About
The closing ceremony of Aruba’s Carnival season — Dera Gai (‘Burying the Rooster’ in Papiamento) marks the official end of Carnival festivities on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. A symbolic rooster figure representing Carnival is ceremonially burned or buried, accompanied by a final night of music, dancing, and emotional farewell celebrations. Aruban locals take the end of Carnival very seriously — many are genuinely moved by the ceremony, and the community spirit of the moment is one of the most authentic and touching cultural experiences on the island.