A Multi-Ethnic, Multilingual Society:
Belize is a country of various culture, language and ethnic groups. Approximately 200,000 people in Belize consist of Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, Spanish, Maya, English, Mennonite, Lebanese, Chinese, and East Indian. Due to racial harmony and religious tolerance, all of these different elements have mixed and blended successfully, and Belize has gained a widespread reputation for its friendly peoples.
One of the most prominent ethnic group is the Creoles, which formed 30% of the population in 2001. Creoles are descendants of the intermingling of the early British settlers with African slaves. More than 40% of the population are Mestizos. They are descendants of mixed blood Mexicans and Yucatec Mayans who fled from Yucatan in the mid 1800's. Another 6.6% of Belize's population are the Garifuna. The Garifuna have their own language and culture. The Yucatec, Mopan and Kekchi are three Amerindians groups which also make up Belize's population. The Chinese, with a population of 6,000 has made distinct communities, as well as the East Indians and the Mennonites.
English remains the most common language spoken followed closely by Creole, but Spanish is becoming more widely spoken. The Garifuna , Mayas and Mennonites speak their own language.
Creoles:
The Creoles are descendants of British settlers and African slaves and can be more recognized by their values and way of life rather than by a biological manner.
Two thirds of the Creole population reside in Belize City. Creole men, even after slavery, dominated positions in logging crews, and even now dominate civil service.
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Garifuna:
The Garinagu came to Belize from the Bay Islands of Honduras on 19th November 1802. They are the result of the intermingling of African slaves, Carib and Arawak Indians. The Garinagu dominate the southern towns of Punta Gorda and Dangriga as well as the villages of Seine Bight, Hopkins, Georgetown and Barranco. Some Garinagu are also residing in Belize City and Belmopan.
Fishing and agriculture is a traditional way of living for the Garifuna. Rituals and traditions are still being retained as the Garinagu strive to maintain a place in Belizean society.
November 19th is a national holiday in Belize to commemorate the arrival of the Garifuna to Belize.
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Belizean Maya:
There are three groups of Mayas present in Belize namely the Yucatec, Mopan and Kekchi Mayas.
The Yucatec originated from Yucatan, and came to Belize in the mid nineteenth century running from the Guerra de Castes (Caste War). They now reside in the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts. Today the Yucatec Mayas have exchanged their spoken language for English and Spanish.
The Mopan Mayas, who were fleeing taxation and forced labor, came to Belize in 1886 from Peten. Settlements can be found in San Antonio Village in Toledo District and other villages in the Cayo District.
Kekchi Mayans came to Belize in 1870's, running from enslavement by the German coffee growers in Verapaz, Guatemala. They settled in the lowland areas along rivers and streams, forming small isolated villages throughout Toledo. Because of their isolation, the Kekchi have become the most self reliant ethnic group in Belize. They are also peaceful people known for their cooperative practices in farming and cultural development.
All Mayans have become very much concerned with retaining their cultural identity.
Ancient Maya:
Belize was the home of the earliest Mayan settlements as proven by glyph translations and diggings. In the Orange Walk District Archaeologists have found traces of Mayan communities to as far back as 2000 B.C.
Mayas considered themselves, and still do, as products of the ceiba tree. This tree is said to be in the center of the universe, holds up the heaven and is a symbol of life.
The fact that the Mayans have contributed the concept of the zero among other things, tells that they had an advanced civilization. Yet it is somewhat a mystery why such a civilization disintegrated.
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Mestizos:
The Mestizos are people of mixed Spanish and Mayan descent representing roughly 48% of the Belizean population. Originally arriving in Belize in 1840 to escape La Guerra de Castas in Yucatan they were joined by others fleeing an oppressive regime in the Peten. The Mestizos are found everywhere in Belize but most make their homes in the northern regions of Corozal and Orange walk and in the western district of Cayo. The Mestizos are an integral part of the Belizean community and have been instrumental in the growth and progress of the county.
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East Indians:
East Indians make up about 2% of the population and first began to arrive in Belize after Emancipation in 1838. Initially coming in as indentured, many of them stayed on to work the sugar plantations and were joined by other East Indian immigrants. East Indians are spread out over many villages and towns primarily in the Corozal and Toledo districts and are fairly well integrated into the Belizean population.
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Chinese:
The Chinese population in Belize first began to arrive here to escape the Japanese invasion of China just before World War II. Moving around the Central American republics, many of them settled in Belize. More recently, many Taiwanese made their homes and established businesses in Belize as part of the economic citizenship program that was being offered by the Belizean government.
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Mennonites:
The Mennonites began arriving in Belize in 1958 from Manitoba, Canada, Chihuahua and Mexico. They reside in the Orange Walk and Cayo District in six main communities : Blue Creek, Shipyard, Little Belize, Progresso, Spanish Lookout and Barton Creek. Mennonites are easily identified by their apparels, the women who wear bonnets and long dresses and the men with denim overalls and hats.
The Mennonites have made it a point to have their own school, church and financial institution in their community. They are well grounded in agriculture, as most Belizeans benefit from the sale of their poultry products throughout the country. Furniture crafted by the Mennonites have also been placed on the Belizean market. Throughout the country they are recognized as a group of hard working people.
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