Due to
the outstanding natural beauty of Belize, it is unsurprising that
many people are largely unaware of the cultural and the historical
significance which this Central American country has to offer.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the Mayan Civilisation first
set foot in this country, as far back as 1500 BC; their remains in
terms of physical artefacts as well as their cultural heritage are
still very evident in Belize today. The modern culture of Belize has
largely been driven by Mayan influence, including language,
ethnicity and even pace of life.
Today,
the country of Belize is a democracy and has been fully independent
from Britain, since 1981. Despite this, Queen Elizabeth II remains
the head of state, but the country, does now have its own prime
minister. The national language is English and the laws are largely
based on English law, making this a popular destination for English
travellers, due to there not being a language barrier to overcome.
Although English is the official language, the Creoles, one of the
largest ethnic groups, also have their own dialect. In some parts of
the north of the country and to the west, Spanish is readily spoken,
primarily due to the influences from Mexico. Other popular languages
include Chinese, Lebanese, Hindi, Garifuna, Mennonite German and
even Arabic.
Belize Culture
Religiously, the current culture of Belize is generally Catholic,
although there is a strong presence of Protestant followers,
primarily due to English influences from both tourists and
residents, over the years.
Culture is very diverse in Belize. Of course, there are substantial
Mayan influences but there are also Mestizo cultures, which are a
mix of Spanish and Indian, as well as Mennonites, who are of German
descent and blends of other cultures such as Lebanese and Chinese.
As no single culture is dominant in Belize, the country remains a
peaceful and tolerant place to live.
Mayan
influences can be seen clearly in the architecture of the country,
with the earlier inhabitants building enormous temples, designed to
align with the movement of celestial bodies. The Mayan civilisation
was also renowned for having a very advanced understanding of
astronomy and calendars, both of which can be seen in abundance,
throughout their remains.
Nobody
knows quite how the Mayans disappeared from Belize, but their
descendants still live in the country and have been formative, when
it comes to establishing the culture of Belize.
Much
later, during the 1500s, the Spaniards captured much of Central
America and, when blended with the Mayans, created a Mestizo
culture. It wasn’t long before the English Crown captured Belize and
transported over a large number of African slaves to work on the
land. Many of this Garinagu population, who are the direct blood
line descendants of the African slaves, escaped their lives of
slavery and sought refuge in the remote parts of Belize,
complicating the culture of Belize, further still.
Another influx of refugees arrived, in 1847, from Mexico and further
influxes arrived during the depression, in the 1930s and during the
two World Wars, generating one of the most colourful cultural mixes,
in the world.
Mortgages in
Belize
