Large group of folks celebrating Garifuna Settlement Day in Stann Creek, 2015
Happy Garifuna Settlement Day Belize! In Dangriga Town, Stann Creek.
On November 13, 1943, 79 years ago, the Acting Colonial Secretary signed into law on behalf of the Government of British Honduras, the appointment of November 19th, as a public and bank holiday for the Stann Creek District, called Stann Creek Settlement Day. Shortly thereafter the holiday, was expanded to the southern districts (Stann Creek and Toledo Districts) and designated as Garifuna Settlement Day. In 1977, the Government of Belize expanded the holiday beyond the southern district to become a national holiday as we know it today.