Culture

This land has been called the melting pot of culture. Having witnessed this acceptance firsthand, I can see why this is a fitting description. People from all walks of life harmonize in Belize. From what I have heard, these are the main groups: Mestizo, Garinagu, Mennonite, Hindu, Chinese and Mayan. I am sure there are more ethnicity blending in which I have missed!

Mestizo: These are people of Spanish and Mayan descent and comprise about half the population.

 
Garinagu: These are people descended from the Black Caribs in the area.

Mennonite: Some of the first Mennonites came from Canada and the United States in the 1950s.




Hindu: Most of the Hindus came from India to Jamaica and then to Belize


Chinese: Like many peoples, the Chinese were brought over to work in Belize

Mayan: The only group who was originally here before the colonization of Belize


To celebrate Belize's rich history, St. Peter's School had a cultural day on Friday. It was their first one. The goal was to honor all the main ethnicity in Belize by wearing clothes unique to each group.I cannot tell you how cute it was to see little Mennonites, and Hindus running around the playground!

Sulmi in a traditional Mestizo dress

Sulmi and her classmates - Yasuri and Shamika

Morine and her sister, Adrienne in Garifuna dress

“There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit