The Day of the Dead, traditionally celebrated on November first and second, sometimes extends to dates like October thirty-first or November sixth, depending on the locality. This vibrant multi-day holiday brings together family and friends to honor and remember their departed loved ones, creating a heartfelt and festive atmosphere filled with memories and respect. In Belize, the Mexican Institute has erected an altar to remember the dead.
Jose Francisco Zamora
Jose Francisco Zamora, Consular, Mexican Embassy
“ The idea of Dia de Los Muertos is that you have to believe that your ancestors, your friends, your relatives, every person you love that has passed away is not dead, they just continue their trip in another realm and they are going to be living forever, as long as you remember them. So the Dia de Los Muertos is a kind of remembrance is to remember to enjoy the life of your ancestors and your relatives and your loved ones and, according to the Hispanic tradition, on Dia de Los Muertos, they are allowed to leave the underworld or the heaven and come back to earth to spend time with their relatives and their loved ones. So that’s why we prepare the Altar de Los Muertos, as you can see, behind me. The altar has several elements, the most important, of course, is on the top. It’s the pictures of the people that you are dedicating the altar, they are usually your relatives or your grandmother, godmother or even your pets. So it’s the people you love or admire that have already started the trip to the eternal life, so you put the pictures to remember them. Then you have to put some special souvenirs, something that makes remembering them special and make you proud of them, for example, a medal if they used to do sports and they won a race and you keep the medal. Every time you look, you remember, “Oh, my grandpa was a very good athlete. So that’s an important element of the altar. And also, on the Dia de Los Muertos which is today and tomorrow, you have to put the food that they liked in life because the idea of the tradition is that their spirit is coming back and you are going to enjoy one more meal with them.”
With Halloween just around the corner, thrill-seekers and candy lovers alike are on the hunt for the ultimate tricks and treats. This year, those eager for a good scare or a dazzling show flocked to the Bliss Center for Performing Arts. On Sunday, it transformed into a hub of horror and wonder with the Boo at the Bliss Haunted Maze and Theatrical Experience. In this week’s episode of Kolcha Tuesday, News Five’s Britney Gordon takes us on a tour through Belize’s very own spine-tingling spectacle.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
With Halloween just around the corner, children and adults worldwide are gearing up for the big day. But Halloween isn’t just about costumes and candy; it’s a time for communities to come together and enjoy festive activities with a spooky twist. While Halloween may not be the most celebrated holiday in Belize, there are still a few events that families can enjoy together in the Halloween spirit. On Sunday, the Institute of Creative Arts and NICH teamed up to present a theatrical experience at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts. Theater Director Jillian Fuller shares more about the “Boo at the Bliss” event.
Jillian Fuller
Jillian Fuller, Theater Director, Bliss Center for Performing Arts
“It’s called the Final Exit. When you enter, there’s a movie trail, and after that, we’ll take you on a trail on the stage, and that’s where you’re going to be seeing all different kinds of Horrific stuff.”
It was a symphony of lights, sounds, and textures as visitors were led through a maze filled with actors and visual effects. Fuller highlights that one of the most exciting aspects of the event is giving creatives a chance to showcase and test their skills, adding an extra layer of fun to the festivities.
Jillian Fuller
“For us here, it’s for our technicians to explore, come up with new ideas and do creative stuff. Yes, they are behind the scenes most of the times, but this is where they get to test their technical skills.”
Britney Gordon
“And how long did it take to create this entire exhibit basically and this experience?”
Jillian Fuller
“We were talking about it and let’s say maybe a week when we finalize everything and we’re putting them together.“
The Boo at the Bliss event began in 2023 and was brought back this year by popular demand. The doors opened at three p.m. but the line stretched around the corner long before visitors were welcomed inside. We spoke with twelve-year-old Ari Smith, a returning customer, while he waited to be let inside. He told us how excited he is to experience the thrill once again.
Britney Gordon
“What are you looking forward to?”
Ari Smith
Ari Smith, Visitor
“The thrill of the scares and also just the excitement going with my family.”
Britney Gordon
“You went last year?”
Ari Smith
“Yes, ma’am.”
Britney Gordon
“And what was the most exciting part about it last year?”
Ari Smith
“When we get to the middle and the fog was so thick that we never know whether front or back.”
Some visitors immersed themselves in the Halloween spirit and dressed for the occasion. Nine-year-old Noah felt no fear as he got into character.
Britney Gordon
“Are you feeling any scared at all?”
Noah
Noah, Visitor
“No.”
Britney Gordon
“Are you excited? What are you most excited for?”
Noah
“Nothing. I’m not excited. I’m just excited. I will just eat people.”
It began with a theatrical viewing of a horror show, setting the scene for visitors to be spooked. Then, they were guided through the haunted maze brimming with terrors at every corner.
Conner Ferguson
Conner Ferguson, Visitor
“It was, it was fun. Kind of scary.”
Britney Gordon
“But you had a good time, ultimately. What was the best part?”
Conner Ferguson
“It was good. The best part was when they were grabbing our foots and we didn’t realize. So, it was very scary.”
The Boo at the Bliss Haunted House was created with children in mind, but it received two thumbs up from parents as well.
Shane Henry
Shane Henry, Visitor
“It was excellent. I enjoyed it. It was my first time coming. We heard about it through Facebook. And then I saw a little clip on the news as well. But yeah, it was really worth it.”
Britney Gordon
“What was the best part of the experience?”
Shane Henry
“My son. He was petrified, but it was good. It was worth it.”
Britney Gordon
“Alright. So you think that is something that you’d bring back your family to next year”
Shane Henry
“Oh, definitely. I always encourage anything that the Niche team does and everything culture, you know, I represent music. This is just a different aspect of cultural and experience.”
If you missed this weekend’s experience, the Boo at the Bliss will be returning for an encore on Halloween night from six to eight p.m. Britney Gordon for News Five.
A network of Indigenous leaders from across the country recently convened for a dialogue to amplify their voices and address environmental issues in their indigenous spaces. Supported by the University of California, the event was held both online and in person at the Sir Colville N. Young Building in Belize City on Tuesday, featuring leaders from the Maya and Garifuna groups. The event highlighted the importance of including Indigenous voices in environmental policy discussions and urged policymakers to listen and involve them in decisions about their lands and resources. Here’s more from one of the leaders who attended. Garifuna Leader, Cynthia Ellis, told us more.
“This gathering is to presence the indigenous voices, the people whose voices that are often not heard, you know? The thing is that these people have for long been living in the on these lands and in these communities, and they have woken up sometimes and seen different projects and programs that are being developed in our space. And we have not been involved in the planning and implementation of these projects. So we are just presencing ourselves. Plan recommend themselves, and these plans say, Here I am to participate in my own development. We are having an indigenous peoples network, which includes Maya, Garifuna, Creole, and all these people who have an interest in upgrading and uplifting the spaces of our people. I’m talking the forest. I’m talking about Barranco, Hopkins, and Seine Bight; all these coastal communities where we have the situations of intense development, high-rise resorts, and all that kind of development, which often compromises the situation of our cultural way of life.”
Culture and beauty come together in a stunning display of designer craftsmanship, as showcased in the Miss Universe Belize 2024 national costume, unveiled this morning. The costume draws inspiration from the traditional Mayan Deer Dance, which is still performed at special ceremonies today. More than just a performance of masked dancers moving to the marimba’s rhythm, the Deer Dance tells a deeper story—depicting the relationship between the Maya people and the land, as well as scenes from the era of the Spanish conquest. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more in tonight’s Kolcha Tuesday segment.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
A Mayan custom that tells the story of the relationship between the Maya people and the land will come alive on the 2024 Miss Universe stage in Mexico City. Miss Universe Belize, Halima Hoy, revealed her national costume this morning, and it has a striking resemblance to the deer dance attire.
Halima Hoy, Miss Universe Belize 2024
“The back story about it is that a deer farmer spoke to the mountains and the mountains told him to build a marimba. He played the Marimba and the deer came dancing and other animals as well. But behind that, it is the resilience of the Maya people during their colonization period and how they were able to keep their identities and stay true to themselves.”
The soundtrack to the deer dance is played on a three-person marimba. A portion of the dance portrays how this music called all the animals from the mountains and woods. As the story progresses, the Spaniards appear ready to take over the lands. The deer dance attire is typically adorned with an abundance of mirrors to reflect the resistance of the Maya people to the invading forces.
Halima Hoy
“Xwankil, the Maya deer dance is a very respected and part of the Mayan culture. We had the submissions from artist in Belize. We wanted it to be a Belizean custom. They submitted their designs and we got a lot of good ones but Xwankil caught the attention of the Belizean population and the organization. They got the most votes and we chose that one because it has such a deep meaning and it respects one of our ethnic groups here in Belize.”
Towards the end of the story, the dancers act out a scene in which the invaders produced a gun and shot a deer. One iteration is that this did not end well for them. Another iteration suggests that the shooter was a hunter and that he shot a rabid deer. According to that account, the animals banned together to escort the hunter out of the forest so that he does not continue to hunt while also celebrating a successful hunt. The costume was designed and created by Ronelli Requena, Emilio Perrera and Damian Moore.
Ronelli Requena, Founder, Zayvah Sarai
“We named the costume Xwankil. It is depicting the Maya deer dance which is very special and we wanted to integrate the real story of what it is the deer dance, the hunting scene, being out in the jungle. But there is a very deep meaning beyond just the hunting scene. It is more about the harmony which man and earth come together. It is basically saying like respect for mother nature and in today’s day and age everything falls into place perfect. In 2024 that has been one of the biggest topics, climate change and climate action.”
The traditional costume also features a headpiece with antlers made from branches or other natural materials. It is often decorated with feathers and beads. Deer skull headdresses and masks are also traditionally worn. The colours of the traditional costumes are very vibrant. Requena and the team of creators were sure to include every aspect of the traditional wear while making it functional for a beauty pageant.
Ronelli Requena
“We had the costume. We had one big thing that was left, what was the message we wanted to send. We wanted to come up with a tag line. When you see the costume, you could see the beauty of Belize but also what the costume is about. The fires that happened down south and it really touched me, so I thought it was only right to integrate it into the costume itself. And it was very important for me to stay true and very respectful for the culture and the deer dance but yet find ways on how we can make it more feminine, because it is a pageant.”
As Halima Hoy prepared to leave Belize and travel to Mexico today, she told us that the support for her journey and now the costume has been overwhelming.
Halima Hoy, Miss Universe Belize 2024
“I know there is a lot of hard work behind it, Damian, Ronelli and Emilio put their heart and souls into this costume. It was a group effort. We did a lot of fittings, adjustemetns, we were true to the costume. If you ever seen the deer dance in real life or on the videos. The costume is a replica of that. It is bold and brilliant, and I love it. I will say it is the best, because it is my costume.”
The Maya Civilization has been around for several thousand years and the amount of memorabilia that has been discovered is wide and varied. Yet not every Belizean can boast that they’ve had the opportunity to view these gems close-up. But now, through digitization and technology, the Museum of Belize made space for a display of Mayan memorabilia in digital form. It seeks to bring visuals of these artifacts to the fore. News Five’s Marion Ali was at a ceremony at the Museum for the launch of the exhibition. Here’s that report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
An exhibition that opened today at the Museum of Belize seeks to educate visitors on Maya existence in Belize dating back to the past four thousand years. It does so through digital images of these artifacts for students and tourists alike. And Governor-General, Froyla T’zalam, a Maya woman herself, explained why the Maya culture should matter to every Belizean.
Froyla T’zalam
Froyla T’zalam, Governor General of Belize
“What does the ancient Maya civilization mean to me? And why should it matter to you? An underlying feeling I had growing up in the 1970s was that the ancient Maya civilization had nothing to do with me. I mean, I don’t know how to read or write Maya hieroglyphs, or even use the system known as the vejicimal, based on 20 number system. And I most certainly do not live on a pyramid. I could not relate the life I had with those who were being described in history books. We don’t have a time machine, but I am told we now have this beautiful exhibition with all the latest gadgets.”
The display takes one on a walk back in time to have a better appreciation of how these early inhabitants lived. And present-day people can use it to compare it to how we live now. This learning process underscores one thing for Francis Fonseca, the Minister of Education and Culture. It is part of a bigger effort to pump life into Belize’s cultural history.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture
“In 2002, we took a monumental step by opening the Museum of Belize, right where we are today, 22 long years after gaining our independence. And 22 years ago, we are here. Transforming a former jail, a prison into a sanctuary of learning was not just an idea. It was a dream. Niche has breeded life. into several initiatives that honor our culture and creativity. We opened the Museum of Belizean Art, launched the Belize Music Project, celebrated a diverse group of creatives, and initiated the Access 501 Digital Project. We’ve even signed an MOU to transform George prices family home into a vibrant classroom and botanical garden.”
Akirah August explained that it is a new project they have embarked on at the Institute of Archaeology called digital archeology.
Akirah August
Akirah August, Research Officer, Institute of Archaeology
“We use photogrammetry and lidar to create. 3D models and 3D images of our artifacts and, um, of our monuments and different parts of our structures, different important parts of our structures. So when you use photogrammetry, it’s a photoprocess. So you would take an image, you would take an artifact, put it on a laser susan or what we call a turntable, you know, the baker’s whorl. And you would turn the, Ima turn the object around and take several photos of it from raging from a hundred to maybe up to like 500 photos of it in different, um, angles and on different sides of the artifact.”
The Ministry of Culture is hoping that introducing this type of digitization at the museum, it will give more people the chance to learn more about Maya civilization. Marion Ali for News Five.
No one captured it better than the late Lela Vernon when she sang about the misconception that Creole people had no culture. Though she’s no longer with us, her song left a powerful message for the Creole community to reflect on and change that narrative, leaving a legacy for future generations. Today, we were delighted to meet a young Creole man dedicated to preserving and passing on the richness of Creole culture to the next generation. In this week’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday, News Five’s Marion Ali sits down with Wilford Felix, a proud Creole man who is teaching his young daughters the value of their heritage. He does this through the vibrant Creole language, sharing folkloric stories, and even playing the traditional Gumbe drum to sing Creole songs. Marion Ali reports.
Wilford Felix
Wilford Felix, Chair, Cultural Safeguarding, Nat’l Kriol Council
“This one ya da bout three fren, ih name the three fren dehn. Once upon a time dehn had three fren. Deh mi name Big Head, Big Belly and Snipy foot.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
Wilford Felix made the most of his daughters’ sick day from school by jumping into some Kriol folklore with them. He read them enchanting stories that have been passed down for over a century.
Wilford Felix
“Big Head end up gone up pahn the tree. Ih shake, ih shake, ih shake he shake the tree till ih head drop off because he da Big Head soh ih head it drop off. Big belly he start to laugh and he laugh and laugh and laugh till ih big belly buss. Sniper Foot, fi he foot deh mawga soh. Snipy Foot he run fi goh goh ker the news. Fi he foot drop eena wa cassava hole an bruk, but before ih foot bruk ih drop pa wa pin an what happened? If the pin neva bend, the story nuh mi wa end.”
The Kriol advocate says the stories are oftentimes meant to entertain, and this one was all fun for his two little girls, Kali-Mae, age six, and Imani-Ann, five years old.
Wilford Felix
“Not only are the stories fun to tell but stories often convey an important message or lesson and it’s an intrinsic part of the culture to convey that information via stories to captivate the audience and essentially fi nuh give the lesson eena wa boring way and especially when yoh di transmit da information to pikni, dehn wa tend fi remember wa story than if yoh give dehn wa direct instruction.”
Marion Ali
“Did you like that story?”
Kali-Mae Felix
Kali-Mae Felix, Daughter of Wilford Felix
“No.”
Marion Ali
“You never like it? (Turning to other child) But you mi like it. What you mi like about it, baby?”
Imani-Ann Felix
Imani-Ann Felix
“I mi like when the big head drop off. (Laughter)”
Marion Ali
“And what you never like about it?”
Kali-Mae Felix
“Because it’s so sad because I don’t like when people dead. That’s so sad.”
Many of these stories carry important life lessons, and Felix uses them to share valuable messages through the rich tapestry of Kriol culture.
Wilford Felix
“I think the lesson in this story is be careful who you trust. The story might sound convincing weh dehn di tell yoh fi do but mind, dehn di set yoh up.”
The Kriol protagonist also uses music to pass on the hidden messages to the younger generation. And in his home, culture is far more important than gadgets.
Wilford Felix
“My pikni dehn nuh spend a lot of time pahn no device because I want dehn learn the culture? I want dehn learn fi value the heritage instead ah mek wa laptop or wa tablet or a phone entertain dehn. I entertain dehn, soh I meke the time fi interact with my kids a lot and share the culture because if we nuh di pass it to dehn that da how the culture wa dead and like how Miss Lela ask, Ah Want Know Who She Kriol Nuh Got No Kolcha? We do.”
Today, the University of Belize held an Indigenous Resistance Day forum to celebrate the vibrant Maya and Garifuna cultures. This event brought together people from all walks of life to explore the history and cultural significance of these communities’ practices and beliefs, while also engaging the youth in meaningful conversations. News Five’s Britney Gordon was there to give us the full scoop. Here’s the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The spirit of indigenous resistance is alive and thriving, growing stronger every day. Indigenous Resistance Day brings together people from diverse backgrounds to shine a light on the struggles of indigenous communities and their fight for liberation. Today, at the University of Belize, students and stakeholders gathered to discuss the importance of preserving these rich cultures and to educate each other on their unique beliefs and practices.
Delmer Tzib
Delmer Tzib, Coordinator, Inter-cultural Indigenous Language Institute
“We are celebrating it in a very unique way, trying to open a space for academic discussion, but also to an extent, breaking the walls, because we want the community to also be engaged in discussions about what does it mean to be indigenous in Belize, secondly, different expressions that relate to the cultures that exist in Belize. One of the biggest concepts that we are pushing is the idea of interculturality. Interculturality centers on the notion of understanding each other. So you don’t only know that these cultural expressions exist, but you try to understand what is the significance of it.”
At the forum, both Mayan and Garifuna communities came together to share the cultural significance of the Deer Dance and the Wanaragua. The aim is to tear down the barriers between Belize’s diverse cultures, fostering a true sense of intercultural unity.
Joshua Arana
Joshua Arana, Owner, ORO Drumming
“Culture is very important. All of us identify with a culture and we need to start to find ways of understanding how. What commonalities we have because we keep looking at the differences that, that makes us who we are. And today we’re going to talk about the Wanaragua. Some, many people know it as Jankunu, and we’re going to get into a little bit more details about what one hour, one hour ago really is.”
The Owner of ORO Drumming, Joshua Arana, presented on the Wanaragua dance, explaining what the different ribbon colors and steps of the dance signify.
Joshua Arana
“It is important for our youth population to be able to understand who it is that they are, who it is that we are, and where it is that we came from. I think that present day there is a disconnect between what was, what is, and what will be. All of us as people we are here because our culture is our legacy from our ancestors. And we need to start recognizing that for us to be able to know where it is that we want to go in the future.”
Creating spaces for young people to discuss indigenous cultures reassures students that pursuing an education doesn’t mean abandoning their heritage. Eighteen-year-old Tareek Smith, now a sophomore at the University of Belize, shares how deeply involved he’s been with the Garifuna community.
Tareek Smith
Tareek Smith, Wanaragua Dancer
“I am Garifuna. My parents are Garifuna and we have this culture, and we need to express this culture. So as I got older, I felt like I needed to connect to my culture, and that’s how I got into drumming and dancing and all this stuff.”
The holiday shines a light on the struggles that indigenous communities have overcome and are still grappling with to this day. Forums like these, create conversations about how that work can be supported and strengthened.
Rolando Cocom
Rolando Cocom, Director, ISCR
“Our indigenous peoples have endured horrendous suffering because of colonialism the diseases that were brought when Europeans arrived to this side of the world. It’s a significant depopulation of our indigenous peoples. And the same goes for Africa, for African ancestors and our Garifuna communities who had to escape genocide and resist for their very survival. And can now celebrate continue resisting.”
Director of the Institute of Social and Cultural Research at NICH, Rolando Cocom explains how the institute is working to celebrate indigenous people every day of the year.
Rolando Cocom
“Indigenous languages continue to be at risk. Traditional expressions continue to be at risk. And so that is what we’re, what we are aiming to do at the University of Belize. Is really to say the work of indigenous peoples are important. Their culture is important. And we want to ensure that more and more Belizeans have an opportunity to learn more from each other. And to reduce the suspicion, the discrimination that exists. Colonialism has brought to our society.”
Halloween is just around the corner! While it’s not a huge holiday in Belize, plenty of folks still love getting into the spooky spirit. One popular activity is carving jack-o-lanterns from pumpkins to display. But finding the perfect pumpkin can be a bit tricky if you don’t know where to look. In this week’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday, News Five’s Britney Gordon visited some local vendors to find out what kinds of pumpkins are available for those eager to carve up some Halloween fun.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
From pepitos seeds to pumpkin soup, Belizeans have found plenty of delicious ways to enjoy pumpkins. But there’s one tradition that hasn’t quite taken off yet: Halloween pumpkin carving. While it’s a big deal in other parts of the world, it’s tough to do here since the special pumpkins used for carving aren’t typically grown locally. That’s why the owners of Cesar’s Fruit and Vegetable Shop have made it their mission to import these pumpkins every year. Victor Perez, one of the shop’s vendors, shares how this all started.
Victor Perez
Victor Perez, Vendor, Cesar’s Fruit Vegetable Shop
“As I was a kid and I was fascinated with Halloween. That’s like my favorite month of the year. And then I had my other sister that pitched the idea to my mom that we should bring in pumpkins, for all the, cater to all the the young and everyone who has, who likes the Halloween season and that’s basically how it came about.”
When Perez and his family started importing pumpkins in 2014, it was only ten per season. But as they have expanded their business, they now import up to thirty-five, which are available for preorder. One of the biggest challenges with importing the fruit is the effects of Belize’s weather.
Victor Perez
“Our main challenge is our climate because these pumpkins, whenever they hit in our country, the heat just tends the shelf life, it starts to run. Like fifteen to twenty days would be the most a pumpkin could last in Belize before it starts to rot.“
In addition to the climate, one of the challenges Perez faces is the growing cost of the fruit. Since he began, the cost has increased annually.
Victor Perez
“We’re gonna get a small amount because the reason is that the price went up. Every year it’s going up, but just last year we took it hard because they increased each pumpkin between ten to fifteen depending on the size. If it’s the small, the medium, or the large, then it would be ten to fifteen dollars. And then again, the reason why we’re getting less is because it’s too hot. And then last year we had to throw away like, I think six pumpkins.”
For those unable to get their hands on the limited supply of imported pumpkins, Raylene Tejeda, a vendor at the Michael Finnegan Market, says her pumpkins are perfect for carving and eating.
Raylene Tejeda
Raylene Tejeda, Vendor
“You use them to make pies, you can make jam out of them and you carve them for Halloween.”
Tejeda explains that the large, orange pumpkins are too expensive for her to acquire but details how her pumpkins can be used in a very similar way.
Britney Gordon
“What type of pumpkin would be best out of these ones to do something like the carving, if you could pick one?”
Raylene Tejeda
“Like the long ones, they were long like this. You could carve out the eyes and the mouth. Then you’re carving inside the nose and then thing, then you put inside of them from the bottom, you dig out the inside and from the bottom you put light inside it and then it look beautiful.”
Tejeda has noticed a slight uptick in pumpkin sales every October, as people flock to the stalls in search of the biggest ones. Even though Halloween isn’t a traditional holiday in Belize, Perez believes it has a place here because it brings the community together for some fun. He hopes Belize will create safe spaces for kids to dress up and carve pumpkins, just like he did when he was a child.
Raylene Tejeda
“There’s a plenty of space for it. I just like I mentioned, I feel like the Halloween spirit in Belize it’s dying. It’s not like before back in the day children can go trick or treating no problems, but now it’s different because there’s a lot of robbery The guys ride on their bikes and they just look for their prey and they teeth their sweets.”
October has officially begun, ushering in what many fondly call the spooky season. While most Belizeans might be gearing up for Halloween with costumes and trick-or-treating, Maya traditions offer a different perspective as October ends and November begins. Depending on where you are in the country, you might hear about or even join in a Dia De Los Muertos or Los Finados celebration. These cultural events are dedicated to honoring the departed through communion, feasts, and prayers. However, as these age-old traditions intersect with the modern, commercialized Halloween festivities, there’s a risk of losing a generation to contemporary trends. News Five’s Paul Lopez delves deeper into this in this week’s installment of Kolcha Tuesday.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Eighty-five-year-old Angelita Magana, a devout Catholic, faithfully attends mass every week at the San Joaquin Roman Catholic Church. A proud woman of Mestizo descent, she is deeply passionate about preserving her cultural heritage. As the world around her increasingly adopts a westernized version of Halloween, Magana remains steadfast in her commitment to the traditional celebrations of Dia De Los Muertos, or Los Finados. Her dedication to honoring her ancestors through these time-honored rituals is a testament to her enduring spirit and cultural pride.
Angelita Magana
Angelita Magana, Cultural Activist
“Traditionally we know it as Hanah Pishan, meaning “food for the dead”. The Maya believed a lot or respected dead people because they believe that when you die you continue to live somewhere else. It is a tradition we have that is celebration started on the first of October when our tradition that night, the thirty-first, souls are released from heaven, and they are sent to visit their living family.”
And, as the dead return to earth to visit their families, their loved ones prepare for that encounter with a feast, hence the phrase, “food for the dead”. This is a ritual of gratitude.
Angelita Magana
“The mayas they believed a lot in the dead. They believed in the souls. So it comes from them that they had to be grateful for the parents or whoever died in their family. They had to feed them once a year, give them some food they like, or drinks they like, or you usually had a rosary said in your home or an ascendado. That means you just set the food on the table, but it has to be very hot and you actually see the smoke from the food. The belief was that while that is going up, they are eating it. So, in the evening when the food is cooled already there is a little space that the food went down and we say, see the souls came and they received that food.”
For Magana and her community, the annual tradition begins on October thirty-first, when it is believed that the souls are released back to earth. November first is dedicated to feeding the souls of children who have passed on, while November 2nd is reserved for honoring adults. This heartfelt practice is a poignant reminder of the community’s deep respect and love for their ancestors, blending reverence with celebration.
Angelita Magana
“We are trying to keep it up, because gradually the new generation is losing that spirituality that we have a Maya Mestizos, Belizean Maya Mestizos.”
According to Magana, children and young adults are increasingly replacing these cultural practices with a commercialized version of Halloween centered around costumes, jack-o-lanterns, candies, and trick-or-treating. Here at the Banquitas House of Culture in Orange Walk Town, Cindey Rivero and her team have been working tirelessly to bring awareness to a younger generation through the annual Dia De Los Finados celebration.
Cindey Rivero
Cindey Rivero, Community Arts Coordinator, Banquitas HOC
“It is our job and we take that opportunity seriously to tell them ok, the amount of candle you placed on the alter signifies this. The amount of treat represents something. So we try to educate them as best as possible, utilizing having elders within the community that has knowledge to share with them. So, for us it is important for them to know why we do certain things, and not just say oh we are offering food for the dead and they don’t come and eat it.”
Rivero concedes that in the age of technology her work is becoming increasingly challenging.
Cindey Rivero
“We try to educate our children that Halloween is not a part of the Belizean culture or Belizean tradition. So, it is very difficult for them to understand, because with the increase in technology and vast information of the American population and what they do and influences within our country they don’t really understand and cannot see the separation between one particular celebration which is the Halloween and the other celebration, which is Dia De Los Muertos, which is our celebration.”
Cindey Rivero and Angelita Magana have learned that these family spirits are not to be feared, but celebrated. They cherish the presence of their ancestors, viewing it as a time of joy and reverence. This heartfelt belief is one they hope will endure for generations, even amidst challenges and changing times.
Angelita Magana
“I remember one night I was sitting on my verandah out there and my husband had gone to help his brother in the shop and I was alone and rocking. All of a sudden, I felt those arms around me from the back and I felt that smell and I said ah dad. I opened my eyes and actually felt the hands moving away. I was not afraid. I was not afraid. I just said, my dad came to visit me. That is it, because we were taught they wont hurt you.”
Paul Lopez
“That must have been a very special moment for you.”
September in Belize is a vibrant time of patriotism, as the nation commemorates the historic Tenth of September and celebrates Independence Day. Throughout the month, streets and buildings are adorned in red, white, and blue, with the Belizean flag proudly displayed at every turn. Civic pride flourishes, and many locals go the extra mile, decorating their personal properties, like homes, vehicles and bicycles, creating a festive tradition that has become a beloved part of the September Celebrations. This month on the Bright Side, we go searching for patriotic Belizeans who go the extra mile in decorating their spaces. This week, we found ourselves in our very own backyard where one patriotic Belizean is preparing her bicycle for the fire engine and Tenth Parade. Here’s that story.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
Karen Golanche enthusiastically shows her patriotism during the month of September. She displays it on the hanging curtains in her house, her dining room table adorned with mini flags of Belize. Even her bathroom is a statement of her love of country. Among the display is her traditional decorating and showcasing of her bicycle at the Fire Rngine and Tenth parades.
Karen Golanche
Karen Golanche, Patriotic Belizean “I find myself to be a very patriotic person. I love my country. I love the people of my country. And so that’s the reason why I do this every year.”
Since 2008, this has been a time-honored tradition for Golanche. Each year, she challenges herself to create an original design. Her bike is a spectacle and a staple of the parade that the public eagerly anticipates.
Karen Golanche
“I just wanted to do something different by changing this motorcycle into a bicycle. And that’s the reason why I chose this. Whenever anybody sees me, my family, my friends, the public, they see me on this bicycle, I think they enjoy it more than myself, and I enjoy it so much too. So it’s just a special time for me when I am on my bicycle.”
Bike decorating has been an added feature of the September Celebrations for decades. Samson Jacobs, a representative of the St. George’s Caye Day Society, says that the bicycles came about because vehicles were not as prominent in that time.
Samson Jacobs
Samson Jacobs, St. George’s Caye Society Representative
“So the bicycle competition all started back in the days before maybe you and I were born. They didn’t have a lot of vehicles in Belize City. So people were encouraged to come out and decorate their bicycle based on the theme or the September celebration. It had to highlight some aspects of the Battle of St. George’s Caye. So, you would see the red, white and blue. You would see things like the boat, the beam, anything related to the Battle of St. George’s Caye Day.”
Now, with vehicles and trucks everywhere, bikes are a limited attraction i the Tenth and Fire Engine parades. In honor of the late Louis “Tony” Leslie, his family has organized a bike decorating competition. The winner will be announced at the Belize City Council’s Tenth Bram.
Samson Jacobs
“The bicycle decoration competition adds additional patriotism to the 10th parade. That is where persons who feel that they want to participate, they want to show their civic responsibility, they want to show national pride, they can come out and participate in that competition. This year we decided to make this year’s competition in honor of Mr. Tony Leslie because he was a lover of the bicycle and the cross country race. So, we decided to do that for him. September is really a time for us to show our patriotism and that is what we want to see, not only this year, but going forward. We want to bring back that old historical component of persons actually decorating their bicycles. So yes, we have a lot of cars, but we imagine we have all the cars in the parade. It will be a long parade, right? So we are encouraging people to come out and use their bicycles, be creative and just have fun at the same time.”
The prizes are attractive, with first place riding away with as much as five hundred dollars. But win or lose, it’s the adornment from the crowd that will be the biggest reward, says Karen Golanche.
Karen Golanche
“I ride my bike every year because of the love of my country. It’s not really for the competition. Well, if I win, that would be a great thing. But, I would do it anyway without being in that competition.”
Among those eagerly anticipating the bicycle spectacle is Mayor Bernard Wagner.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City “Being patriotic also means participating. And the bicycle decoration is an event that highlights the richness of our traditions, the richness of our patriotic demeanor and so I’m always excited about it. I’m certain that we can’t wait to see who will be the winner. We have young, middle, elders participating in that event. We look forward to it and we are so pleased to be able to participate.”
Samson Jacobs “We want to also say that, while the 10th parade is to help with unity and the level of patriotism, we are strongly encouraging citizens not to let it be something political, no showing of political affiliation, just come out and have a fun time.”
This year’s parade holds even more significance for Karen Golanche, as it marks her return since 2019, following the disruption caused by COVID-19 and a two-year hiatus. Though the decorations on her bike have aged over the past four years, she promises to debut a spanking ride on September Tenth.
Karen Golanche
“The last time I have been out in the streets celebrating on my bicycle was in 2019. Here is the leftover of the decorations that, um, since then, but when you see me, um, on the fire engine parade night, this bicycle will be sparkling. Wow. It will look completely different. Because I’ll go all the way with it.”
