Flag of Aruba

Flag of Aruba

Governor's standard

Aruba's national flag () was adopted on March 18, 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-fimbriated red ("Union Flag red") star in the canton.

Description

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 aparte".The other "industry, all the minerals (gold and phosphates in the past, petroleum in the early 20th century)". In addition to sun, gold, and abundance, the 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 blood shed by Arubans, the Indian inhabitants, during the French pass war; patriotic love.
  • The white also represents purity, honesty and the white beaches of Aruba.

March 18 is a public holiday in Aruba, known as Flag Day and it is celebrated through carnivals and fairs.

Governor's standard

There is also a standard for use by the Governor of Aruba in his capacity as representative of the Monarch of the Netherlands. It consists of a white field, with the flag of the Netherlands striped across both the top and the bottom, and a circular version of the flag of Aruba in the centre.

See also

• Coat of arms of Aruba

External links

• Aruban Flag on government website www.aruba.com
• Aruba at Flags of the World