Belize Independence Day: A Historical Celebration

Belize Independence Day is celebrated annually on 21 September, marking the Central American country's independence from Britain. Belize, previously known as British Honduras, became a self-governing colony in 1964 and was renamed in 1973. However, it was not until 21 September 1981 that Belize gained full independence from the United Kingdom, becoming a sovereign nation and a proud member of the British Commonwealth. The day is celebrated with parades, music, and colourful costumes, with Belizeans gathering worldwide to commemorate their country's history, culture, and people.

Belize's independence celebrations

Belize Independence Day is a national holiday in Belize, celebrated on 21 September. It marks the Central American country's independence from Great Britain in 1981, after several centuries as a British colony.

The day is marked by jubilant celebrations across the country, including parades, music, and brilliant costumes. Every town and village across Belize hold parades featuring marchers, bands, and floats—all decked out in the colours of the Belizean flag: red, white, and blue. The biggest parade takes place in Belize City on Albert Street, where the capital city becomes a sea of colour.

The celebrations also include live music concerts, ranging from small events in local villages to larger events that draw thousands of attendees. There are also fireworks displays along the coast, including in Placencia village, where people gather to watch the fireworks over the Caribbean Sea.

Food is also a big part of the celebrations, with barbecues and traditional Belizean food, such as rice and beans, fry jacks, chin mole (a spicy soup), bile up (a sweet dish made with rice flour), and tamales.

The Battle of St. George's Caye Day on 10 September often marks the beginning of the festivities, with radio stations playing patriotic music and people wearing the national colours. The celebrations continue for almost two weeks until Independence Day on 21 September.

Belize's history

In 1638, Spain granted the British title to the land under the "Bay Settlement," but they failed to occupy or visit the area for over a century. During this time, Belize became a base for pirates and loggers. In 1763, Spain granted the British permission to cut logwood, leading to a logwood boom. In 1783, Spain officially recognized Britain's claim to the territory. However, tensions continued between the two countries over Britain's refusal to remove settlers from Spanish territory in neighbouring Guatemala.

In the 1800s, Belize, known then as British Honduras, became a melting pot of cultures as African slaves were brought in to provide labour for the logging industry, eventually outnumbering their masters. In 1840, after disputes with Spanish colonizers, the region officially became a British colony.

In 1954, Belize took its first steps towards decolonization with universal adult suffrage, and in 1964, it gained a new constitution and internal self-government, with George Price becoming premier. However, Guatemalan hostility impeded the path to independence. It wasn't until the 1970s that Belize's struggle for independence gained momentum. In 1973, the country changed its name to Belize to reflect the Maya heritage of its people, and negotiations for independence were launched.

Belize faced a unique challenge in its fight for independence due to ongoing claims by neighbouring Guatemala, which insisted it had a right to govern Belize by treaty. In 1975, after 14 years of negotiations, the Guatemalan government demanded a large area of Belizean territory as a price for withdrawing its claim. Belize responded by taking its case for self-determination to the international community, appealing to the United Nations and joining the Non-Aligned Movement.

In 1980, international support for Belize's independence became virtually unanimous, with a UN resolution calling for independence without concessions and with security by the end of 1981. On September 21, 1981, Belize finally gained its independence, becoming an independent state with full sovereignty and British troops stationed to defend against any possible attack from Guatemala.

The Maya civilisation

Belize celebrates its Independence Day on 21 September, the day it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1981. The country was previously known as British Honduras until 1973, when it became a self-governing colony and changed its name to Belize to reflect the Mayan heritage of its people.

The history of the Maya civilisation is divided into three principal periods: the Preclassic, Classic, and Postclassic. The Preclassic period (c. 2000 BC – 250 AD) saw the establishment of the first complex societies in the Maya region, the cultivation of staple crops like maize, beans, squashes, and chilli peppers, and the development of hieroglyphic writing. The first Maya cities emerged around 750 BC, and by 500 BC, these cities featured monumental architecture, including large temples with elaborate stucco façades.

The Classic period (c. 250–900 AD) was marked by the peak of large-scale construction, urbanism, and intellectual and artistic development. During this time, the Maya political landscape consisted of multiple city-states engaged in a complex network of alliances and enmities. The Maya developed a highly sophisticated writing system, mathematics that included one of the earliest known instances of the explicit zero, and a highly complex series of interlocking ritual calendars.

The Postclassic period (c. 950–1539 AD) followed the collapse of the central Maya region around 900 AD, which saw the abandonment of cities, the ending of dynasties, and a northward shift in population. During this time, there was a flourishing slave trade, and new trade networks were formed. The Maya continued to excel in various fields, including mathematics, astronomy, and the recording of historical and ritual knowledge.

The country's name change

Belize, previously known as British Honduras, gained independence from Britain on 21 September 1981. However, the country changed its name to Belize in 1973, eight years before it became independent.

The name Belize is thought to have come from the Mayan phrase "bel Itza", meaning "the way to Itza". It is also theorised that the name comes from the Mayan word belix (or beliz), meaning "muddy water".

The earliest known record of the name "Belize" appears in the journal of the Dominican priest Fray José Delgado, dating to 1677. Delgado recorded the names of three major rivers that he crossed while travelling north along the Caribbean coast: Rio Soyte, Rio Kibum, and Rio Balis. The names of these waterways, which correspond to the Sittee River, Sibun River, and Belize River, were provided to Delgado by his translator.

In the 1820s, the Belize Creole elite invented the legend that the name Belize derived from the Spanish pronunciation of the name of a Scottish buccaneer, Peter Wallace, who established a settlement at the mouth of the Belize River in 1638. However, there is no proof that buccaneers settled in this area, and the very existence of Wallace is considered a myth.

The country's heritage and culture

Belize, a small country in Central America, has a rich and diverse cultural heritage. The history of the country dates back thousands of years, with the Maya civilisation spreading into the area between 1500 B.C. and 300 A.D. Several major archaeological sites, including Caracol, Xunantunich, Lamanai, and Cerros, reflect the advanced Mayan civilisation that once thrived in the region. Today, these sites are among Belize's biggest tourist attractions.

The first Europeans to arrive in Belize were a small crew of shipwrecked Spanish sailors in 1511, followed by British sailors, including pirates and buccaneers. In 1638, Spain granted the British a title to the land under the "Bay Settlement", but they failed to occupy or visit the area for over a century. In 1763, Spain granted the British permission to cut logwood, which led to a logwood boom and resulted in the recognition of Britain's claim to the territory in 1783.

The country became a British colony in 1840 and was named British Honduras. Under a new constitution granted in 1964, British Honduras became a self-governing colony. In 1973, the country was officially renamed Belize to reflect the Mayan heritage of its people. Belize gained independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1981, becoming an independent member of the Commonwealth.

Belize's culture is influenced by its diverse population, including Maya, Mestizo, Garifuna, Creole, and European heritage. The country has over 40 identified languages, with English as the official language. The Belize Living Heritage website is dedicated to promoting and preserving the diverse cultural expressions and knowledge that make Belize unique.

Belize's independence is celebrated annually on 21 September with jubilant celebrations, including parades, colourful costumes, and music. The Independence Day festivities are a time for Belizeans to gather and celebrate their country's independence, history, culture, and people.

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