Belize - Burnet Middle School

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CultureGrams
Kids Edition
2014
Belize
The country’s name is said to have come from the Mayan word belix, which means “muddy water.”
Belize is the only Central American country with English as its official language.
Belize has the second largest barrier reef (underwater chain of rocks or coral) in the world (after Australia’s Great
Barrier Reef).
Belize is home to a rare breed of howler monkey, one of the top ten loudest animals in the world! It is also home
to more than five hundred different varieties of birds.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in south-central Belize is the world’s first jaguar preserve.
Local legend talks of a small mythic creature with no thumbs called Tata Duende. It is said to live in the forest and
punish children who kill the local wildlife.
The Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize is one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world. This
underwater sinkhole flooded thousands of years ago and is over 984 feet (300 m) wide and 407 feet (124 m)
deep.
In 1862, Belize became a British colony known as British Honduras.
The agouti, or gibnut, is a Belizean rodent with no tail. It is considered a delicacy and is served in the best
restaurants.
Flag
The flag of Belize is one of the few national flags in the world that features human
beings. The blue and red colors represent the two main political parties in the country.
The tools, mahogany tree, and leaf garland on the coat of arms symbolize the logging
industry that led to the British settlement of Belize.
National Image
The mahogany tree is the national tree of Belize. A giant rain forest tree, the mahogany
can grow to a height of over 100 feet (31 m) over the course of several decades. The
tree grows pear-shaped fruit that splits open to send large winged seeds floating away.
The nation’s motto, Sub Umbra Floreo, means “Under the shade I flourish,” referring to
the shade of the mahogany tree.
Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 8,867
Area (sq. km.): 22,966
Located along the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico, Belize is about the
same size as El Salvador or the state of Massachusetts. The majority of the country is
made up of flat, swampy coastal plains. There, farmers grow bananas and sugarcane.
A few low mountains rise in the south. The coastline itself is flat and dotted with many
beautiful lagoons. In the west, tropical pine savannas (grasslands) and hardwood
forests dominate the area. Interlocking rivers stretch across the nation, the largest and
most important being the Belize River (also known as Old River), which winds across
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the center of the country to empty into the sea near Belize City. Smaller rivers include
the New and Hondo rivers. Belize’s more than 450 islands are called cayes, or cays
(pronounced “keys”). These cayes are covered in sandy soil and mangrove trees and
appear and disappear with the shifting of the seafloor. Some of the cayes are inhabited.
Ambergris Caye is the largest and most developed of these and is a popular tourist
spot.
There are just two seasons in Belize: the wet season, which lasts from August to
January, and the dry season, which lasts from February to July. The climate is tropical,
meaning it is generally very hot and humid. On the coast, the average temperature
year-round is between 79 and 89°F. Devastating hurricanes are common from June to
November.
Population
Population: 334,297
Belizeans are a young people, with an average age of 21. Almost half of the population
lives in cities, including the capital city of Belmopan and Belize City. Many Belizeans
also live and work in other countries. Nearly half the population is mestizo (mixed native
and European ancestry). Creoles (people with some African and some European
ancestry) make up a quarter of the population. Full-blooded Mayans represent about 10
percent of the population. A small percent of Belizeans are known as Garinagu (or
Garifuna) and are of mixed Caribbean and African descent.
Language
Belize adopted English as its official language because it was an English colony for many years. Today, the majority of
the population speaks and reads English. English is the language of instruction in schools, and most Belizean books
are published in English. It is not always people’s first language, though. At home, many people speak Spanish or Kriol
(a mix of English and African languages). In fact, Kriol is the main form of communication in many parts of Belize, and
each region has its own unique Kriol words and phrases.
Can You Say It in Kriol?
Where are you going?
Dah weh you gwine?
How old are you?
Dah how old you?
Where do you live?
Weh paaht you live?
Did you return?
Yuh com bak?
Is this yours?
Dis da fuh you?
I am not hungry.
I noh hungry.
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Religion
About 40 percent of the population of Belize belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. Spanish missionaries first brought
the religion to Belize in the 16th century. English settlers came later, bringing their Anglican religion with them. Today,
around 16 percent of Belizeans are Protestant. The Garifuna (Belizeans of mixed African and Caribbean descent) may
belong to the Roman Catholic or a Protestant church, but they also often bring elements of their traditional beliefs into
their daily lives. Many of these traditional beliefs center on rituals performed when a family member dies. Special
dances and songs are performed for the family member who has passed.
Time Line
2500 BC
ca. 2500 BC
The Maya build the city of Cuello in what is now northern Belize
AD 250
AD 250
The Maya civilization reaches the height of its development
900
The Maya civilization begins a slow decline that continues for several
centuries; cities are abandoned and the population decreases
1500
1502
Christopher Columbus sails along the Caribbean coast of Central
America and names the Bay of Honduras
1511
A Spanish ship wrecks off the coast of Belize; the Maya capture and
imprison the crew, killing some and enslaving others
1544
The Spanish conquer the Maya city of Tipu
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1638
A band of shipwrecked English sailors lands on the shore; Scottish
buccaneer Peter Wallace is the first European to settle in Belize; the
people of Tipu start a rebellion against Spanish authority
Late 1600s
Baymen (British settlers) and pirates build small logging settlements
along the coast
1763
Spain signs a treaty allowing settlers in the region to continue cutting
down valuable trees
1786
A second treaty is signed between settlers in the Belize area and Spain
1798
The British navy, with the help of Baymen and slaves, defeats the
Spanish fleet in a sea battle off of St. George’s Caye
1800
1821
Central American countries declare independence from Spain
1823
The Garinagu (people of mixed African and Caribbean descent) arrive
in Honduras from the island of Saint Vincent; soon after, some move to
Belize
1833
The British government formally outlaws slavery in Belize and other
British territories
1836
Britain claims the right to govern Belize
1847
The Caste War in Mexico’s Yucatán begins, driving thousands of
Mexican refugees (people forced to leave their home by war) into
northern Belize
1862
Britain declares Belize a crown colony called British Honduras
1865
The end of the Civil War in the United States brings refugees from the
Confederacy to British Honduras
1900
1919
Black Belizean soldiers returning from World War I stage the
Ex-Serviceman’s Riot to protest racial discrimination (the practice of
treating people differently based on their race) in the colony
1954
The British government grants the right to vote to all adults who can
read and write
1961
Hurricane Hattie destroys the capital, Belize City
1968
Belizean athletes participate in the Olympics (representing British
Honduras) for the first time
1972
Belmopan becomes the new capital of British Honduras
1973
The official name of the region changes from British Honduras to Belize
1981
Belize achieves full independence from Britain while remaining a part
of the British Commonwealth
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1982
Zee Edgell publishes her first novel, Beka Lamb—the first novel
published in a fully independent Belize
1992
Guatemala recognizes Belize
1994
The British garrison of soldiers stationed to protect Belize leaves
2000
2001
Belize’s population reaches a quarter million
2007
The Supreme Court recognizes the right of the Maya to keep farming,
mining, and fishing rights on their ancestral lands
2008
Four athletes represent Belize at the Summer Olympics in Beijing,
China
PRESENT
The Maya
The ancient Maya civilization rose around 2500 BC. Over the next few hundred years, it
grew into a large empire that spread across the land that is now Belize, northern
Guatemala, and southeastern Mexico. The earliest known Maya settlement in Belize is
Cuello. Cuello was a farming village. The villagers built homes made of poles with
thatched roofs. Farmers grew corn, beans, squash, and peppers and watered their
crops using a system of irrigation. Archaeological remains show that the Maya created
pottery and made jewelry from precious stones such as jade and obsidian (a volcanic
glass used to make tools and weapons). They traded salt, honey, copper, and other
goods with neighboring villages and used cacao beans as their form of money.
The Maya worshipped a number of different gods and goddesses. Itzamna was the
creator god, also known as the god of fire. A group of jaguar gods ruled over the
underworld, where they believed the spirits of all people went after they died. The
people built large temple-pyramids where priests studied the stars, the sun, the moon,
and planets and worshipped the gods. Powerful Maya city-states grew in what is now
Belize. The different city-states often went to war with each other. After many centuries,
the Maya civilization began to break down. Historians are not sure what caused this
decline, but eventually only a few Maya were left.
Spanish Explorers
In the 16th century, Spanish explorers sailed along the coasts of Central America in
search of gold and trade routes between Europe and the Americas. Dotted with
dangerous reefs and mangrove swamps, the coast of what is now Belize was not easy
for their ships to navigate. The first time Europeans set foot on land there was in 1511,
when a Spanish ship ran aground on a reef in the waters of northern Belize. The sailors
were quickly captured and taken prisoner by a group of Maya. Over the next few years,
however, more and more Spanish ships arrived. The Spanish had more sophisticated
weapons, including cannons and guns, and they also brought diseases such as
smallpox with them. The Maya were not well organized and could not fight off the
growing Spanish presence. Entire cities of natives caught diseases from the
newcomers and died. Christian missionaries also arrived at this time. These
missionaries built missions and churches in which to worship; they taught and
converted much of the native population.
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Buccaneers and Baymen
The Spanish were not the only European power interested in the region. British pirates,
also called buccaneers, found the islands off the coast of Belize and hid out among the
reefs, ambushing passing ships. These outlaws carried off Spanish gold, weapons, and
other smuggled goods. They also became the first British settlers in Belize. Over time,
they set up trading posts and small logging camps. The logwood (a type of tree) was
used as a source for a valuable dye used on cloth and paper.
British privateers (sailors given permission by the government to raid Spanish ships and
settlements) soon arrived and settled in Belize. They became known as Baymen, after
the Bay of Honduras. The Baymen were a wild bunch and generally did not answer to
any outside government. When the demand for dyes decreased, the Baymen turned to
harvesting the local mahogany trees, as the wood was popular for making furniture and
boats. The British began bringing Africans over to work as slaves in the logging
communities. Although Spain officially controlled the region, Britain and Spain
continued to fight over Central America. At the Battle of St. George’s Caye, in 1798, the
Baymen and their slaves fought and defeated Spanish forces. Finally, in 1862, Britain
and Spain signed a treaty allowing Belize to become a British crown colony.
British Honduras
The colony became known as British Honduras. The colony grew as civil wars in
Mexico and the United States soon brought refugees (people forced to leave their home
by war) to settle in British Honduras. Scottish and Portuguese immigrants arrived
throughout the late 1800s as well. The colony’s economy continued to focus on the
logging industry, and not much land was developed for farming. As a result, the colony
and its people depended on food and basic goods from other countries to survive.
When World War I broke out in 1914, some British Hondurans fought alongside British
forces against Germany. After returning home, black soldiers were still treated poorly
despite having served Britain and their colony. Eventually, they rioted in the streets.
This protest became known as the Ex-Serviceman’s Riot. The protestors were stopped
by colonial forces, but they continued to hope and work for fair treatment and free
government elections.
In 1935, a new constitution passed allowing several different political parties to form.
These new parties pressed for change and the right of all people to vote for the
candidates that would represent them in their government. At the same time, workers
banded together to form labor unions to protect their rights. In 1954, another new
constitution guaranteed the right of all adults who could read and write to vote. After
World War II ended, Britain began to grant independence to many of its colonies
around the world. British Honduras received sovereignty (the ability to govern itself) in
1964 but remained a part of the British Commonwealth, a group of former British
colonies. British Honduras’s name changed to Belize in 1973. Belize finally achieved
full independence in 1981.
Modern Belize
British troops remained in Belize for a while after independence to help protect the
nation’s borders. For many years, Belize and Guatemala had disagreed over territory,
and Britain wanted to ensure Guatemala didn’t invade as soon as Belize became
independent. But in 1991, Guatemala formally recognized Belize as its own country.
Two years later, the two nations signed a peace agreement, promising not to invade
each other. They continued to disagree over their shared border, but relations grew
friendlier. The Belizean economy grew even as the new government struggled to deal
with a range of issues, from crime and drug trafficking (shipping illegal goods to other
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countries) to the land rights of native Belizeans. Belizeans are also concerned with their
environment and the health of their nation’s many beautiful coral reefs as more and
more tourists come to the country to go diving.
Games and Sports
Belizeans love football (soccer). Basketball, softball, cycling, and cricket (similar to
baseball) are also popular. The varied and beautiful environment means Belizeans can
participate in a wide variety of activities, from mountain climbing and hiking to scuba
diving and snorkeling. Schoolyards are home to smaller games such as marbles, jacks,
different versions of hopscotch, and a kind of tag called “Kick the Bucket.” In some
areas, there is still a tradition of making handmade tops for “dueling.”
Holidays
Two major national holidays fall in the month of September in Belize, so the entire month is one long period of fun and
celebration. St. George’s Caye Day is 10 September and Independence Day is 21 September. St. George’s Caye Day
marks the battle fought off the coast in the waters of St. George’s Caye between invading Spanish forces and British
Baymen (settlers) in 1798. The two celebrations blend together as Belizeans hold street parades, parties, concerts, the
Queen of the Bay pageant, and the popular carnival road march. The road march includes children’s bands and
colorfully costumed participants. The night before the march, people put the finishing touches on their costumes,
practice musical numbers, and decorate each other with paint and colored powder. On the day of the march, judges
evaluate the marching bands and individual costumes, handing out awards for king, queen, and best bands. Marches
are held in all of the cities and towns across Belize.
Benefactor’s Day on 9 March celebrates British baron Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, who left his fortune to Belize.
Commonly known as Baron Bliss Day, events include kite-flying competitions and sailing regattas (races). This day
marks the beginning of kite season, the time of year when the skies are filled with colorful homemade kites. It is also an
opportunity for families to travel to cayes (islands) to stay at vacation homes or hotels. Children spend the time playing
on the beaches with their siblings and cousins.
Food
Beans and rice are the most common foods eaten in Belize. Coconut milk is an
important ingredient in Belizean kitchens, and sometimes rice is cooked in coconut milk
for extra flavor. Belizeans near the coast eat a lot of fish and other seafood such as
lobster, shrimp, and barracuda. Popular seafood dishes include conch soup and sere
(fish simmered in coconut milk and flavored with cilantro). Another favorite seafood dish
is boil up, a combination of whatever was caught that day mixed with coconut milk,
spices, yams, plantains (similar to bananas), and potatoes, topped with a tomato-onion
sauce. The Maya eat corn with almost every meal, growing and harvesting it
themselves. They grind some of the corn into cornmeal and use it to make soft tortillas
and tamales. These are often eaten with stewed beans or meat. Most Belizeans eat
meals from a variety of ethnic groups, so children enjoy a wide range of tasty local
foods.
Common vegetables include sweet potatoes and squash, while bananas, breadfruit,
mangoes, guavas, tomatoes, and avocadoes are popular fruits. Belize is home to a
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famous hot sauce called Marie Sharp’s. Made from habanero peppers, carrots, onions,
lime juice, vinegar, garlic, and other spices, it can be found in most Belizean homes.
Fried plantains are a favorite dessert topped with sour cream or orange juice.
Schools
Adult Literacy: 76.9%
Most schools in Belize are run by both the government and churches. Children are
supposed attend elementary school for eight years, but only about half of all Belizean
kids are able to go that long. Some do not have enough money to pay for textbooks,
uniforms, and registration fees, while others are kept home to help their families work.
In the countryside, young boys often have to take jobs to help support their families.
Students who do finish elementary school can choose to go on to secondary (high)
school to train for a particular job or career.
The school day starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. for elementary students.
There are two short recess breaks in the morning and afternoon and a longer lunch
break, which normally starts at 11:30 a.m. and lasts until around 12:45 p.m. Secondary
school days are longer, lasting from 8 a.m. until 3 or 4 p.m., while secondary school
lunch breaks are shorter. In elementary school, all lessons are taught by one teacher,
but secondary schools have a homeroom teacher responsible for attendance and
several individual subject teachers who move between classrooms to teach lessons.
Students study math, science, history, geography, Spanish, English, and music. Most
schools also devote a half hour to religion.
Life as a Kid
Children living in the cities start their day by being driven to school by their parents,
traveling by bus, or finding their own way on their bicycles. In villages, students often
walk along the road in large groups. After school, village kids help their parents sell
fruits and vegetables or homemade pastries.
On the weekends, kids have more time to themselves. City kids spend a lot of time
indoors watching television, playing video games, or listening to music. Kids from the
villages spend most of their weekend outdoors playing soccer, softball, or cricket
(similar to baseball). Girls are usually expected to stay close to home, where they help
with chores, but boys often go exploring. It is common to see a group of village boys
traveling together, some on bicycles and some on horseback. Going swimming is a
special treat. Some families spend hours picnicking on the banks of a river or travel by
water taxi to one of the coastal islands, called cayes. A family trip to the cayes is a big
adventure since families get to play on the beach, snorkel near the barrier reef
(underwater chain of rocks or coral), or even swim along with graceful, non-threatening
sharks and stingrays.
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Government
Capital: Belmopan
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II (U.K.)
Head of Government: PM Dean Barrow
The government of Belize is a democracy (government by the people), but it still has a monarch (king or queen) from
the United Kingdom. However, the monarch does not have any very important duties. The real leader of the
government is the prime minister, who is chosen from the political party that has the majority in the House of
Representatives. The prime minister is assisted by a cabinet of advisers over different areas of the government, such
as education, health care, and environmental issues. Every five years, Belizeans vote for the 31 members they want to
represent them in the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives and the 12-member Senate make up
the lawmaking body of the government. Belize is divided up into six districts. The voting age is 18.
Money and Economy
Currency: Belizean dollar
The logging industry dominated the Belizean economy for decades. But in recent years,
tourism and service industries have taken over. Today, more than half of the population
works in services such as tourism, banking, construction, and transportation. More than
one million tourists come from around the world to dive in the nation’s barrier reefs
(underwater chains of rocks or coral) and explore ancient Maya ruins. The country is
building hotels, resorts, and roads to support all of these visitors. Farming makes up a
small portion of the economy. Kidney beans and rice are two main crops. Sugarcane is
another important one. Belize exports (sells to other countries) shrimp, lobster, conchs,
and other seafood. The illegal drug trade is a problem nationwide, while poverty affects
some areas of the countryside. Young Belizeans struggle to find jobs after finishing
school or leaving home.
Getting Around
Most Belizeans get around by walking or riding their bikes. The public bus system is
well developed and frequently used. More and more families today own cars as well.
Four main highways link the major towns and cities, including the famous Hummingbird
Highway that winds its way through the highlands, following an old railway route. Fast
water taxis connect coastal towns and offshore islands around the country.
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Belizean Baking
Belizean food makes up a big part of the nation’s culture, and certain foods are
common in every part of the country. Savory Creole bread and sweet buns are
homemade treats, though some families make and sell them as a source of income.
Creole bread is made with lots of coconut milk, while Creole buns contain brown sugar
and raisins and can be glazed with sugary syrup. Powder buns are cookie-sized treats
that are sweet and crumbly and often enjoyed with cream cheese. Johnny Cakes are
small scones also made with coconut milk that are often enjoyed at breakfast or dinner.
In the northern part of the country, many mestizo (of mixed native and European
ancestry) families make tortillas, mainly from cornmeal. Almost all ethnic groups
regularly make and enjoy flour tortillas as a breakfast or dinner staple.
Garifuna (of mixed Caribbean and African descent) communities in the southern part of
the country traditionally enjoy ereba, a crispy flatbread made from cassava (tapioca).
The cassava root has to be dug up from the ground, grated into small flakes, and dried
out in a long tube made from woven straw called a wowla. Then the cassava is mixed
into dough and spread out on a flat metal cooking surface over a fire, where it is baked
into ereba.
Learn More
Contact the Embassy of Belize, 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; phone (202) 332-9636; web
site www.embassyofbelize.org. Or contact the Belize Tourist Board, phone (800) 624-0686, web site
www.travelbelize.org.
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