Miss San Pedro Float at Holiday Parade
September is the month to celebrate independence in Belize. 2012 marks the 31st anniversary of Belize becoming an independent nation. There are two separate independence holidays this month. The first is on September 10th, the final day of the Battle at St. George’s Caye. In this decisive battle, Belize’s Baymen and their slaves fought off the invading Spanish ships. On September 10th we joined other San Pedranos, around the town square, to watch the independence day parade.
On September 21st Belize celebrates the day that British Honduras became the independent nation of Belize. But this year the entire month of September is a continuous celebration. A variety of events are being held, in honor of Belize’s independence as a democratic nation.
There is always a parade in San Pedro Town, to celebrate the significant victory of the Baymen at St. George’s Caye. In addition to crowning the next Miss San Pedro, the local school children participate in the lively parade. Wearing their daily uniforms, the children march in the parade, to represent the local school they attend.
Last September, San Pedro Town was adorned with Belizean flags. Note the streams of small flags draped across the main drag in town, shown in most of the pictures in this post. The strands of small, colorful Belizean flags, criss-cross the street, in constant motion. This created an appealing fluttering effect along Barrier Reef Drive. And a surprising number of San Pedranos decked out their homes with multiple Belizean flags and other symbols of independence.
Photograph courtesy Grand Baymen
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!