Belize's Christmas Cheer: A Cultural Fusion Of Holiday Traditions

Belize is a diverse and multicultural country, and its Christmas celebrations are no exception. The entire month of December is dedicated to festive cheer, with families and friends gathering to share quality time. From colourful dances and parades to delicious food and drinks, Belize knows how to celebrate Christmas in style.

Caroling, Belize-style

Belize is known for its diverse demographic, and its multicultural nature is reflected in the way the country celebrates Christmas. While many Belizeans celebrate Christmas the American way, there are several unique local traditions that are still being kept alive. One such tradition is the Christmas Bram, which is native to the Belize Kriol culture.

The Christmas Bram is a form of caroling that involves singing, dancing, and playing instruments as people make their way through the streets. The music played is Brukdong music, which is loud and lively. The carolers go from house to house, spreading cheer and good vibes. The hosts at each house offer the carolers food and drinks, and the celebration continues until the carolers move on to the next house.

The Christmas Bram is a unique tradition that is not as commonly found in present-day Belize City, but it is still celebrated in villages like Gales Point Manatee. The Bram is a raucous mobile party that signals the start of the Christmas season. It is believed to have originated from the logging and mining industries, where workers would return home to their families in December after months of working in remote jungles.

The instruments used to accompany the singing and dancing are usually goombay (two-sided) drums, forks and graters, or any other available household items that can make a loud noise. The Christmas Bram is a true display of community spirit and cultural harmony, with everyone coming together to celebrate and share in the joy of the holiday season.

So, if you're looking for a unique and energetic caroling experience, join the Christmas Bram in Belize! It's a fun and festive way to spread cheer and make lasting memories with loved ones.

Christmas tree lighting

Christmas in Belize is a month-long celebration, with the Christmas tree lighting ceremony marking the opening of the festive season. The lighting of the Christmas tree is an annual tradition that takes place on December 1st or 2nd, with the Belize City Council organising a dazzling event in the heart of downtown Belize City. The event brings the community together and kicks off the holiday season with a magical evening filled with music, entertainment, and refreshments.

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony is held at Battlefield Park, where a sixty-foot tree is decorated with lights and ornaments. The impressive tree is erected through a collaborative effort, requiring robust equipment and human power. Additional decorations and displays are also meticulously arranged across the park, creating a festive atmosphere. The Belize City Council also organises other initiatives during the holiday season, such as Christmas in the park, holiday night festivals, and toy distribution to underprivileged children.

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony is a highly anticipated event by both locals and tourists, as it signifies the official start of the Christmas season in Belize. Families gather at the park to witness the lighting of the tree, with the Mayor playing a crucial role in this tradition. The event is filled with music, entertainment, and refreshments, offering something for everyone to enjoy.

While the Christmas tree lighting ceremony is a more recent tradition, dating back only a few years, it has become an integral part of the holiday season in Belize. It reflects the unity and spirit of togetherness that defines Belizean communities during the festive season. The lighting of the tree is a symbol of hope and magic, bringing families and the community together to celebrate and fortify family bonds.

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Belize is a joyous and enchanting event that captures the essence of the holiday season. It is a time when families come together, and the entire community unites to celebrate with music, dancing, and festive cheer. The lighting of the tree transforms homes and the city, spreading holiday spirit and creating lasting memories for all who attend.

Traditional foods

Belize's rice and beans dish is quite versatile and can be made with a variety of meats such as chicken, pork, lobster, or game meat. It is cooked in coconut milk with spices and hot sauce. This dish is often accompanied by ripe fried or baked plantains and a sauce made from habanero peppers, onions, and lime juice.

Another traditional Christmas dish in Belize is white relleno, or white soup, which is a chicken soup with stuffed pork and mechado olives, served with hot corn tortillas. This is a favourite among the Mestizo community.

Chicken tamales are also a popular Christmas dish, especially for the Mayan community. Tamales are steam-cooked wraps of cornmeal filled with chicken, pork, or beans, along with vegetables. They are wrapped in plantain or banana leaves and steamed, and are considered a type of fast food in Belize.

Belizean fruit cake is another Christmas essential. This rum cake is baked with preserved fruits and soaked in dark rum. It is then stored for several days to ensure the rum flavour is well infused. The cake is served with a glass of locally prepared wine or lemonade.

To accompany the meal, Belizeans enjoy Rompope, or Mexican eggnog, a dairy-based alcoholic drink made with milk, sugar, spices, egg yolks, vanilla, and rum.

Parades

The Garifuna Jankunu and Charikanari dances are also performed during the Christmas and New Year holidays, with dancers parading the streets and going from house to house, accompanied by the beat of traditional drummers. The Jankunu dance sees masked and costumed dancers, dressed in white long-sleeved shirts and pants with belts of shells tied around their knees and pink masks bearing European features. The Charikanari dance, meanwhile, is a dramatization of a hunting scene where a "hunter man" is looking for the "Two Foot Cow". The dancers wear cowhead attire with real horns and a wire screen mask, and boys and men dress as women while wearing the masks and dancing.

Belize also celebrates with boat parades. In places like Ambergris Caye and Placencia, hundreds of boats decorated for the holidays pass by crowds of well-wishers.

Horse racing

The racing events feature a diverse range of participants, from skilled jockeys riding thoroughbred horses to village locals riding less-than-athletic nags. The races are a source of entertainment and excitement for the community, with spectators often placing friendly wagers on the outcomes. While the bloodstock industry is still developing in Belize, the Christmas horse races are a beloved tradition that showcases the country's unique culture and spirit.

The races are complemented by other festive activities and traditions that make Christmas in Belize a memorable experience. Leading up to Christmas, the Belize Kriol tradition of "The Bram" takes place, where people dance and sing through the streets, spreading cheer and celebrating the start of the holiday season. The Maya Deer Dance is another popular tradition, with 24 colourfully dressed dancers portraying various characters, including a jaguar, a maiden, a hunter, and deer, enacting a sacred folklore-based performance.

Belize's Christmas celebrations also include delicious traditional foods, such as rice and beans, potato salad, black fruitcake, and white relleno (a soup with pork-stuffed chicken and raisins). Midnight Mass is also an integral part of the festivities, with many Christians attending church services to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Overall, the Christmas season in Belize is a time of joy, community, and cultural celebration.

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