Garifuna Settlement Day

Garifuna Settlement Day is a public holiday in Belize, celebrated each year on November 19.^[a] The holiday was created by Belizean civil rights activist Thomas Vincent Ramos in 1941.^[1] It was recognized as a public holiday in the southern districts of Belize in 1943, and declared a national holiday in 1977.^[1] The holiday celebrates the settlement of the Garifuna people in Belize after being exiled from the Grenadines by the British.^[2] The major festivities for the holiday occur in the town of Dangriga, including parades, street music, and traditional dancing.^[3]

Garifuna Settlement Day
Observed by	Belize
Date	19 November
Next time	19 November 2025 (2025-11-19)
Frequency	Annual

See also

• Garifuna history
• Garifuna people
• Dangriga
• Punta Gorda

Garifuna settlement

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.