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nities on the islands and shores of
Central America. In 1802, some came to
Belize from the Bay Islands of Honduras.
Today, the Garifuna are clustered in the
southern towns of Punta Gorda and
Dangriga, as well as the villages of Seine
Bight, Hopkins, Georgetown, and
Barranco. Some also reside in Belize City
and Belmopan.
Fishing and agriculture are tradition-
al ways of life for the Garifuna. Rituals and traditions are important to them
as they strive to maintain a distinct place in Belizean society. November 19 is
a national holiday in Belize commemorating the arrival of the Garifuna on
the shores of Belize in 1802.
The Maya in Belize
Belize was the home of the earliest Mayan settlements. Archaeologists have
found traces in Belize’s Orange Walk District of Mayan communities that
date as far back as 2000
B
.
C
. It is estimated that around 1 million Maya pop-
ulated Belize at one time, but today there are only about 30,000.
There are three groups of Mayan Amerindians in Belize: the Yucatec,
Mopan, and Kekchi Mayas. The Yucatec originated from Yucatán, and came
to Belize in the mid-19th century, fleeing civil war in Mexico. Most can be
found today in the Corozal and Orange Walk districts. The Yucatec Mayas in
Belize mainly speak English and Spanish instead of their native language.
Belize
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• Belize received its independence
from Great Britain on September 21,
1981.
• The capital of Belize is Belmopan.
• The voting age is 18.
• Major political parties include the
People’s United Party (PUP) and
United Democratic Party (UDP).
Did You Know?