BELIZE

BELIZE

Belize is at the southern end of the Yucatan

peninsula, facing the Caribbean Sea.

European contact

began in 1502

when Columbus

sailed along the

coast

The Mayan

civilization

spread into the

area of Belize

between 1500

B.C. and A.D.

300

Both Spain and

Britain lay claim

to the land until

Britain defeated

the Spanish in

the battle of St.

George's Cay

(1798)

Belize became

independent on

sept. 21, 1981

SYMBOLS(THE FLAG)

THE COAT OF ARMS

THE NATIONAL FLOWER

THE BLACK ORCHID

THE NATIONAL TREE

THE MAHOGANY TREE

THE NATIONAL BIRD

TOUCAN

THE NATIONAL ANIMAL

TAIPIR OR MOUNTAIN COW

CULTURAL ASPECTS

FOOD

Food in daily life: Imported bleached wheat

flour, corn, beans, rice, and poultry are the

daily staples.

CUSTOMS AT CEREMONIAL

OCCASIONS

Garifuna Andy

Palacio

“john

canoe

dance”

58% of

inhabitants

are Roman

Catholic

Protestants

constitute

29%

LANGUAGES

English -Hello-

Spanish -Hola-

Garufunao or Maya -Xic-(shic)

The best

developed

graphic

arts are

painting

and

sculpture

Pen

Cayetano

Pan American

Day

Saint

Geoorge’s

caye Day

Baron

Bliss Day

Independence

Day