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The holiday of Carnival is also an important one in Aruba, as
it is in many Caribbean and Latin American countries, and, like Mardi Gras,
that goes on for weeks. Its celebration in Aruba started, around the 1950s,
influenced by the inhabitants from the nearby islands (Venezuela, St Vincent,
Trinidad, Barbados, St. Maarten and Anguilla) who came to work for the Oil
refinery. Over the years the Carnival Celebration has changed and now starts
from the beginning of January till the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday with a
large parade on the last Sunday of the festivities (Sunday before Ash
Wednesday).
Tourism from the United States has recently increased the visibility of
American culture on the island, with such celebrations as Halloween and
Thanksgiving Day in November