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Celebrate the Garifuna culture firsthand by traveling to Belize for Garifuna Settlement Day in November.

Observed on Nov. 19, the holiday honors Garifuna, or Carib Africans, who settled in Belize. The Garifuna - descendants of escaped slaves and Carib Indians on the island of St. Vincent - represent about 8% of the nation's population today.

For information, contact the Belize Tourism Board at (800) 624-0686 or visit www.travelbelize.org online.

Note that celebrations start and run thru the night of the 18th and best towns to celebrate in are Dangriga, Hopkins, Seine Bight and Punta Gorda.

If it's OK, I would like to share a tale ( and tonight is the hieght of Independence Celebrations, so now you know my other favorite day) I love Garifuna day! Garifuna Day is perhaps one of the most amazingly inspiring parts of Belize's tapestry of cultures and ethinicities. When my wife and I first moved here, we lived near the barge next to Coconuts in a little cabana (now Perla Escondida) and on Nov.19th shortly after going to bed, we said: " Do you hear that?" Yeah, what is that? Singing? Think so, but it's not english or Spanish..." Its fantastic! We got up, dressed, and went out on foot, folowing the sound of the most amazing drumming and call and response chant/singing... catching the celebrating voices on random tropical zephyrs as we padded along the streets. We ended up at Black and White, where we were welcomed, made to feel involved, given a few dance lessons, and met freinds I still have today. The experience was crystallized for me as a defining moment in my love affair with my adopted land, Belize! If you love music, if you want to see a musical event not tethered to the current zeitgeist of pop, then no other fits the bill than the Settlement day celebrations. To get a taste of the sounds, viist Belize's own stonetree records and check it out!http://www.stonetreerecords.com/index.php
Paranda is one of my top tens, and captures the flavor well.
Enjoy,
Chris
Casa Picasso
PS: Much as I want you to come and enjoy San Pedro, Katie's right about the best places to Celebrate!

I agree with you Chris and very well put.
You should have been here when Mr.Sarano was still alive. The Boca Del Rio area was the spot and it was something else--for days. I miss that old fart.
Jim