The main celebrations happen in the southern town of Dangriga, which is the heart of Garifuna culture in Belize. Early in the morning, people dress in traditional clothing and row canoes to shore, re-enacting the original arrival of the Garifuna settlers, who paddled in from the island of Roatán after a long journey. Crowds gather on the beach to welcome them with singing and drumming.
The rest of the day is filled with parades, traditional music performances, punta dancing in the streets, and the sharing of traditional Garifuna food — including hudut, cassava bread and the sweet drink called gifiti. Children in schools spend the weeks before the holiday learning Garifuna songs and dances to perform.
The Garifuna language is also celebrated on this day. Garifuna is a unique language that blends words from West African languages, Arawak (an indigenous Caribbean language) and other influences. Storytellers, poets and schoolchildren recite words and songs in the language to keep it alive and vibrant.
Garifuna Settlement Day is not just a celebration for the Garifuna community — it is a celebration for all of Belize. Non-Garifuna Belizeans join in enthusiastically, and the holiday is a reminder that Belize is a wonderfully diverse country where many different peoples have contributed to making it unique.