Public holidays in Belize
This is a list ofpublic holidays inBelize.
Public holidays[edit]
| Date | Day | Observance | Observance rule | Explanatory note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day | fixed at 1 January (see Note 1) | ||
| 15 January | George Price Day | 15 January (see Note 2) | This day was established in 2021 to commemorate Belize's only premier and first Prime Minister,George Cadle Price. | |
| ** | Monday | George Price Day (in lieu of) | see Note 2 | |
| 9 March | National Heroes & Benefactors Day | 9 March (see Note 2) | This day was originally designated "Baron Bliss Day" to honor a wealthy Englishman who left his fortune to the formerBritish Honduras.[1] | |
| ** | Monday | National Heroes and Benefactors Day (in lieu of) | see Note 2 | |
| * | Friday | Good Friday | fixed by church calendar (moveable) | Crucifixion of Jesus |
| * | Saturday | Holy Saturday | fixed by church calendar (moveable) | |
| * | Sunday | Easter | fixed by church calendar (moveable) | Resurrection of Jesus |
| * | Monday | Easter Monday | fixed by church calendar (moveable) | |
| 1 May | Labour Day | fixed at May 1 (see Note 1) | Also called International Workers' Day | |
| ** | Monday | Labour Day (in lieu of) | see Note 1 | |
| 1 August | Emancipation Day | fixed at 1 August (see Note 1) | ||
| ** | Monday | Emancipation Day (in lieu of) | see Note 1 | |
| 24 May | Commonwealth Day | 24 May (see Note 2) | Formerly Sovereign's Day; honors the monarch's birthday | |
| ** | Monday | Commonwealth Day (in lieu of) | see Note 1 | |
| 10 September | Saint George's Caye Day(or National Day) | fixed at 10 September (see Note 1) | TheBattle of St. George's Cayewas a key battle involving British colonists, freed slaves who worked as lumber cutters, and pirates who fought against the Spanish Empire in 1798. There is an annualregattainSan Pedro Town.[2] | |
| 21 September | Independence Day | fixed at 21 September (see Note 1) | "British Honduras" became "Belize" in 1973 and was granted independence by Great Britain in 1981.[3] | |
| ** | Monday | Independence Day (in lieu of) | see Note 1 | |
| 12 October | Pan America Day | 12 October (see Note 2) | Formerly calledColumbus Day | |
| ** | Monday | Pan America Day (in lieu of) | See Note 2 | |
| 19 November | Garifuna Settlement Day | fixed at 19 November (see Note 1) | Since 1941, this holiday has honoured theGarifunapeople, a group of mixed-race people with African and Carib roots.[4] | |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | fixed at 25 December (see Note 1) | Birth of Jesus | |
| 26 December | Bo xing Day | fixed at 26 December (see Note 1) | This is a day set aside for charitable works, although many people participate in sports or go shopping.[5] | |
| ** | Monday | Bo xing Day (in lieu of) | see Note 1 |
- (*) Moveable holidays
- (**) Replacement days:
- Note 1– Chapter 289 of the laws of Belize states that if the holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as the bank and public holiday.
- Note 2– Chapter 289 of the laws of Belize states that if the holiday falls on a Sunday or a Friday, the following Monday is observed as the bank and public holiday; further, if the holiday falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, the preceding Monday is observed as the bank and public holiday.
Variable holidays[edit]
- 2020[6]
- 9 March, Monday: National Heroes and Benefactors Day
- 10 April, Friday: Good Friday
- 11 April, Saturday: Holy Saturday
- 13 April, Monday: Easter Monday
- 25 May, Monday: Commonwealth Day
- 28 December, Monday: Bo xing Day Holiday
- 2021[7]
- 2 April, Friday: Good Friday
- 3 April, Saturday: Holy Saturday
- 5 April, Monday: Easter Monday
- 24 May, Monday: Commonwealth Day
- 11 October, Monday: Pan America Day
- 27 December, Monday: Bo xing Day Holiday
- 2022[8]
- 7 March, Monday: National Heroes and Benefactors Day
- 15 April, Friday: Good Friday
- 16 April, Saturday: Holy Saturday
- 18 April, Monday: Easter Monday
- 2 May Monday: Labour Day Holiday
- 23 May, Monday: Commonwealth Day
- 10 October, Monday: Pan America Day
- 2023[9]
- 2 January, Monday: New Year Holiday
- 6 March, Monday: National Heroes and Benefactors Day
- 7 April, Friday: Good Friday
- 8 April, Saturday: Holy Saturday
- 10 April, Monday: Easter Monday
- 29 May, Monday: Sovereign's Day
- 11 September, Monday: Saint George's Caye Holiday
- 9 October, Monday: Pan America Day
- 20 November, Monday: Garifuna Settlement Holiday
References[edit]
- ^"National Heroes and Benefactors Day 2021, 2022 and 2023".PublicHolidays.bz.RetrievedSeptember 15,2020.
- ^"Saint George's Caye Day 2020, 2021 and 2022".PublicHolidays.bz.RetrievedSeptember 15,2020.
- ^"Independence Day 2020, 2021 and 2022".PublicHolidays.bz.RetrievedSeptember 15,2020.
- ^"Garifuna Settlement Day 2020, 2021 and 2022".PublicHolidays.bz.RetrievedSeptember 15,2020.
- ^"Learn the True Story of How Bo xing Day Gets Its Name".The Spruce.RetrievedSeptember 15,2020.
- ^"Belize Public Holidays 2020".PublicHolidays.bz.RetrievedSeptember 15,2020.
- ^"Belize Public Holidays 2021".PublicHolidays.bz.RetrievedSeptember 15,2020.
- ^"Belize Public Holidays 2022".PublicHolidays.bz.RetrievedSeptember 15,2020.
- ^"Belize Public Holidays 2023".PublicHolidays.bz.RetrievedSeptember 15,2020.