BELIZE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS, SEPTEMBER 21
Independent, Strong and Free, Belize fi all ah We!
Belize's Independence Day is approaching with 3 weeks of festivities leading up to it. Don't miss the chance to enjoy this unique culturel experience! September is a festive time of year in Belize. It is a time of year that celebrates our history, our culture, our people; our nation. This small and independent country of 8,867 square miles and approximately 250,000 people has much to commemorate and be proud of. It is a time when Belizeans, of all ages; young, middle-aged and senior citizens all take pride in celebrating Belize! People all over the country gather at public venues to enjoy entertaining and educational performances in honor of two very important national holidays, which fall in the month of September. These are the Battle of St. George's Caye Day (September 10th) and Independence Day (September 21st). It has been tradition in Belize that the Celebrations start in early September leading up to the first national holiday on St. George's Caye Day and continuing into Independence Day, extending the festivities to almost three weeks.
Radio stations begin playing popular beats, unique to the September Celebrations that are heard only during this festive time, which serves as a reminder to all listeners that the festivities are coming soon. The September Celebrations also means that one can expect to see official road marches, children and adults waving the Belizean flag everywhere, hearing lots of soca and punta music and people dancing in parades, and seeing buildings dressed up in the red, white and blue streamers, which are the colors of Belize's Flag. It is also a reminder that people in Belize can all expect to look forward to other traditional and newly planned events.
Traditional events that have constituted the September Celebrations include the Queen of the Bay Pageant, Carnival Parade, St. George's Caye Day Citizens Parade, Expo, Official Independence Day Celebrations, and live musical concerts. New events will include the Cultural Explosion, Belize Sound Fest 2007, 26 years of dance, children talent parade, and "we are Belize"- in music. A complete Calendar of Events is posted on this website. Be sure to take a look so you don't miss out on any event that may be of great interest to you.
So whether you are a first time visitor to Belize, a returning resident coming home to joyfully reminisce or like most Belizeans living home, this year's September Celebrations is sure to get you up and moving to the Belizean beat. We especially invite you to come out and celebrate with us Belize's birthday, its history, its music, its culture, its food, and its people.
The winning theme: “Independent, Strong and Free, Belize Fi All Ah We” was submitted by fourteen year old E.P. Yorke Highschool student Esther Humes. "Belize Fi All Ah We" is creole (the language spoken throughout Belize) and means - Belize For All of Us. The teenager was awarded a thousand dollar cash prize for her effort.
