11-19-2019 Garifuna Settlement Day in Hopkins

Even after staying up really late partying with friends the night before, Cara got up early to watch the Yurumein, which is the
reenactment of the Garinagu people arriving on the shores of Belize.

It was at the public dock, and lots of people gathered to sing and watch.

The first boat coming in to land.

The people land and ask to make Belize their home. 

The Garinagu are turned away twice.

Finally, after the third landing and request, they are allowed to stay.

There is a big procession with drumming and singing all the way to the church.

11-18 to 11-19-2017 Garifuna Settlement Day Concert and Reenactment

The night before Settlement Day there is always a big concert with many bands that ends around 6 am the next day, and we
actually managed to stay up all night for it.

When the concert ends around sunrise, everyone heads to the beach.

Our friend Marcia hung with us all night and the next morning.

Around 8 am or so the Yurumein (reenactment of the Garinagu people landing in Belize) begins. Of course, now they use
skiffs and other motorized boats instead of the traditional dory boats (wooden canoes).

 

Our friend and her young daughter are wearing traditional Garifuna dress.

There is a lot of drumming and singing, then a procession leads into the nearby Catholic Church.

There is a very informative Wikipedia article about the Garifuna culture and history. (We've been taught that Garifuna refers to the culture and the language, while Garinagu refers to the people themselves.)