Belize's Cultural Mosaic: Exploring The Country's Unique Customs And Traditions

Belize is a diverse country with a variety of unique customs and traditions. The different cultures within its seven districts all have their own practices, but there are also some customs that are shared across the country, such as the staple food of rice and beans. In Belize, death is handled differently than in most Western countries. For example, wakes are more like celebrations, with music, food, and drinks, and it is considered poor manners and bad luck to turn away guests. The Garifuna culture, brought by slaves from the coasts of Africa, includes a unique death celebration called Dugu, which involves a detailed ceremony led by shamans to cure an illness caused by a displeased ancestor spirit. In October, Mayans place food and drink near the doorway to honour their ancestors, and the Caribbean Nine Nights ritual is practised by several cultures in Belize.

Wakes are celebratory

Wakes in Belize are celebratory occasions, a stark contrast to the sombre nature of wakes in other parts of the world. Belize is a small country, and many families are related, so wakes become gatherings of dozens of people with traditional wake sandwiches (bread with a simple meat spread), rice and beans, coffee, liquor (usually rum and/or beer), and music. Local musicians perform with guitars, drums, keyboards, and sometimes a DJ. Nobody is ever turned away from a Belizean wake—it’s considered poor manners and bad luck to turn someone away, just as it would be from a wedding.

The celebratory nature of wakes in Belize is not to say that there are no mourners. Rather, the small population means that families are often related, and so wakes are an opportunity to gather and celebrate the life of the deceased. The next day, a vehicle, usually a pickup truck with several male volunteers, will transport the casket to the burying ground for their final resting place in a concrete tomb.

Belize has a rich cultural heritage, with a variety of unique traditions and customs. The Garifuna culture, for example, has a unique death celebration called Dugu, brought by slaves from the coasts of Africa. In this tradition, if a person becomes sick and cannot be cured by Western medicine, it is believed that the spirit of an ancestor is displeased. A ceremony is then performed to appease the ancestor and cure the illness, involving shamans (Buyai) who determine everything from the type of dress to be worn to the food served.

Another tradition in Belize is the Mayan Night of Souls, where Mayans place food and drink near the doorway for their ancestors who have passed away, to honour their lives. It is considered bad luck to walk forward into a house when returning from a funeral, as there is a fear that spirits will follow you inside. The Caribbean Nine Nights tradition is also practised in Belize, where a special ritual is performed nine nights after a person has been buried. Family members return to the grave with food, alcohol, cigarettes, a candle, and other items, including a machete.

Death and ancestor traditions

Belize has a variety of cultures, each with its own unique death and ancestor traditions. Here are some examples of the various beliefs and ceremonies you can find throughout Belize:

Wakes

In Belize, wakes are more like celebrations compared to the somber gatherings common in the United States. Families, often related to each other in the small country, come together with traditional wake sandwiches, rice and beans, coffee, liquor, and music. No one is turned away, and the casket is taken to the burying ground the next day.

Dugu

The Garifuna culture, brought by slaves from the coasts of Africa, has a unique death celebration called Dugu. If an illness cannot be cured by Western medicine, it is believed to be caused by a displeased ancestor's spirit. The Dugu ceremony, led by shamans, involves traditional Garifuna dress, food, and other detailed elements to appease the ancestor and cure the illness.

Mayan Night of Souls

The Mayans of Belize have a tradition called the Night of Souls, where they place food and drink near the doorway for their ancestors in October. It is considered bad luck to walk straight into the house when returning from a funeral, as it is believed that the spirits will follow.

Nine Nights

The Nine Nights tradition, practiced by Mestizo, East Indian, Garifuna, and Kriol cultures, is a Caribbean ritual performed nine nights after a person has been buried. Family members return to the grave with food, alcohol, cigarettes, candles, and other items, including a machete, for a sacred gathering.

Food and drink customs

Belizean cuisine is a blend of influences from the many cultures that make up the country, including Kriol, Maya, East Indian, Garifuna, Mestizo, Mennonites of German descent, and others. The country's food reflects its history, with a mix of spicy Creole creations, standard English corned beef, and Mayan dishes.

Breakfast

Belizean breakfasts often consist of bread, flour tortillas, or fry jacks, usually homemade and served with various cheeses, refried beans, eggs, or cereal. This is typically accompanied by milk, coffee, tea, or other beverages like Milo, Ovaltine, or cocoa. Breakfast is referred to as "drinking tea" in Belize.

Midday Meals

Lunches can vary, ranging from lighter options like rice and beans, tamales, panades (fried maize shells with beans or fish), and meat pies, to more hearty options like chilmole (black soup), stew chicken, and garnaches (fried tortillas with beans, cheese, and cabbage sauce). In rural areas, meals tend to be simpler, with the Maya relying heavily on recado, corn, and maize, while the Garifuna favour seafood, cassava, and vegetables. Local fruits are commonly consumed, but raw vegetables are less common.

Dinner

Dinners typically feature rice and beans, meat, and a salad or coleslaw. The Kriol dinner usually includes rice and beans, meat, and a variety of sides, including potato salad, vegetable salad, coleslaw, seafood, game meats, and ground foods like cassava and plantains. Fresh juice or water are the typical beverages, although soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, such as homemade wines, are also enjoyed.

Traditional Dishes

The Maya are known for their famous dish, caldo, which involves wrapping meat or beans in tortillas. Tamales, atole, and pozole are also traditional Maya dishes. The Garifuna have their own specialities, including ereba (cassava bread) and hudut, a dish made with coconut milk, ripe plantain, okra, onions, whole fish, herbs, and seasoning. The Kriols have a cultural dish called bile up (or boil up), which consists of boiled eggs, fish or pig tail, and various ground foods like cassava, green plantains, and sweet potatoes in a tomato sauce.

Special Occasions

Belizeans of all ethnicities celebrate weddings with colourful receptions featuring food, drink, and dance. Wakes in Belize are more like celebrations, with traditional food, music, and liquor. On Independence Day and Baron Bliss Day, barbecue is commonly eaten, and families dine together.

Village customs

In southern Belize, there are dozens of Mayan villages, as well as a handful of Garifuna and East Indian villages. Each has its own unique character and level of advancement; some have no electricity, while others have dynamic water systems, internet, and electricity.

It is customary to always seek out either the leader of a Mayan village (Alcalde) or the priest to announce yourself and be welcomed into the community. This is a matter of respect for their privacy and culture. It is also frowned upon to greet the female of the house first when visiting. It is considered disrespectful to not seek out the man of the house first.

In Mayan villages, it is not unusual to find elder women doing the laundry in the river, with children bathing alongside them, standing topless in the water. In villages without water systems, it is the job of the children and women to haul water from the creek or river for cleaning, cooking, and other household tasks.

The Garifuna are passionate about their heritage and ancestors. They are notable for their drumming, which is ever-present in any Garifuna village or locale.

Belize has some unique beliefs and ceremonies surrounding death. In contrast to the sombre nature of wakes in many other countries, in Belize, they are more like celebrations, with dozens of people, traditional wake sandwiches, rice and beans, coffee, liquor, and music. The Garifuna culture has a unique death celebration called Dugu, brought from the coasts of Africa by slaves. The ceremony involves shamans (Buyai) determining everything from the type of dress to be worn to the foods eaten.

In October, Mayans traditionally place food and drink out for their ancestors who have passed, to honour their lives. The food and drink are placed near the doorway. It is considered bad luck to walk forward into the house when returning from a funeral, for fear that spirits will follow you inside.

The Mayan populations in Belize have two common types: Mopan and Kʼekchiʼ. Their main differences are their dialects and attire. It is considered disrespectful to answer "What?" to anyone, and children will likely be punished for doing so. It is also considered unlucky to carry a rooster over a creek or get one wet, as this is believed to render them infertile. Mayans traditionally have two houses: one for cooking and one for sleeping. Many sleep in hammocks, not beds.

Gender roles and norms

Belizean gender roles are typically traditional, with women expected to stay home, care for the children, and perform unpaid domestic work, while men are the primary breadwinners. In families living in poverty, women are often economically dependent on men. Women make up more than 50% of Belize's population but are approximately 30% less likely to have the same opportunities as men. They also have little representation in the country's political, social, and economic spheres. Belize has no strong political, economic, social, or religious representation by women, although this is slowly improving. In 2021, women held only 12.5% of the seats in the nation's parliament.

Belizean women also face exploitation in the workforce, earning only 56% of what men earn, according to Statista. The unemployment rate for people older than 15 is 9.8% for women but only 4.6% for men. However, in daily life, outward appearances are different, with quite a few women running their own businesses and often raising families on their own, especially in the Garifuna and Creole communities. In rural communities, women and men are often equal as healers and shamans. While a chauvinistic culture exists, men take part in raising children and display tenderness toward kids, which is not often seen in North America and Europe.

Belize has made some efforts to promote gender equity and improve women's rights. The country ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1990 and acceded to the Protocol in 2002. This legally binds the state to adopt all necessary measures to ensure women fully enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The National Women's Commission, established in 1982, advises the government on women's issues and provides strategic guidance on achieving gender equality and women's empowerment. The Equal Pay Act (2003) stipulates equal remuneration for equal work, and the Labour (Amendment) Act (2005) entitles women to maternity leave. Additionally, the Domestic Violence Act, first passed in 1992 and reenacted in 2007, provides greater protection for victims of domestic violence, which disproportionately affects women and girls.

Despite these efforts, Belizean women still face discrimination and gender-based violence. More than 70% of rural women experience violence at the hands of their partners, and they face challenges in accessing protective services. Additionally, the lack of gender-based data makes it difficult to fully understand the state of women's rights in Belize.

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