7 Historical Cultures of Belize

A little out of the wheel house today. Sometimes you need to swing for the fences. I will attempt to give you an overview of the Peoples and Cultures of Belize with a brief history, and I do mean brief. This I hope will give you a better understanding of the people of Belize. Here at VTE we try to Entertain and Educate, today we have leaned a little farther to the educate side. I hope it will give some insight…Maybe a little? That is up to you to decide.

Chinese/ Asiatic Peoples

The first immigration group of Chinese people occurred in 1865, they arrived in the northern part of British Honduras. These people were met with resistance from the established Mestizo people and were eventually resettled into Toledo where they created a community for generations. Most modern Chinese arrive after World War 2, and moved into in Punta Gorda and Belize City where you will still find the greatest population of Chinese languages spoken and cultural influences. Although some older traditions are still practiced, these are primarily by earlier generations. Many Chinese people in Belize have since adopted Catholicism. While many others have integrated into a more “Creolized” identity. This has left some with the thought that the Asian languages of Belize could become extinct in the near future.

Creole

Children waiting to get into school

The Creole culture is very distinct throughout the Caribbean, Central America and Belize. It carries with it, is own distinct language, cuisine and traditions.
In the early 1700’s European settlers controlled the logging trade. Years later, around 1724, it was noticed that the British were moving slaves from west Africa through Jamaica and Bermuda into what is modern day Belize. They relocated these people around the area of Belize City, where they put to work for the landowner. Through the generations these children of the Europe and African ancestry  became known as Creole.
During the 1800’s many of these “Creole” people moved away from Belize City to form their own communities in other parts of the country. You can still see major Creole influences in communities such as Freetown Sibun and Gales Point Manatee to name but a couple and many of the Mahogany plantation are still employed by workers of Creole descent.
The word “Creole” indicates the tradition of both African and European peoples. It is estimated that 25 percent of Belize’s population are from Creole descent. Modern Creoles descendants can be found in Caribbean, Central America, The USA and Canada.

East Indian

Many of the original Indian immigrants arrived into British Honduras (BH)/ Belize in the mid 1800’s. They were primarily indentured in the Logging and Sugar manufacturing trades. They would work to pay off their passage from India to BH and when done would become “free men.” Unfortunately the living conditions were so harsh that many would have to “re indenture” themselves thus repeating an everlasting cycle. These people eventually created small communities for themselves in the Toledo and Corozal areas, and slowly integrated into Belizean society through marriage.
During the 1950’ a second wave of Indian immigrants came to BH, they established a retail community in both Belize and Guatemala. By doing so they created a strong economic presence in the two countries.
Currently it is estimated that only 2 percent of the Belizean population is of East Indian descent. Most have adopted the Creole culture that is very prevalent in Belize. However, that does not mean that some of the traditional foods and traces of East Indian cultural can not still be found.

Garifuna/ Garinagu

Person Dwelling -Home

As legend has it, the story of the Garinagu begins with a shipwreck off the coast of St Vincent in 1635. Amongst the ship’s cargo were a group of people destined to become slaves, they swam ashore and integrated with the indigenous Caribbean population, thus the Garinagu or Black Caribbean was born.
No longer trusted by the English in 1796, The Garinagu and the French were exiled from St Vincent. The Garinagu finally settle in Belize on what is modern day Dangriga in 1802. November 19th is celebrated as Garifuna Settlement Day, a time to celebrate in finding a place to settle, to continue traditions, and hope for a prosperous future. The celebrations will simply amaze you. If you have the opportunity do partake.
Many communities of Garifuna can still be found in and around southern Belize. Many of these people still continue with the traditions of the Garifuna, fishing in dug out boats, harvesting cavasa and basket weaving.

Mayan

Carved Mahogany

As one would expect the Mayan culture ( 1500 BC- 1700 AD) has had the greatest cultural influence over the area. There territory was vast and stemmed through what is now modern Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Yucatan. An advanced society. The built cities- primarily used for business, a calendar, Hieroglyphs, they created the first use of zero. A society that many of there secrets are still undiscovered. It is thought that around 1500 AD the Europeans came to the area and started the demise of this once great society, However there may have also been other factors that created a “perfect storm” for the collapse of this civilization. Plague, drought and war are the most likely the prime factors. Many of the architectural features have been partially being excavated, this includes one of the last cities to be abandon is  Lamanai in Belize, near Orange Walk.
In Belize there exists three distinct groups of people that are direct descendants of the Mayan people.

The Yucatec, communities can be found in Corozal, Orange Walk districts of Belize, They primarily speak Spanish, but Yucatec can also be heard.

The Mopan, have communities in South Toledo and Stann Creek, and are originally from the Peten region of Guatemala.

The Kekchi speak both Peten and Yucatec, and have built communities in the regions of San Jose and Toledo. Each still live with traditional Mayan customs. Agriculture, Arts and Crafts and Chocolate curating account for the majority of their modern livelihood. Many Kekchi woman are easily identified by the colorful embroidered skirts and blouses that they create designed to include geometric shapes.

Mennonites

Mennonites with Horse and Buggy

The vast majority of ethnic Mennonites in Belize speak Plautdietsch or Low German. Most also speak English, Spanish and Creole. Mennonites in Belize are descendants of those that emigrated from the Russian Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many Mennonites settled in Canada. Later some resettled in Mexico. Later in the 1950s some of these Mexican Mennonites settled into Belize (BA) British Honduras. Additionally, during this time we see a groups of mennonites from the USA settling into Belize. Mennonite women typically wear bonnets and long dresses, while men usually wear dark pants and traditional suspenders. Marriages are arranged. Many communities still use horse drawn buggies and reject the use of electricity. Farming, carpentry, furniture making, and construction help create and sustain their economic growth.
Mennonite communities are self sufficient and build their own schools, roads and other infrastructure.
In Belize, separate ethnic backgrounds and have formed different religious bodies. Traditional and conservative Mennonites are found in Shipyard and Upper Barton Creek, while others that have adopted a more modern way of life can be found in Spanish Lookout and Blue Creek. Interestingly many Belizeans of Kriol and Mestizo heritage have converted to Mennonitism.

Mestizo

Street Musicians

Years after Columbus discovered the shores of South America, a young shipwrecked sailor Gonzalo Guerrero is captured by the Mayan people. Recognizing his prowess he is made an adviser of the military to Nachancan, Ruler of Old Chetumal ( Now Santa Rita Mayan site). He marries Nachancan’s daughter Zazil Ha and they settle into Yucatan area. There children are known as the first Mestizos.
The Mestizos would become the culture that emerged over the next 300 years after the arrival of Spanish explorer/ warrior Cortez. As hard as they tried, the Spanish could not suppress this culture. The evolution was created through the marriage/ integration of the people. Many Mestizos left the Yucatan during the 1800’s during the (Caste Wars), where they migrated to Belize or BH, and still remain.
Most recently, in the 1980’s Mestizos peoples from El salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have migrated to Belize and have created communities of their own in various locations throughout the country. It is believed that nearly 50 percent of the Belizean population is made up of people from Mestizos descendants.

Although 500 years has past since Guerrero arrived on the Mayan shores, you can still see the influences the Mestizos have made on society through their mix of Mayan and Spanish art and cuisine and Roman catholic religious traditions.

As you can see the populations and culture are very diverse and have a rich and eclectic history. It would seem very obvious that this is a brief synopsis of the history and cultures in Belize. Much more can be attained by visiting some of the locations indicated or visiting other interesting historical site    throughout Belize.

I welcome you to add to this blog and share  your own experiences. I am certain that those have been here can offer the reader a great deal more insight than what I have tried to here. So please do not hesitate to leave your comments below.
Thank you and I hope someday you may be able to make the trek to this very fascinating land.
VTE