BELIZE COMMEMORATES GARIFUNA SETTLEMENT DAY

09-29-2007

September 27, 2007 – Although small in size, the Central American country of

Belize is home to a diverse number of cultures and ethnic groups, all with their own unique histories, traditions and colorful celebrations.  On November 19^th, Belize shines a spotlight on the Garifuna culture of Belize as the country enthusiastically celebrates Garifuna Settlement Day.

 

 

The Garifuna people, descendants of former African slaves, arrived in Belize in 1832 on the sandy shores of the southern Stann Creek District from St. Vincent.  The joyous celebrations of Garifuna Settlement Day mark the Garifuna people’s arrival into Belize and their escape from bondage.  With pulsating drums, colorful dashikis and dresses, soulful, rhythmic dancing and delicious traditional foods, visitors to Belize can share in the festivities and witness the wonderful preservation of this rich heritage.

 

Garifuna Settlement Day is celebrated throughout the country but is most prominent in the town of Dangriga, the hub of Garifuna life in Belize. Here, the Garifuna’s historic arrival is reenacted as a major part of the day’s festivities.  Tourists and Belizean locals of all ethnic backgrounds join in the lively celebration that honors the vibrant culture of the Garifuna people.

 

Music is a fundamental feature of the Garifuna culture and the Settlement Day festivities.  As such, the rhythmic drumming of traditional Punta music can be heard throughout the streets, encouraging singing and non-stop dancing.  Punta Rock, the popular modern version of the traditional music genre, is played in concerts around the country while participants can be seen donning colorful traditional outfits adding to the cultural inheritance of the celebration.

 

Several resorts in the Stann Creek district offer affordable accommodations for visitors looking to share in the Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations:

 

Hopkins Bay Resort is located on the beach near the Garifuna Village of Hopkins just a few miles south of Dangriga in the Stann Creek District and offers guests ocean front villa accommodations. Featuring a wide array of activities, guests can choose from various snorkeling and reef tours, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing horse back riding and guided tours of jungle attractions and Mayan sites.

 

Rates at Hopkins Bay Resort are $165 per night for a one bedroom with a king size bed and full bath and $345 per night for an executive suite, which includes two bedrooms, kitchen, living room and dining room. Those traveling in a larger group can enjoy the private beach villas, which include a third bed and bathroom (sleeping 6-8 people) and costs $375 per night. For more information, contact 1-877-497-2297 or visit www.hopkinsbayresort.com.

 

The Chaleanor Hotel is located in the heart of Dangriga, only two blocks away from the beach. This hotel offers a more affordable option to the larger resorts but spares no amenities for its economy guests. In addition, The Chaleanor is the tallest hotel in town, offering a magnificent view of the bordering Caribbean Sea. 

 

Rates range from $60 a night for a sizable seaside room, equipped with a TV, private bathroom and air conditioning to $21 a night for more basic accommodations. A snack and gift shop is located in the lobby where guests can arrange tours through the hotel. For more information, contact 501-522-2587 or www.chaleanorhotel.com.

 

About the Garifuna

Although only 8 percent of the population in Belize, the Garifuna are one of the most interesting and well-preserved components of Belize’s multi-ethnic society.  They migrated to Belize in 1635 when a boat carrying slaves to the West Indies shipwrecked near St. Vincent Island.  The remaining slaves escaped and found shelter on St. Vincent by the Caribe Indians who were already residing on the island.  The intermarriage of the two groups created the Garifuna people.

 

About Belize

Snuggled between Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south, relaxed, English-speaking Belize is only a two-hour plane ride from the continental United States.  Venture into a land rich in natural beauty and steeped in the magic of its Maya past.  Renowned for the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere and the second largest in the world, pristine waters, exotic marine and wildlife, lush unspoiled landscapes, and superb diving, Belize is Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret.  For more information on Belize please visit www.travelbelize.org or call 1-800-624-0686.

 

###

[Back to Press Releases Main]