Description
Aruba is an island and a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the southern Caribbean Sea, located about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) west of the main part of the Lesser Antilles and 29 kilometres (18 mi) north of the coast of Venezuela. It measures 32 kilometres (20 mi) long from its northwestern to its southeastern end and 10 kilometres (6 mi) across at its widest point. Together with Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba forms a group referred to as the ABC islands. Collectively, Aruba and the other Dutch islands in the Caribbean are often called the Dutch Caribbean. Its capital and largest city is Oranjestad.
Aruba’s national flag was adopted on March 18 (a public holiday known as Flag Day, celebrated through carnivals and fairs), in 1976. The design consists of a field of light blue (called “Larkspur”), two narrow parallel horizontal yellow (“Bunting Yellow”) stripes in the bottom half and a four-pointed white-fibrillated red (“Union Flag red”) star in the canton. The design elements have multiple symbolic meanings; The blue field represents the sky, the sea, peace, hope, Aruba’s future and its ties to the past. The two narrow stripes “suggest the movement toward status apart”. The other “industry, all the minerals (gold and phosphates in the past, petroleum in the early 20th century)”. In addition to the sun, gold, and abundance, yellow is also said to represent wanglo flowers. The star has particularly complex symbolism; It is vexillologically unusual in having four points, representing the four cardinal directions. These refer in turn to the many countries of origin of the people of Aruba. The star also represents the island itself: a land of often red soil bordered by white beaches in a blue sea. The red colour also represents bloodshed by Arubans, the Indian inhabitants, during the French past war; patriotic love. The white also represents purity, honesty and the white beaches of Aruba.