Belize
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Adriana Alvarez
World Geography
November 8, 2014
Physical Map
Political Map
Come to Belize!
Belize is a place you can come to relax and have a good time. Although this country is small you can't really get bored because there are fun things you can do. You can go diving in the gigantic underwater Blue Hole and see amazing marine life such as nurse sharks, a array of fishes, and Caribbean sharks. Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world and snorkeling in its Caribbean water is a wonderful place to discover more marine life. The food in Belize is very good and there are very good restaurants you can go to. The best idea is to just relax and let yourself fall into the slow rhythm that is Belize.
Religion
Of the country's nine major religious groups, the Roman Catholics are the largest. Catholicism unified most the Mestizos, Maya, and Garifuna. Most Creoles were either Anglican or Methodist, but a larger number converted to Roman Catholicism.
Language
It won't be hard to communicate with people because English is the official language people speak the most. Spanish and Creole are also spoken a lot and you're most likely to hear those along the coast.
English
Spanish
This is how Belizeans say "Hello" in Spanish.
Creole
This is how Belizeans say "Hello" in Creole
People
The major ethnic groups in Belize include the Creole, Mestizo, Maya, Garifuna, East Indians, Chinese and Mennonites. These groups form together people with a wide diversity of cultures, traditions, and beliefs.
Customs/Traditions
Christmas is well celebrated in Belize. Their tree is decorated with boats to represent Belize's successful fishing industry. One tradition by the Mestizo group involves a ten-day procession commemorating Mary and Joseph's search for lodgings before Jesus' birth. During this ritual called "Las Posadas", statues of Joseph and Mary are carried to different houses where they ask for and are granted food and shelter for the evening. This ceremony is repeated at a different home each night until Christmas Eve, when Joseph and Mary make their way back to the church for the Dance of the Pastores, a performance symbolizing the shepherds bringing gifts to Jesus after his birth. The Maya group put on "The Deer Dance" to portray the relationship between humanity and nature, and the Garifuna group enact the Charikanari, a masquerade symbolizing the relationship between the hunter and the deer. People of all ages gather to Waltz and Foxtrot when a Grand Ball is held on Christmas and New Years Eve. Some traditional foods that they prepare for Christmas include rice and beans, potato salad, black fruitcake, pebre (roasted pork and gravy) and tamales. Rumpopo, the Belizean version of eggnog, is also a favorite drink across the country.
Economy
Belize's economy is small and a private-enterprise economy. Tourism is the number one foreign exchange in this small economy. Exports are marine products, citrus, sugar cane, bananas, and garments.
Holidays/Festivals
Two of the main holidays that pertain only to Belize are St. George's Caye Day, which takes place on September 10, and Garifuna Settlement Day, which takes place on November 19. St. George's Caye Day celebrates the British victory over Spain in the Battle of St. George's Caye in 1798. Garifuna Settlement Day marks the most significant arrival of Garifuna people to Belize, which occurred in 1832.
Belize Trip 2014