5 TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS OF BELIZE - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Belize, located in the north of Central America, is a unique multicultural country in the area, due to its roots as part of the ancient Mayan culture and its development as a British colony.

Factors such as slavery, immigration and colonization have defined the young nation, giving it a cultural richness in customs, gastronomy and language. However, the inhabitants consider themselves Belizeans rather than members of their ethnic group, and thanks to this vision of unity they achieved their independence from Great Britain in 1981.

Although its official language is English, Spanish and Belizean Creole are widely spoken in the Caribbean country. With just over 380 thousand inhabitants, the most outstanding ethnic groups are the mestizos, the Mayans, the Creoles and the Garífunas.

To a lesser extent, small groups of English, Americans, Chinese, Arabs, Mennonites, Indians, and even Canadians also live in Belize.

This amalgamation gives rise to a rich variety of traditions, since each ethnic group maintains its own customs and develops others derived from the daily coexistence of the groups.

Outstanding customs and traditions of Belize

1- The garífuna dugu ritual

The encounter between the indigenous Caribbeans and the Africans who were brought to Belize as slaves by the European colonizers, gave rise to a new ethnic group: the Garífunas.

The dugu ritual is an emblematic tradition of the Garífuna, in which, through dance and the rhythm of drums, supposed ancestral presences are manifested through spiritual possessions and under the guidance of a shaman (buyai), in order to heal to a sick person, or to thank.

The dugu ritual takes place in July and August. The belief is that the ancestors have the function from the beyond, to ensure the harmony and well-being of their living relatives.

2- Celebration of Mayan Day

As a way of reaffirming their identity against the marginalization by the State, the Mayan groups of Belize (Yucatecans, Mopan and Kekchí), have carried out this festival since 2004, since the Anglo-Caribbean people refused to recognize them as natives, since they considered them immigrants from Guatemala.

The Mayan Day celebration, which takes place in March, includes rituals, dances, sports activities, music, informative talks and typical food stalls.

It also focuses on highlighting its culture with various skills in everyday tasks, such as corn grinding and firewood separation.

3- Belize National Day

Every September 10, the Battle of San Jorge is commemorated, which occurred in 1798, when the British (and their slaves) defeated a Spanish fleet that, from Mexico, sought to invade and control the territory.

In this way, Belize opened the way to be incorporated into the British Empire.

Parades, religious services, music and gastronomic exhibitions are part of the festivities that last until September 21, when Belize's Independence Day is commemorated.

4- Deer Dance Festival

Among the great diversity of events that are intermingled due to the multiculturalism of Belize, is the Deer Dance Festival, which takes place in August for 10 days.

This dance, popular among the Mopan Maya, includes two dozen dancers, wearing masks and colorful costumes. The dance tells the story of hunters chasing a tiger.

Flutes, drums, harps, and a special type of marimba are used as musical instruments.

5- Punta rock, the sound of Belize

This rhythm of Garífuna origin has become the most listened to music in the Central American country. Addictive and a symbol of pride for the residents, punta rock encompasses the roots of their culture.

It is the most representative, since it derives from the traditional music of Africa, which is interpreted to the rhythm of drums created with trunks and turtle shells.

Today, Belize is the largest exporter of punta rock, in relation to other nations such as Guatemala and Honduras, which also have Garífuna communities.

References

1. Victor Manuel Durán. The Mayans, Creoles, Garífunas and Mestizos of Belize, a literary sample. Literature Notebooks. 2011. Pages 108-137.
2. Rosemary Radford Ruether. Chapter 7 by Barbara Flores. Gender, Ethnicity, and Religion: Views from the Other Side. 2002. Pages 144-153.
3. Genner Llanes-Ortiz. European Research Council research as part of the Indigeneity in the Contemporary World project: Performance, Politics, Belonging. Given by Professor Helen Gilbert at Royal Holloway, University of London. Pages 151-156.
4. Joseph Fullman, Nicola Mainwood. Belize. New Holland Publishers, 2006. Pag: 76.
5. Toledo Maya Cultural Council, Toledo. Maya Atlas: The Struggle to Preserve Maya Land in Southern Belize. North Atlantic Books. 1997. Pages 36-39.
6. Natascha Gentz. Globalization, Cultural Identities, and Media Representations. Suny press. 2012. Pages 68-69.