Belize Literature Review 1st Draft DONE
Running Head: BELIZE
The community, language, and culture of Belize: A literature review
Bradley W. Moser
Erika Hasebe-Ludt
The University of Lethbridge
Introduction
Belize is a country with a population near the 300,000 mark (Wikipedia, 2006).
Males outnumber females by 1%.(Government of Belize, 1999) and the annual growth rate sits at about 6.0% as of 2004 (U.S Department of State, 2005). Belize is known as being the most sparsely populated nation in Central America. More than half of population lives in rural areas, while about one-fourth of population lives in Belize City (U.S Department of State, 2005). Belize is the smallest populated non-island sovereign state in Americas (Wikipedia, 2006).
Geographically, Belize lies on the eastern or Caribbean coast of Central America. It is bounded on the north and part of the west by Mexico, and on the south and the remainder of the west by Guatemala (Government of Belize, 1999; Wikipedia, 2006). It is larger than El Salvador and comparable in size to the State of Massachusetts (U.S Department of State, 2005). Belize city is the largest city and former capital, and Belize River is the longest river (Wikipedia, 2006).
Belize maintains a subtropical climate, tempered by trade winds. Temperatures in coastal districts range from about 10 °C (50°F) to about 35.6°C (96°F). Rainfall varies from an average of 1,295 millimeters in the north to 4,445 millimeters in the extreme south. Dry season usually extends from February to May and there is sometimes a dry spell in August (Government of Belize, 1999).
The government of Belize operates under a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, in which Queen Elizabeth II is recognized as Sovereign (Wikipedia, 2006). Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America (Wikipedia, 2006). For more than a century, Belize was a British colony; the country was called British Honduras until 1973 (Wikipedia, 2006). Then, in 1981 Belize became an independent nation (Wikipedia, 2006). Belize is considered culturally both Caribbean and Central American. The national flag is composed of red, white and as a symbol of unity. It is a compostion of royal blue flag with one horizontal red stripe at the top, one at the bottom, and a white circle with the Coat of Arms in the center.
Above are the basic facts of Belize; its geography, physical features, population, politics, and culture. This paper will examine the features of community, language, and culture more thorougly. The purpose for the reader is to gain a comprehensive knowledge of Belize and its peoples.
Community
The community of Belize is made up of multiple ethnic groups, languages, and cultures (Winsor & Hansen, 1999; Belize Tourism Board, 2006; Wikipedia, 2006). The majority of Belizeans are of multiracial descent (US Department of State, 2005), and many in fact, do not identify themselves by their primary ethnic background; they just call themselves Belizeans (US Library of Congress, no date provided). The ethnic and racial diversity was created by social movements including colonization, slavery, and immigration (Wikipedia, 2006). This section will introduce the proporation, historical background, and characteristics of each ethnic group in Belize. These groups include, the Mestizo, Creole, Garifuna, Maya, Mennonite, East Indian, Asian, African, Caribbean, and American. Currently, Mertizos make up 50% of the total population in Belize, Creoles sit at 25%, while the remaining groups make up the remaining 25% (Wikipedia, 2006).
Mertizo
Mestizos are persons of mixed ancestry, combining Spanish and Indian heritage. As noted above, this ethnic group makes up the majority of people living in Belize. The spanish never established colonies in Belize, and thus, Mertizos living in Belize now are
mostly refugees from the mid-1800's (Wikipedia, 2006). Most Mertizos are descendants of mixed blood Mexicans and Yucatan Mayans who fled from the Yucatan in the mid-1800's. Around the year 1840, Mexican-Yucatan Mertizos settled in Belize in to escape La Guerra de Castas in Yucatan. Most of these people occupy the northern regions of Corozal and Orange walk and western district of Cayo (Belize Tourism Board, 2006). Regardless of their origin, Mertizos are noted as an integral part of the Belizean community, and instrumental members in the growth and progress of the country (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Creole
Creole make up the 2nd largest ethnic group in Belize. Creoles are descentants of English settlers and African slaves. Historically, the first African slaves began arriving from other countries in Caribbean and Africa and procreated with whites and each other, creating the Creole ethnic group. They tend to reside in larger, urban areas (Wikipedia, 2006), such as Belize City – where 2/3’s of the total Creole population resides (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
People of the Creole form a distinctive culture on their own (Wikipedia, 2006). They are recognized prominently by their values and way of life. Creole men have traditionally been employed in the logging indusctry, and now more commonly work in civil service(Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Garifuna
The Garifuna group make up 6.6% of the total population. Like most ethnic groups in Belize, Garifuna have their own language and culture. They come from African and Caribbean origins, mainly from African slaves and Carib and Arawak Indians Ancestors arrived from the Bay Islands of Honduras in 1803 and settled in South Belize (Belize Tourism Board, 2006 ;Wikipedia, 2006). Nowadays, Garifuna are known to dominate the southern towns of Punta Gorda and Dangriga as well as the villages of Seine Bight, Hopkins, Georgetown, and Barranco. A smaller collection also reside in Belize City and Belmopan. The two largest occupational sectors, both traditionally and modernly, are fishing and agriculture. Garifunas pride themselves in retaining their rituals and traditions (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Maya
Approximately 10.6% of people in Belize are Mayan (US Department of State, 2005), making up about 2 million people (Wikipedia, 2006). The Mayas have descended from ancient Mayan civilization (Wikipedia, 2006), holding a rich history over 2,000 years old (Winsor & Hansen, 1999). The Maya are recognized as the most established of all ethnic groups, resignating in Belize and Yucatan region since the 500's AD (Wikipedia, 2006).
The three Maya groups living in Belize are Yucatec, Mopan, and Ketchi. Yucatec Maya originated from Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, came to Belize in the mid-1800’s fleeing from Guerra de Castes during the Caste War. Now, the reside in Corozal, Orange Walk, and Cayo Districts. The Maya have a traditional native language that is no longer widely spoken, as they now speak English and Spanish (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Mopan Maya came to Belize in 1886 as a flee from taxation and forced labor from the Peten region of Guatemala. They now reside in San Antonio Village in Toledo District and other villages in the Cayo District (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Kekchi Maya came to Belize in 1870's as a flee from enslavement by the German coffee growers in Verapaz, Guatemala. From there, they settled in lowland areas along rivers and streams, forming small isolated villages throughout Toledo. Due to isolation, the Kekchi Maya became most self reliant ethnic group in Belize. There are known as peaceful people known for cooperative practices in farming and cultural development (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Mennonites
Mennonites are essentially Dutch/German farmers. As a group, they arrived to Belize in the year 1958 from Canada, Chihuahua, and Mexico. They have settled and continue to reside in the Orange Walk and Cayo Districts in six main communities: Blue Creek, Shipyard, Little Belize, Progresso, Spanish Lookout and Barton Creek. Mennonites are easily identified by their apparels – women in their bonnets and long dresses and men in their denim overalls and hats. Mennonites are well known as hard working people. They have initiated their own school, church, and financial institution. Industry wise, they are well grounded in agriculture. Poultry products and hand-crafted furniture are popular products sold in markets all over Belize (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
East Indians
East Indians, mainly Syrian and/or Lebanese descent, compose roughly 2% of the total population in Belize. After the Emancipation in 1838, East Indians settled in Belize. As a group, they are spread out over many villages and towns, primarily in the Corozal and Toledo districts, making them well integrated into the total population (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Asian
Asians, primarily East Asians including Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean, form a population around the 6,000 mark in Belize. As refugees, Asians fled the Japanese invasion of China just before World War II. Recently, the Belizean government initiated the Economic Citizenship Program, which provided many Taiwanese homes and helped them start businesses and work (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
African
Approximately 24.9% of the nation’s total population are of African and Afro-European (Creole) ancestry (US Department of State, 2005). The majority of Africans in Belize originated from Mainland Africa including Nigeria (Wikipedia, 2006)
Caribbean
Caribbeans living in Belize originate mainly from Jamaica, Trinidad, Tobago, and Cuba (Wikipedia, 2006).
American
Americans immigrated to Belize during the early 20th Century, mainly coming from Central America (Wikipedia, 2006).
European
White English and Scottish settlers came to Belize in the 1630’s and exported logwood. What followed is colonization and the blending of Europeans with Africans, forming the Creole ethnic group (Wikipedia, 2006).
Various ethnic groups make up the community of Belize. As will be shown, each group comprises their own language and cultural customs.
Language
The multiple ethnicity background of Belize creates a unique blend of languages and communication (Wikipedia, 2006). As of the 2000 census, there are 8 different languages spoken throughout the country and 70% of all Belizeans are bilingual or trilingual. This section will review the history, statistics, and cultural characteristics of 6 of these 8 languages.
English
As the result of British colonization, English is the official language of Belize (Government of Belize, 1999; US Department of State, 2005; Ambergris Caye, 2006; Belize Tourism Board, 2006; Wikipedia, 2006). The majority of Belizeans speak and understand English. According to Winsor and Hansen, 80% of the country’s total population is English literate and 90% of the total population can speak some English (1999).
During the period of colonization, the British declared Standard English as the official language of the country and of school instruction. Upon declaring independence, the Belizean government decided to maintain English as the official language. Nowadays, English is used in all forms of media and business/educational communication. Belizean children growing up in an isolated village without electricity begin school with no English exposure (Winsor & Hansen, 1999).
Creole
The Creole langauge, also called Kriol (Belizean Creole) is the second most common language spoken (Government of Belize, 1999; Belize Tourism Board, 2006; Wikipedia, 2006). It is characterized as a Raucous and playful English-based language that contains colorful terms not usually translatable in English. Kriol is widely spoken and remains a distinctive part of everyday conversations for most Belizeans (Government of Belize, 1999). In fact, most Belizeans are more familiar with Kriol than English (Winsor & Hansen, 1999; Wikipedia, 2006). Many speak their ethnic language at home and Creole when talking with others outside of home (Winsor & Hansen, 1999). Statistically speaking, 95% of the total population in Belize City speak Kriol and English. Kriol remains the first language for 70% of the nation’s total popuation. 20% of Belizeans speak Creole solely and not English.
Spanish
Spanish is the second language for most Belizeans and is considered the mother tongue of Mestizo and Central American settlers. For 35% of people living in Belize, Spanish is their first or second language. It is the primary language for 60% of the total population in the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts (Wikipedia, 2006). The Spanish language is also commonly taught in primary and secondary schools in order to further develop bi-lingualism (Government of
Belize, 1999).
A sub-language that was derived from Belizean Spanish is referred to as Kitchen Spanish. Kitchen Spanish is an informal dialect that incorporates English, Maya and Creole words. For example, the word pullar comes from the English root pull and adds the Spanish suffix ar. The Kitchen Spanish word pullar is synonymous with the English word pull (Wikipedia, 2006).
Garifuna
The language shared by the Garifuna ethnic group is a mixture of Spanish, Caribbean and other languages. About 80% of the people in Belize are literate in Garifuna (Wikipedia, 2006).
Mennonites
Mennonites obviously practice their native language: Dutch-German (Wikipedia, 2006).
Maya
Ancient Maya dialects were once spoken, but is less well known and no longer spoken nowadays (Wikipedia, 2006).
The six languages described above are the main dialects communicated throughout Belize. The next and final section of this paper will review several aspects of Belizean culture.
Culture
As an ethnically rich country, the people of Belize practice cultural unity. The combination of racial harmony and religious tolerance creates a successful blend of ethnicity, language, and culture that makes up the nation of Belize (Belize Tourism Board, 2006). This unified nation promotes a unique culture that effortlessly blends ethnic groups, languages, religions, and more (Wikipedia, 2006). Belize maintains a widespread reputation for its friendly peoples (Belize Tourism Board, 2006). Belizeans are considered by foreign nations as naturally tolerant, friendly, fun-loving, and courteous people. It is not uncommon for people to greet each other on the street even if they have never met (Wikipedia, 2006). There are limitations to their friendliness, however, because at times, Belizeans are not willing to fight for what they believe and will often yield to aggressive foreigners (Wikipedia, 2006). This section will review several aspects of Belizean culture: social structure and social change, education, marriage and courtship, religion, and music.
Historical Social Structure and Recent Social Change
The social stratification in Belize has evolved quite substantially within the last 100 years. This section investigates the historical division of social structure and the recent improvements thereof.
In the past, Belize displayed a large gap between the rich and poor, but not as big as in other Caribbean countries (US Library of Congress, no date provided). Historically, the nation has maintained three social classes or sectors: upper, middle, and lower. Members of the upper class were either associated within the white, light-skinned Creole, or Mestizo races (US Library of Congress, no date provided). Middle or working-class persons represented a variety of different ethnic backgrounds (US Library of Congress, no date provided). These persons had shared dispositions toward education, cultural respectability, and possibilities for upward social mobility (US Library of Congress, no date provided). Thirdly, people representing the lower social class, also termed grass roots or roots class, made up the majority of the Belizean population. Grass roots persons shared a multitude of low-paid occupations include non-skilled or semiskilled urban workers, subsistence farmers, agricultural laborers, and the unemployed. What’s more, these people had severely limited access to land, higher education, or any other opportunities to improve their marginal status (US Library of Congress, no date provided).
Fortunately, the people of Belize have witnessed some significant social changes within the last thirty years. These social dynamics have included the growth of educational opportunities, government employment has facilitated the increase of middle-class and gap between the rich and poor, and education is now seen as essential (US Library of Congress, no date provided).
Industry and Employment
The two largest wealth-producing industries in Belize are agriculture and tourism. Agriculture has been a great commodity of Belize for a long time. The largest industries are sugar, citrus, fisheries and bananas. A wealth of tourists visits Belize for its many natural, archaeological, and cultural attractions (Government of Belize, 1999).
Two major tourist attractions have made Belize a popular travel destination. The Maya Eco-Cultural System is a well-frequented Maya attraction in the Cayo District. Visitors get the opportunity to participate in a full Maya experience, where they can search the rainforest in the pursuit of healing herbs. This attraction also has elders from the Maya group tell stories about the past. Another hot-spot is the Garifuna Village Project, situated in the Garifuna community of Punta Gorda - the largest town in the Toledo District. This attraction has a living museum in a traditional Garifuna village along with a restaurant, arts and crafts shop, and artifact museum (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
While agriculture and tourism remain as the highest income producing industries, the division of labor is somewhat different. To put the employment in Belize into proportion, 61.4% of the work force are employed within service occupations, 20.4% are empoyed within agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing. While the remaining 18.2% have work in the commerce industry (US Department of State, 2005).
Education
Schools in Belize make it compulsory that children aged 6 to 14 are to remain in school (Government of Belize, 1999). This 9-year compulsory practice yields a 60% attendance rate and 76.5% literacy rate (U.S Department of State, 2005).
Education (Government of Belize, 1999). Despite these startling figures, Belizean students are provided with free primary and secondary education. The government funds some of the schools but the churches fund the majority of schools. The Belizean government maintains one special school for mentally disabled children and another for children with physical disabilities (Government of Belize, 1999). Some people have critiqued schools in belize for having overcrowded classrooms, absenteeism, poorly maintained buildings, few teaching resources, and few reading materials for young children. One repeated compliment is the many highly motivated teachers in Belize (Winsor & Hansen, 1999).
Belize’s post-secondary education institutions have good prognosis. The nation hosts several colleges, universities, and training institutes. The University College of Belize (UCB) is the country’s first university. Opening in 1986, the UCB offers advanced training in the professional and technical fields. The Baron Bliss Institute is a unique education institution. Situated in Belize City, Baron Bliss comes complete with a well-equipped library service. As well, the library operates satellite libraries across the country, making shared education within Belize an achieved reality. Baron Bliss is maintained and operated by the Government, primarily in attempts of encouraging cultural activities throughout the nation.
Marriage and Courtship
Going along with the ideology of racial harmony, intermarriage between members of different ethnic groups and mixed ancestry is common historically and presently in the country of Belize (US Library of Congress, No date provided). Other customs involving marriage and courtship have evolved over time. For example, such traditions have changed within the Mexican culture. In the past, young men wanting to marry had to ask for permission from the girl's parents to visit her at home in the presence of all family members. These arranged visits lasted no more than a few hours. Nowadays, young women’s parents allow them freedom. Similarly, Mexican girls had to be escorted by their parents when attending dances. Now, girls may attend dances unescorted by their parents (Ambergris Caye, 2006)
Another interesting example exists within the Quinceanos ceremony. This ceremony is one of the most loved and spectacular events celebrated within the Ambergris Cayes district. Essentially, Quinceanos is a "coming out" party for a young girl who turns fifteen years of age. The purpose is to announce to the community that the young girl was of a marriageable age and inform prospective husbands that the girl was now available for marriage. The Quinceanos is still celebrated to this day. However, 15-year old girls are no longer advertised as fit to be wed. They are instead dressed in an elaborate white gown (similar to a bride’s wedding dress), escorted by several maids with their escorts, and celebrated with friends and family, the girl’s coming of age. This act symbolizes the girls passage from childhood to adulthood. To enhance the ceremony of the event, it is held at the town's Catholic Church where a special mass is held, and a ring is blessed by the priest and presented to the girl (Ambergris Caye, 2006).
Religion
The main religions practicing within Belize are Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, other Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist (U.S Department of State, 2005). About 50% of the entire Belizean population are Roman Catholic (U.S Department of State, 2005). The Anglican Church and other Protestant Christian groups account for most of the remaining 50% (U.S Department of State, 2005).
As the statistics represent, Roman Catholicism has traditionally been the most common religion practiced in Belize. The 2nd most common reigion practiced being Protestant. The recent increase of Chinese and East Indian ethnic groups has led to an expansion in the number of religions represented (Wikipedia, 2006).
Another example of religious tradition is obtained from Mexican culture. Mexican settlers brought a distinct culture to Belize, with their combination of Spanish, Mayan and Catholic traditions. Many such traditions are still followed today, such as religious feast days and celebrations, and the Lenten Season - an important Catholic tradition (Ambergris Caye, 2006).
Music
Just as a variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious practices are commonly accepted, so are a variety of different music genres. Two of the most popular in Belize are Punta and Brukdown. Some Belizeans would agree that Punta is the most popular music genre in Belize and the most popular genre of Garifuna music. Punta is distinctly Afro-Caribbean, and is believed to be ready for international popularization like similarly descended styles, including reggae, calypso, and merengue (Wikipedia, 2006). Brukdown is a very popular modern style of Belizean music evolved out of the music and dance of loggers, especially a form called buru (Wikipedia, *date).
Summary
Belize is a country rich with ethnic and cultural diversity. No wonder people living there feel a strong sense of community. People from a range of different groups can practice their own language and cultural customs, and yet still feel that they belong to the larger community. It is very probable from reviewing the literature that the country will survive due to its continued sense of national harmony.
References
Ambergris Caye. (2006). Belize Culture. Available:
http://www.goambergriscaye.com/cult.html
Belize Tourism Board. (2006). About Belize. Available: http://www.travelbelize.org/cult.html
Bigelow, B. (no date provided). Lifestyles in Belize, Central America. Available: http://www.peacecorner.org/belize_lifestyles.htm
Government of Belize. (1999). About Belize. Available: http://www.belize.gov.bz/belize/national.html
Winsor, P. J. T., Hansen, J. (1999). Coming to know as teachers: Learning together in Belize. Reading Teacher, 52 (8), 810-819. Available:
http://0-web.ebscohost.com.darius.uleth.ca/ehost/detail?vid=7&hid=108&sid=ac449271-cd67-4d9a-96cb-f54606f6d96f%40sessionmgr103
U.S Department of State. (2005). Background note: Belize. Available: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1955.htm
Wikipedia. (2006). Belize. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize
The community, language, and culture of Belize: A literature review
Bradley W. Moser
Erika Hasebe-Ludt
The University of Lethbridge
Introduction
Belize is a country with a population near the 300,000 mark (Wikipedia, 2006).
Males outnumber females by 1%.(Government of Belize, 1999) and the annual growth rate sits at about 6.0% as of 2004 (U.S Department of State, 2005). Belize is known as being the most sparsely populated nation in Central America. More than half of population lives in rural areas, while about one-fourth of population lives in Belize City (U.S Department of State, 2005). Belize is the smallest populated non-island sovereign state in Americas (Wikipedia, 2006).
Geographically, Belize lies on the eastern or Caribbean coast of Central America. It is bounded on the north and part of the west by Mexico, and on the south and the remainder of the west by Guatemala (Government of Belize, 1999; Wikipedia, 2006). It is larger than El Salvador and comparable in size to the State of Massachusetts (U.S Department of State, 2005). Belize city is the largest city and former capital, and Belize River is the longest river (Wikipedia, 2006).
Belize maintains a subtropical climate, tempered by trade winds. Temperatures in coastal districts range from about 10 °C (50°F) to about 35.6°C (96°F). Rainfall varies from an average of 1,295 millimeters in the north to 4,445 millimeters in the extreme south. Dry season usually extends from February to May and there is sometimes a dry spell in August (Government of Belize, 1999).
The government of Belize operates under a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, in which Queen Elizabeth II is recognized as Sovereign (Wikipedia, 2006). Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America (Wikipedia, 2006). For more than a century, Belize was a British colony; the country was called British Honduras until 1973 (Wikipedia, 2006). Then, in 1981 Belize became an independent nation (Wikipedia, 2006). Belize is considered culturally both Caribbean and Central American. The national flag is composed of red, white and as a symbol of unity. It is a compostion of royal blue flag with one horizontal red stripe at the top, one at the bottom, and a white circle with the Coat of Arms in the center.
Above are the basic facts of Belize; its geography, physical features, population, politics, and culture. This paper will examine the features of community, language, and culture more thorougly. The purpose for the reader is to gain a comprehensive knowledge of Belize and its peoples.
Community
The community of Belize is made up of multiple ethnic groups, languages, and cultures (Winsor & Hansen, 1999; Belize Tourism Board, 2006; Wikipedia, 2006). The majority of Belizeans are of multiracial descent (US Department of State, 2005), and many in fact, do not identify themselves by their primary ethnic background; they just call themselves Belizeans (US Library of Congress, no date provided). The ethnic and racial diversity was created by social movements including colonization, slavery, and immigration (Wikipedia, 2006). This section will introduce the proporation, historical background, and characteristics of each ethnic group in Belize. These groups include, the Mestizo, Creole, Garifuna, Maya, Mennonite, East Indian, Asian, African, Caribbean, and American. Currently, Mertizos make up 50% of the total population in Belize, Creoles sit at 25%, while the remaining groups make up the remaining 25% (Wikipedia, 2006).
Mertizo
Mestizos are persons of mixed ancestry, combining Spanish and Indian heritage. As noted above, this ethnic group makes up the majority of people living in Belize. The spanish never established colonies in Belize, and thus, Mertizos living in Belize now are
mostly refugees from the mid-1800's (Wikipedia, 2006). Most Mertizos are descendants of mixed blood Mexicans and Yucatan Mayans who fled from the Yucatan in the mid-1800's. Around the year 1840, Mexican-Yucatan Mertizos settled in Belize in to escape La Guerra de Castas in Yucatan. Most of these people occupy the northern regions of Corozal and Orange walk and western district of Cayo (Belize Tourism Board, 2006). Regardless of their origin, Mertizos are noted as an integral part of the Belizean community, and instrumental members in the growth and progress of the country (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Creole
Creole make up the 2nd largest ethnic group in Belize. Creoles are descentants of English settlers and African slaves. Historically, the first African slaves began arriving from other countries in Caribbean and Africa and procreated with whites and each other, creating the Creole ethnic group. They tend to reside in larger, urban areas (Wikipedia, 2006), such as Belize City – where 2/3’s of the total Creole population resides (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
People of the Creole form a distinctive culture on their own (Wikipedia, 2006). They are recognized prominently by their values and way of life. Creole men have traditionally been employed in the logging indusctry, and now more commonly work in civil service(Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Garifuna
The Garifuna group make up 6.6% of the total population. Like most ethnic groups in Belize, Garifuna have their own language and culture. They come from African and Caribbean origins, mainly from African slaves and Carib and Arawak Indians Ancestors arrived from the Bay Islands of Honduras in 1803 and settled in South Belize (Belize Tourism Board, 2006 ;Wikipedia, 2006). Nowadays, Garifuna are known to dominate the southern towns of Punta Gorda and Dangriga as well as the villages of Seine Bight, Hopkins, Georgetown, and Barranco. A smaller collection also reside in Belize City and Belmopan. The two largest occupational sectors, both traditionally and modernly, are fishing and agriculture. Garifunas pride themselves in retaining their rituals and traditions (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Maya
Approximately 10.6% of people in Belize are Mayan (US Department of State, 2005), making up about 2 million people (Wikipedia, 2006). The Mayas have descended from ancient Mayan civilization (Wikipedia, 2006), holding a rich history over 2,000 years old (Winsor & Hansen, 1999). The Maya are recognized as the most established of all ethnic groups, resignating in Belize and Yucatan region since the 500's AD (Wikipedia, 2006).
The three Maya groups living in Belize are Yucatec, Mopan, and Ketchi. Yucatec Maya originated from Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, came to Belize in the mid-1800’s fleeing from Guerra de Castes during the Caste War. Now, the reside in Corozal, Orange Walk, and Cayo Districts. The Maya have a traditional native language that is no longer widely spoken, as they now speak English and Spanish (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Mopan Maya came to Belize in 1886 as a flee from taxation and forced labor from the Peten region of Guatemala. They now reside in San Antonio Village in Toledo District and other villages in the Cayo District (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Kekchi Maya came to Belize in 1870's as a flee from enslavement by the German coffee growers in Verapaz, Guatemala. From there, they settled in lowland areas along rivers and streams, forming small isolated villages throughout Toledo. Due to isolation, the Kekchi Maya became most self reliant ethnic group in Belize. There are known as peaceful people known for cooperative practices in farming and cultural development (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Mennonites
Mennonites are essentially Dutch/German farmers. As a group, they arrived to Belize in the year 1958 from Canada, Chihuahua, and Mexico. They have settled and continue to reside in the Orange Walk and Cayo Districts in six main communities: Blue Creek, Shipyard, Little Belize, Progresso, Spanish Lookout and Barton Creek. Mennonites are easily identified by their apparels – women in their bonnets and long dresses and men in their denim overalls and hats. Mennonites are well known as hard working people. They have initiated their own school, church, and financial institution. Industry wise, they are well grounded in agriculture. Poultry products and hand-crafted furniture are popular products sold in markets all over Belize (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
East Indians
East Indians, mainly Syrian and/or Lebanese descent, compose roughly 2% of the total population in Belize. After the Emancipation in 1838, East Indians settled in Belize. As a group, they are spread out over many villages and towns, primarily in the Corozal and Toledo districts, making them well integrated into the total population (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
Asian
Asians, primarily East Asians including Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean, form a population around the 6,000 mark in Belize. As refugees, Asians fled the Japanese invasion of China just before World War II. Recently, the Belizean government initiated the Economic Citizenship Program, which provided many Taiwanese homes and helped them start businesses and work (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
African
Approximately 24.9% of the nation’s total population are of African and Afro-European (Creole) ancestry (US Department of State, 2005). The majority of Africans in Belize originated from Mainland Africa including Nigeria (Wikipedia, 2006)
Caribbean
Caribbeans living in Belize originate mainly from Jamaica, Trinidad, Tobago, and Cuba (Wikipedia, 2006).
American
Americans immigrated to Belize during the early 20th Century, mainly coming from Central America (Wikipedia, 2006).
European
White English and Scottish settlers came to Belize in the 1630’s and exported logwood. What followed is colonization and the blending of Europeans with Africans, forming the Creole ethnic group (Wikipedia, 2006).
Various ethnic groups make up the community of Belize. As will be shown, each group comprises their own language and cultural customs.
Language
The multiple ethnicity background of Belize creates a unique blend of languages and communication (Wikipedia, 2006). As of the 2000 census, there are 8 different languages spoken throughout the country and 70% of all Belizeans are bilingual or trilingual. This section will review the history, statistics, and cultural characteristics of 6 of these 8 languages.
English
As the result of British colonization, English is the official language of Belize (Government of Belize, 1999; US Department of State, 2005; Ambergris Caye, 2006; Belize Tourism Board, 2006; Wikipedia, 2006). The majority of Belizeans speak and understand English. According to Winsor and Hansen, 80% of the country’s total population is English literate and 90% of the total population can speak some English (1999).
During the period of colonization, the British declared Standard English as the official language of the country and of school instruction. Upon declaring independence, the Belizean government decided to maintain English as the official language. Nowadays, English is used in all forms of media and business/educational communication. Belizean children growing up in an isolated village without electricity begin school with no English exposure (Winsor & Hansen, 1999).
Creole
The Creole langauge, also called Kriol (Belizean Creole) is the second most common language spoken (Government of Belize, 1999; Belize Tourism Board, 2006; Wikipedia, 2006). It is characterized as a Raucous and playful English-based language that contains colorful terms not usually translatable in English. Kriol is widely spoken and remains a distinctive part of everyday conversations for most Belizeans (Government of Belize, 1999). In fact, most Belizeans are more familiar with Kriol than English (Winsor & Hansen, 1999; Wikipedia, 2006). Many speak their ethnic language at home and Creole when talking with others outside of home (Winsor & Hansen, 1999). Statistically speaking, 95% of the total population in Belize City speak Kriol and English. Kriol remains the first language for 70% of the nation’s total popuation. 20% of Belizeans speak Creole solely and not English.
Spanish
Spanish is the second language for most Belizeans and is considered the mother tongue of Mestizo and Central American settlers. For 35% of people living in Belize, Spanish is their first or second language. It is the primary language for 60% of the total population in the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts (Wikipedia, 2006). The Spanish language is also commonly taught in primary and secondary schools in order to further develop bi-lingualism (Government of
Belize, 1999).
A sub-language that was derived from Belizean Spanish is referred to as Kitchen Spanish. Kitchen Spanish is an informal dialect that incorporates English, Maya and Creole words. For example, the word pullar comes from the English root pull and adds the Spanish suffix ar. The Kitchen Spanish word pullar is synonymous with the English word pull (Wikipedia, 2006).
Garifuna
The language shared by the Garifuna ethnic group is a mixture of Spanish, Caribbean and other languages. About 80% of the people in Belize are literate in Garifuna (Wikipedia, 2006).
Mennonites
Mennonites obviously practice their native language: Dutch-German (Wikipedia, 2006).
Maya
Ancient Maya dialects were once spoken, but is less well known and no longer spoken nowadays (Wikipedia, 2006).
The six languages described above are the main dialects communicated throughout Belize. The next and final section of this paper will review several aspects of Belizean culture.
Culture
As an ethnically rich country, the people of Belize practice cultural unity. The combination of racial harmony and religious tolerance creates a successful blend of ethnicity, language, and culture that makes up the nation of Belize (Belize Tourism Board, 2006). This unified nation promotes a unique culture that effortlessly blends ethnic groups, languages, religions, and more (Wikipedia, 2006). Belize maintains a widespread reputation for its friendly peoples (Belize Tourism Board, 2006). Belizeans are considered by foreign nations as naturally tolerant, friendly, fun-loving, and courteous people. It is not uncommon for people to greet each other on the street even if they have never met (Wikipedia, 2006). There are limitations to their friendliness, however, because at times, Belizeans are not willing to fight for what they believe and will often yield to aggressive foreigners (Wikipedia, 2006). This section will review several aspects of Belizean culture: social structure and social change, education, marriage and courtship, religion, and music.
Historical Social Structure and Recent Social Change
The social stratification in Belize has evolved quite substantially within the last 100 years. This section investigates the historical division of social structure and the recent improvements thereof.
In the past, Belize displayed a large gap between the rich and poor, but not as big as in other Caribbean countries (US Library of Congress, no date provided). Historically, the nation has maintained three social classes or sectors: upper, middle, and lower. Members of the upper class were either associated within the white, light-skinned Creole, or Mestizo races (US Library of Congress, no date provided). Middle or working-class persons represented a variety of different ethnic backgrounds (US Library of Congress, no date provided). These persons had shared dispositions toward education, cultural respectability, and possibilities for upward social mobility (US Library of Congress, no date provided). Thirdly, people representing the lower social class, also termed grass roots or roots class, made up the majority of the Belizean population. Grass roots persons shared a multitude of low-paid occupations include non-skilled or semiskilled urban workers, subsistence farmers, agricultural laborers, and the unemployed. What’s more, these people had severely limited access to land, higher education, or any other opportunities to improve their marginal status (US Library of Congress, no date provided).
Fortunately, the people of Belize have witnessed some significant social changes within the last thirty years. These social dynamics have included the growth of educational opportunities, government employment has facilitated the increase of middle-class and gap between the rich and poor, and education is now seen as essential (US Library of Congress, no date provided).
Industry and Employment
The two largest wealth-producing industries in Belize are agriculture and tourism. Agriculture has been a great commodity of Belize for a long time. The largest industries are sugar, citrus, fisheries and bananas. A wealth of tourists visits Belize for its many natural, archaeological, and cultural attractions (Government of Belize, 1999).
Two major tourist attractions have made Belize a popular travel destination. The Maya Eco-Cultural System is a well-frequented Maya attraction in the Cayo District. Visitors get the opportunity to participate in a full Maya experience, where they can search the rainforest in the pursuit of healing herbs. This attraction also has elders from the Maya group tell stories about the past. Another hot-spot is the Garifuna Village Project, situated in the Garifuna community of Punta Gorda - the largest town in the Toledo District. This attraction has a living museum in a traditional Garifuna village along with a restaurant, arts and crafts shop, and artifact museum (Belize Tourism Board, 2006).
While agriculture and tourism remain as the highest income producing industries, the division of labor is somewhat different. To put the employment in Belize into proportion, 61.4% of the work force are employed within service occupations, 20.4% are empoyed within agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing. While the remaining 18.2% have work in the commerce industry (US Department of State, 2005).
Education
Schools in Belize make it compulsory that children aged 6 to 14 are to remain in school (Government of Belize, 1999). This 9-year compulsory practice yields a 60% attendance rate and 76.5% literacy rate (U.S Department of State, 2005).
Education (Government of Belize, 1999). Despite these startling figures, Belizean students are provided with free primary and secondary education. The government funds some of the schools but the churches fund the majority of schools. The Belizean government maintains one special school for mentally disabled children and another for children with physical disabilities (Government of Belize, 1999). Some people have critiqued schools in belize for having overcrowded classrooms, absenteeism, poorly maintained buildings, few teaching resources, and few reading materials for young children. One repeated compliment is the many highly motivated teachers in Belize (Winsor & Hansen, 1999).
Belize’s post-secondary education institutions have good prognosis. The nation hosts several colleges, universities, and training institutes. The University College of Belize (UCB) is the country’s first university. Opening in 1986, the UCB offers advanced training in the professional and technical fields. The Baron Bliss Institute is a unique education institution. Situated in Belize City, Baron Bliss comes complete with a well-equipped library service. As well, the library operates satellite libraries across the country, making shared education within Belize an achieved reality. Baron Bliss is maintained and operated by the Government, primarily in attempts of encouraging cultural activities throughout the nation.
Marriage and Courtship
Going along with the ideology of racial harmony, intermarriage between members of different ethnic groups and mixed ancestry is common historically and presently in the country of Belize (US Library of Congress, No date provided). Other customs involving marriage and courtship have evolved over time. For example, such traditions have changed within the Mexican culture. In the past, young men wanting to marry had to ask for permission from the girl's parents to visit her at home in the presence of all family members. These arranged visits lasted no more than a few hours. Nowadays, young women’s parents allow them freedom. Similarly, Mexican girls had to be escorted by their parents when attending dances. Now, girls may attend dances unescorted by their parents (Ambergris Caye, 2006)
Another interesting example exists within the Quinceanos ceremony. This ceremony is one of the most loved and spectacular events celebrated within the Ambergris Cayes district. Essentially, Quinceanos is a "coming out" party for a young girl who turns fifteen years of age. The purpose is to announce to the community that the young girl was of a marriageable age and inform prospective husbands that the girl was now available for marriage. The Quinceanos is still celebrated to this day. However, 15-year old girls are no longer advertised as fit to be wed. They are instead dressed in an elaborate white gown (similar to a bride’s wedding dress), escorted by several maids with their escorts, and celebrated with friends and family, the girl’s coming of age. This act symbolizes the girls passage from childhood to adulthood. To enhance the ceremony of the event, it is held at the town's Catholic Church where a special mass is held, and a ring is blessed by the priest and presented to the girl (Ambergris Caye, 2006).
Religion
The main religions practicing within Belize are Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, other Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist (U.S Department of State, 2005). About 50% of the entire Belizean population are Roman Catholic (U.S Department of State, 2005). The Anglican Church and other Protestant Christian groups account for most of the remaining 50% (U.S Department of State, 2005).
As the statistics represent, Roman Catholicism has traditionally been the most common religion practiced in Belize. The 2nd most common reigion practiced being Protestant. The recent increase of Chinese and East Indian ethnic groups has led to an expansion in the number of religions represented (Wikipedia, 2006).
Another example of religious tradition is obtained from Mexican culture. Mexican settlers brought a distinct culture to Belize, with their combination of Spanish, Mayan and Catholic traditions. Many such traditions are still followed today, such as religious feast days and celebrations, and the Lenten Season - an important Catholic tradition (Ambergris Caye, 2006).
Music
Just as a variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious practices are commonly accepted, so are a variety of different music genres. Two of the most popular in Belize are Punta and Brukdown. Some Belizeans would agree that Punta is the most popular music genre in Belize and the most popular genre of Garifuna music. Punta is distinctly Afro-Caribbean, and is believed to be ready for international popularization like similarly descended styles, including reggae, calypso, and merengue (Wikipedia, 2006). Brukdown is a very popular modern style of Belizean music evolved out of the music and dance of loggers, especially a form called buru (Wikipedia, *date).
Summary
Belize is a country rich with ethnic and cultural diversity. No wonder people living there feel a strong sense of community. People from a range of different groups can practice their own language and cultural customs, and yet still feel that they belong to the larger community. It is very probable from reviewing the literature that the country will survive due to its continued sense of national harmony.
References
Ambergris Caye. (2006). Belize Culture. Available:
http://www.goambergriscaye.com/cult.html
Belize Tourism Board. (2006). About Belize. Available: http://www.travelbelize.org/cult.html
Bigelow, B. (no date provided). Lifestyles in Belize, Central America. Available: http://www.peacecorner.org/belize_lifestyles.htm
Government of Belize. (1999). About Belize. Available: http://www.belize.gov.bz/belize/national.html
Winsor, P. J. T., Hansen, J. (1999). Coming to know as teachers: Learning together in Belize. Reading Teacher, 52 (8), 810-819. Available:
http://0-web.ebscohost.com.darius.uleth.ca/ehost/detail?vid=7&hid=108&sid=ac449271-cd67-4d9a-96cb-f54606f6d96f%40sessionmgr103
U.S Department of State. (2005). Background note: Belize. Available: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1955.htm
Wikipedia. (2006). Belize. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize
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