Dera Gai – San Juan celebration on June 24

Aruba is in complete celebration with the cultural festivity “Dera Gai” on June 24 in relation to the San Juan, which is the St. John’s day.

This cultural event is held where the burying of the rooster was a symbolic way to an agricultural rounding off one harvest year and starting a new one by the pagan Indians.

When the harvest was over the Indian would clean his field of the remains of the harvest and burn it, making an offering to the God of fire thanking Him for the necessary rain, sun and so on.

Over the years the festivity took another form by the Roman Catholics and to make everyone happy the festivities were combined.

The Roman Catholics celebrated the St. John the Baptist, which coincides with the Indians’ ritual celebration.

The Dera Gai was a day of games for the children and athletic competition for the adults, where all the entertainment culminated before 4pm where the burying of the rooster (dera gai) took place.

This event consisted in the early days of clearing the sandy soil, a hole would be dug, and a young rooster will be placed in the hole and covered with Calabash (gourd), so that the top will be levelled with the surrounding area. A group of musicians would prepare to accompany the blindfolded star player. A lady will dance with him on the tunes supplied by the ensemble. The gentleman will have a stick and would feel his way trying to hit the rooster, while dancing.

The rooster hardly ever is hurt.

Today a synthetic rooster is being used and the celebrations are taking place island-wide.

Schedule is subject to change

Exposition at "Maria Kapel" at Instituto di Cultura Aruba, Oranjestad

June 15 - 30, 2006

08:00 Hours - 17:00 hours.

Festivities on June 20, 2006:

Sint Michael School 9 - 10 a.m.

Colegio Cristo Rey 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Festivities on June 23

Prome Paso Savaneta Kleuterschool 9 - 10 am

Ayo Kleuterschool 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

For more information: (297) 582 2185