| Belize is found in Central America, bordered by | | | | territorial dispute with Guatemala. |
| the Caribbean Sea northwest of Mexico and | | | | Up to this day, the territorial dispute between the |
| southwest of Guatemala. | | | | two lands has not been resolved. Help for |
| History | | | | mediation has been sought from the United |
| Between 1500 BC and 900 AD, the Maya | | | | Kingdom. Record books have always stated that |
| civilization occupied Belize. The first European | | | | Guatemala tried to stake claims to the territory |
| settlers arrived only during the 16th century. | | | | of Belize. Although the dispute has not been |
| British settlements started pouring in by 1638. | | | | settled, both Guatemala and Belize have entered |
| The name Belize is believed to be a derivation of | | | | cooperative measures to help both countries |
| the Spanish pronunciation of Wallace, who was | | | | progress. |
| the first pirate that established the first | | | | Holidays for Vacation |
| settlement in the land. Another possibility for the | | | | National holidays for Belize include Baron Bliss Day |
| origin of the name may come from the Mayan | | | | celebrated on the ninth of March; Commonwealth |
| word "belix" which means muddy water, pertaining | | | | Day set on every second Monday of March; |
| to the Belize River. | | | | Labor Day celebrated on the first of May; the |
| In January of 1964, what was then still known as | | | | commemoration of The Battle of St. George's |
| British Honduras became the first self-governing | | | | Caye on the 10th of September; Belize National |
| colony of the United Kingdom. It was in June of | | | | Independence Day every 21st of September; Pan |
| 1973 that the land was renamed to Belize. At this | | | | American Day on the 13th of October; Garifuna |
| time, it was the only colony of the United | | | | Settlement Day on the 19th of November; and |
| Kingdom on American soil. In September of 1981, | | | | Christmas Day, celebrated in Belize and |
| George Price led Belize to full independence, but | | | | throughout the world on December 25. |
| this was delayed until 1992, because of a | | | | |