Public holidays in Belize

This is a list of public holidays in Belize.

Public holidays
Date Day Observance Observance rule Explanatory note
1 January New Year's Day fixed at 1 January (see Note 1)
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 former British 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
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) 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.[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 called Columbus 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 the Garifuna people, 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 Boxing 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 Boxing 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
  • 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 Dececember, Monday: Boxing 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 Dececeber, Monday: Boxing 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
  1. "National Heroes and Benefactors Day 2021, 2022 and 2023". PublicHolidays.bz. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  2. "Saint George's Caye Day 2020, 2021 and 2022". PublicHolidays.bz. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  3. "Independence Day 2020, 2021 and 2022". PublicHolidays.bz. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  4. "Garifuna Settlement Day 2020, 2021 and 2022". PublicHolidays.bz. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  5. "Learn the True Story of How Boxing Day Gets Its Name". The Spruce. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  6. "Belize Public Holidays 2020". PublicHolidays.bz. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  7. "Belize Public Holidays 2021". PublicHolidays.bz. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  8. "Belize Public Holidays 2022". PublicHolidays.bz. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  9. "Belize Public Holidays 2023". PublicHolidays.bz. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
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