, as Mr. Chi- tion to the Aruban culture also giving the community ticipate, so that we can ognizing the diversity that
co Harms have indicated, over the years. those who missed out on encourage the young ones exists within our own cul-
there will be three judging the day parade to come to participate in hopes of ture.
categories: kids, teens and The performances for this see the night parade. Dur- passing this tradition on to
adults. He also added that night will begin at 7:30pm, ing the last couple of year, them,” he stated. During this event, there will
in case the number of par- with artist presenting differ- he remarked, the Lantern be multicultural showcase
ticipants from the kids and ent forms of cultural mani- Parade gained much pop- Mr. Tromp added that as with traditional clothing
teens categories surpasses festation, showcasing what ularity, especially because a foundation, they are from different countries.
expectations, the event will the Aruban culture is all this takes place at night, seeing an interest coming There will of course be dif-
be extended for a second about. where it’s much cooler. For from schools for the cul- ferent cultural foods and
day. The music genres that those who are participat- tural parades, and this is snacks sold from those
participants are allowed to This year, the foundation ing in the Lantern Parade, something they applaud. countries. q