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Belize Cultural Celebrations Series Vol. 4

In November 2012 NICH with support from UNESCO brought together cultural activists and practitioners from across Belize to develop a set of resolutions for the safeguarding of Belize's Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In October 2013, the NICH and a team of cultural activists developed an initiative known as the Banquitas Action Plan.

This multi-year plan is being implemented and together the team have embarked on the documentation and inventorying of Belize's Cultural Celebrations.

Corozal House Of Culture presents: La Fiesta De San Joaquin Documentary Launch

Today the Corozal House of Culture invited the public of Corozal to attend the Volume 4. La Fiesta De San Joaquin Documentary Launch. Saint Francis Xavier Peimary School was invited to attend the event. San Joaquin Fiesta video documentary clip was shown for the attended people to learn about the Documentary of La Fiesta de San Joaquin.

La fiesta de San Joaquin is an annual Celebration held in August in Sqn Joaquin Village, Catholic Church. The fiesta culminates with ferria at the San Joaquin park. Prior to the celebration being held in the village, and because of there historical connection, many persons from San Joaquin traveled to Bacalar, Mexico for the fiesta. Under the stewardship of Mrs. Maria Agelita Maga�a and community members, the village held its Fiesta in August 1967.

San Joaquin Village was founded in the mid 1850's by the Maga�a family who fled from La Guerra de Castas - The Caste War - in Yucatan, Mexico. Mr. Andres Maga�a alomg with his wife Felipe Garcia de Maga�a, and their son Vincente, travelled from Bacalar and eventuallt settled in present-day San Joaquin Village. Their safe Journey is attributed to the intercession of San Joaquin, the santa patron of Bacalar. The village was batized as San Joaquin in 1904.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the Belize Scoop Blog

Do you know about La Fiesta De San Joaquin?

The Fiesta honours the village's patron saint, San Joaquin, with novenas, a mass, and culminates in a grand fair! The fair has even evolved over the years and now features elements from other cultures in Belize.

The documentary includes interviews with community members and local experts who share the fiesta's history and meaning.