This Thursday, November 19th, is a major holiday in Belize. It’s Garifuna Settlement Day, commemorating the Garifuna arrival in Belize. Garifuna is one of the cultures of Belize, said to originate in the 1600’s when 2 Spanish ships carrying Nigerian slaves shipwrecked on the island of St. Vincent, in the eastern Caribbean. The Africans intermarried with the Caribbeans who were living on the island, and hence the evolution of the Garifuna people. Years later, the Garifuna settled in Honduras and then Belize after trying to escape the British. The party here has already started, and in Hopkins there is drumming every night this week in celebration. The main event in Hopkins begins the night before the 19th. A well-known musician from Honduras will be performing a concert in Hopkins on Wednesday night, and this will be followed by an entire night of partying. At 6am there will be a re-enactment of the Garifuna arrival by boat on Belize shores. As someone who values sleep, I’m not sure how much of this celebration I will partake in, but I’m looking forward to it nevertheless.

Photo: Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis), eating berries near my house.