What Easter Is Like In Belize
With more than 80 per cent of Belizeans professing Christianity, Easter is the single longest public and Bank Holiday – from Good Friday through Easter Monday. This is a 4 day holiday when residents decamp to neighboring Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Chetumal in Mexico, or take to the local beaches, river or nearest bathing pool. Schools are closed for a full week starting from the Monday before the Easter weekend. Government, public utilities and banks shut down at midday on Holy Thursday, for four and a half days making this one of the slowest periods for commerce. The weather is usually hot, but at times a straggling cold front moves in over the Yucatan Peninsula bringing in clouds and pleasant temperatures.
The sale of alcohol is now allowed throughout the country on Good Friday, a day when solemn religious activities are held including all-day church services and processions re-enacting of the Passion of Christ. This follows years of pressure from foreign tourism interests to have alcohol sales liberalised.
Good Friday Is Very Slow In Belize
Good Friday is one of the most peaceful days in the country. Minimal traveling is done on this day as most folks either stay home to be with their families or go to church. Radio and television stations broadcast religious programs, including live coverage of the Pope’s Good Friday Message and the procession around Rome’s Colosseum to mark Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and death on Good Friday.
The most colorful and tradition re-enactment of the Via Crucifix is held at the town of Benque Viejo del Carmen in western Belize. There, after an evening mass, the Good Friday procession winds through the streets of the little town where the central streets are decorated with beautiful Alfombras De Acerrin (sawdust carpets). This Semana Santa (Holy Week) tradition boldly projects the Spanish and Basque traditions of Western and Northern Belize and is growing in popularity as more Belizeans in these areas embrace their Latino Culture long repressed under British colonial rule. Re-enactments of the Via Crucis are a growing practice and attraction in several villages in the Corozal and Orange Walk districts.
Holy Saturday Is Cross Country Cycling
Holy Saturday it is off to the races! Belizeans are nuts about cycling. The annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycle Race, a grueling mile pedal race, runs from Belize City to San Ignacio-Santa Elena in the west, and back to Belize City. The race is the longest single-day event in Central America and the Carribean. It causes the country to shut down for another day – well, at least most of the day. The race takes up the entire Western Highway paralyzing traffic from 5 in the morning until 2pm, so travelers are well advised to make their plans accordingly. The first cross country cycle race was held in 1928 and was won by Elston Kerr. The race has its roots in colonial era Belize when poor people had to cycle from village to village to watch cricket and football matches due to non-existent public transport and terrible roads. Following the race, most municipalities have fairs and dances. The Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic is a 142.4 miles one-day amateur cycling race held in Belize every year during the Easter holidays. It is Belize’s biggest international cycling event and attracts cyclists from Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the Caribbean, the U.S.A. and Canada.
Easter Sunday And Easter Monday Are Also Holidays
Easter Sunday is observed with mass celebrating the Resurrection of Christ and is a time when families get together, visit each other, share meals or have picnics. It is a time when Christians proclaim their faith and strengthen their ties to God. In the afternoons, many municipalities hold football games and fairs.
Easter Monday is when the Easter celebrations begin to wind down. There are still a few fairs being held throughout the country including one at Burrel Boom in the Belize District which also hosts horse races. Almost all municipal towns host fairs and afternoon dances to close off the long weekend. Tuesday it is back to work and start to think of the next long weekend for another opportunity to enjoy this wonderful country we all love.
Spring Break In Belize
Spring break coincides with Easter, and while not as widespread a school and college holiday calendar in Belize, the country is an alternative to the mass crowds that gather on other traditional destinations elsewhere in the Yucatan and the Caribbean
In Belize primary and secondary schools break for two weeks the week before Easter, and this coincides with Spring Break in North America and Europe.
So if you are looking for a exotic beach experience place to spend your spring break this year but without a lot of the chaos, consider Belize. Whether you just want to chill out in some sand, sun and drinks with friends in Caye Caulker, see some of the country’s more attractive wonders around Ambergris Caye, tour the ancient pyramids of the Maya within the many ruins near San Ignacio or want to go in for a bunch of snorkelling, kayaking or diving activities from Placencia, Belize has several locales that can satisfy you on your spring break vacation!