Celebrate the Four Days of Easter in Belize
Easter is a time for much more than chocolate candies and painted eggs in Belize. The majority of Belizeans are active in their Christian faith, and Easter is both the most important religious holiday of the year as well as an occasion for sharing food with family members and loved ones. Easter in Belize is a four-day affair characterized by picnics, sporting events, solemn religious ceremonies, and enjoying the great outdoors.
Visitors from Europe, Canada, and the United States can eat their fill of a wide variety of delicious Easter sweets like chocolate eggs, marshmallow chicks, jellybeans, and chocolate bunnies. More substantial Easter fare includes large meals of potatoes, roasted meat, fried fish, garnaches (a tortilla with refried beans), hot cross buns, salbutes (tortillas with chicken and cabbage), tamales, and bean dishes.
Even the simplest homes in Belize will be decorated for the Easter holiday, made especially colorful with the use of local flowers and tree blossoms. With mild daytime temperatures and abundant sunshine, outdoor activities are especially popular during Easter, including backyard barbecues and swimming at the nearest lake or beach.
Belize's unique cultural heritage allows visitors to sample a wide variety of different Easter celebrations. Depending on which town or village you visit during Easter, you can experience how Mennonite Germans, Catholic Mestizos, Lebanese Maronites, Garifuna (an Afro-Caribbean people), Maya, and Protestant Creoles celebrate the big holiday. Many Belizeans who are working abroad return to the country for Easter, putting everyone in a festive mood.
The four-day Easter holiday begins on Good Friday. Most village and town streets will be deserted as locals focus on the solemnity of Easter in their homes. Alcohol is prohibited from being sold before 6:00 PM and many Belizeans mark the traditional time of Jesus's death with a moment of silence at 3:00 PM. Holy Saturday sees the markets opened again and the streets filled with throngs of people. The popular Cross Country Cycling race is held on Holy Saturday with large crowds lining the course that runs from Belize City to San Ignacio. Held every year since 1928, the Cycling Classic begins at 6:00 AM outside of Belize City and cyclists must complete a grueling loop of approximately 120 miles to be declared the winner.
Easter Sunday is a time for church service in the morning followed by large family gatherings and meals in the afternoon. Many towns in Belize hold football (soccer) games, fairs, and concerts in the afternoon as well. Easter Monday is when the four-day holiday begins to wind down. Banks remain closed but a number of fairs are held. Perhaps the biggest sporting event on Easter Monday is the traditional horse race in Burrell Boom near Belize City. Monday afternoon is a time for fairs, live music, and lots of dancing as the population prepares to head back to work and school the following day.
If you are interested in visiting Belize during Easter, please contact Adventures in Belize at info@adventuresinbelize.com.
Adventures in Belize can arrange everything, including ground transportation and organized tours to all of the top attractions in the country for your Easter vacation. In addition, the competent & friendly team of service agents can also arrange for accommodations at the finest resorts in Belize including destinations like Ambergris Caye, Placencia, San Ignacio and Caye Caulker.
