courtesy of: The Morning News
written by: Rosalie Klein
It is a long standing annual tradition to launch the coming Carnival season on November 11 at 11 minutes past the hour of 11 AM. It is handed down from European customs dating back centuries. This year, the launching of Aruba’s 58th organized and united Carnival is particularly auspicious, as it was not only 11 minutes after the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, but we can tack on another 11 for the year! This won’t come again for another century.
Caribbean Cinemas at the Palm Beach Plaza hosted this ebullient event, which marks a period when Carnival groups will begin organizing their troops and accepting new members until the first real Carnival happening, the Torch Parade, usually the first Saturday after the New Year.
Presiding over the launch of Carnival 58 was the President of Stichting Arubaanse Carnaval, SAC, the official administrating agency, Tecla Kelly-Hernandez. She welcomed Minister of Social and Economic Affairs and Culture, Michelle Hooyboer-Winklaar to do the honors as local media personality Ruben Garcia called out Jessy of the Coco Rico dancers to deliver to the minister the CD of this year’s jingle, “Carnaval 58-“No tin su Morocho” (Carnaval 58-Nothing Can Match it!) with lyrics by Ruben and Rincon Boys performing. With a flourish, Jessy handed the CD to Minister Hooyboer-Winlaar, who gave it to the DJ to play at precisely 11/11/11/11/11, officially launching Carnival 58.
Other cherished rituals of this day include the unveiling of the unique carnival logo, this year designed by Michael Douglas, and the t-shirts that everyone will be wearing emblazoned with the emblem. Gifts of the new shirts were made to the Minister and last year’s Carnival queens, as well as the original founder of SAC, now retired, Milio Croes.
The grand finale of this ebullient bit of Arubiana was the unveiling of this year’s cover of Bacchanal, the “bible” of Carnival, edited and published by Chibi van der Hans. In a great change of his usual style of featuring gorgeously costumed Carnival queens, Chibi chose to honor seven legends of Carnival: Nico Quant, Mary Simon, Eddy Ras, Martica Arends, Bertha Janga, Sela Goeloe and Tutu Rasmijn. Complimentary copies of Bacchanal, in Papiamento and English, can soon be obtained at groceries and gas stations around the island.
Last night, Carnival groups put their themes and costumes on display at Palm Beach Plaza in a gala preview of the upcoming Carnival season 58. Islanders will turn their attention to the more traditional end of the year holidays for now, but once New Year’s is done…Let the party begin!
