National Anthem and Flag Day is observed in Aruba every March 18 to commemorate the adoption of the national anthem and flag in 1976. The celebration features various events, including carnivals and fairs. The flag consists of a blue field with two narrow yellow stripes and a four-pointed red star fimbriated with white, with each element symbolizing different aspects of Aruba's identity. The blue represents the sky and sea, while the yellow stripes signify Aruba's national flowers and the pursuit of “status aparte” within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The red star symbolizes the island itself and the blood shed during the 17th-century invasion by French pirates. The national anthem, “Aruba Dushi Tera,” is a waltz composed by Rufo Wever with lyrics by Juan Chabaya Lampe, written in Papiamento, the official language of Aruba and Curaçao.