:Public holidays in Belize
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This is a list of public holidays in Belize.
Public holidays
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Date ! Day ! Observance ! Observance rule ! Explanatory note |
| 1 January
| fixed at 1 January (see Note 1) |
| 15 January
| 15 January (see Note 2) |This day was established in 2021 to commemorate Belize's only premier and first Prime Minister, George Cadle Price. |
| 9 March
| National Heroes and 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 former British Honduras.{{cite web |title=National Heroes and Benefactors Day 2021, 2022 and 2023 |url=https://publicholidays.bz/national-heroes-benefactors-day/ |website=PublicHolidays.bz |access-date=September 15, 2020}} |
| Good Friday
| fixed by church calendar (moveable) |Crucifixion of Jesus |
| Holy Saturday
| fixed by church calendar (moveable) |
| Easter Monday
| fixed by church calendar (moveable) |
| 1 May
| fixed at May 1 (see Note 1) |Also called International Workers' Day |
| 1 August
| fixed at 1 August (see Note 1) |
| 10 September
| fixed at 10 September (see Note 1) |The Battle of St. George's Caye was 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 annual regatta in San Pedro Town.{{cite web |title=Saint George's Caye Day 2020, 2021 and 2022 |url=https://publicholidays.bz/saint-georges-caye-day/ |website=PublicHolidays.bz |access-date=September 15, 2020}} |
| 21 September
| fixed at 21 September (see Note 1) |"British Honduras" became "Belize" in 1973 and was granted independence by Great Britain in 1981.{{cite web |title=Independence Day 2020, 2021 and 2022 |url=https://publicholidays.bz/independence-day/ |website=PublicHolidays.bz |access-date=September 15, 2020}} |
| 12 October
| 12 October (see Note 2) |Formerly called Columbus Day |
| 19 November
| fixed at 19 November (see Note 1) |Since 1941, this holiday has honoured the Garifuna people, a group of mixed-race people with African and Carib roots.{{cite web |title=Garifuna Settlement Day 2020, 2021 and 2022 |url=https://publicholidays.bz/garifuna-settlement-day/ |website=PublicHolidays.bz |access-date=September 15, 2020}} |
| 25 December
| fixed at 25 December (see Note 1) |Birth of Jesus |
| 26 December
| 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.{{cite web |title=Learn the True Story of How Boxing Day Gets Its Name |url=https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-boxing-day-435060#:~:text=Boxing%20Day%20was%20traditionally%20a%20day%20off%20for,The%20name%20is%20a%20reference%20to%20charity%20drives. |website=The Spruce |access-date=September 15, 2020 |language=en}} |
- (*) 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
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- 2020{{cite web |title=Belize Public Holidays 2020 |url=https://publicholidays.bz/2020-dates/#:~:text=Belize%20Public%20Holidays%202020%20%20%20%20Date,%20Holy%20Saturday%20%2010%20more%20rows%20 |website=PublicHolidays.bz |access-date=September 15, 2020}}
- 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: Boxing Day Holiday
- 2021{{cite web |title=Belize Public Holidays 2021 |url=https://publicholidays.bz/2021-dates/ |website=PublicHolidays.bz |access-date=September 15, 2020}}
- 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: Boxing Day Holiday
- 2022{{cite web |title=Belize Public Holidays 2022 |url=https://publicholidays.bz/2022-dates/ |website=PublicHolidays.bz |access-date=September 15, 2020}}
- 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{{cite web |title=Belize Public Holidays 2023 |url=https://publicholidays.bz/2023-dates/ |website=PublicHolidays.bz |access-date=September 15, 2020}}
- 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
{{end div col}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- [http://www.belizelaw.org/web/lawadmin/PDF%20files/cap289.pdf Laws of Belize Chapter 289]
{{Belize topics}}
{{North America topic|Public holidays in}}