Hello Sirenian Bay friends!
With Christmas just around the corner, you might be thinking about planning a vacation away. What better option that the sunny climes of picturesque Belize?
Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect if you visit Belize for Christmas this year.
Warm weather.
With temperatures ranging from 70-80F in December, Belize delivers a hard-to-beat ambiance for the holiday season. Expect mild, sunny days – perfect for relaxing with friends and family.
Garifuna Jankunu.
In the Garifuna town of Dangringa, Christmas afternoon is all about Wanaragua or Junkugu. Here you’ll see locals dressing up in white outfits and masks in a reference to the area’s colonial history. Things heat up in the days after Christmas, where dance competitions are held.
Maya Deer Dance.
Popular in the Santa Cruz area, this Mayan dance tells the story of a girl being kidnapped by a jaguar and later rescued by a hunter. Consisting of 24 dancers in bright, colorful costumes, it’s a must-see for visitors.
Christmas Bram.
This Kriol tradition stems from Belize City and its surrounding areas, and is similar to Christmas caroling. Depending on where you’re staying, you just might spot people spreading seasonal cheer by singing and dancing in the streets.
Los Posadas.
Beginning on December 16, this Christian tradition takes place over 9 days and features prayer, feasts, music and dancing. Each day, statues of Mary and Joseph are carried through the streets. Participants re-enact their request for lodgings, and the statues are welcomed into a home, with prayers and refreshments following.
Christmas dinner, trees and masses.
Belize is primarily a Christian country, and this is reflected in its Christmas Day traditions. Feasts span Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and feature turkey, ham and rum-infused fruit cakes. There’s also rumpopo, a Belizean version of eggnog. Christmas tree lightings abound, and everyone dresses up in their finest attire to attend midnight mass on this important holiday.
If you’re considering vacationing to Belize, Christmas is a great time to do so. You’ll get to experience all your favorite parts of the holiday, along with some new traditions – and weather that’s hard to beat.
For more information about travel or accommodations during Christmas, get in touch with the team at Sirenian Bay Resort & Villas. We’d be more than happy to help!
This is Hugh Manatee signing off for now – stay tuna-ed for the next installment from Sirenian Bay!
