Krismus in Belize

From the Fire Hearth

By Lyra Spang, Taste Belize

We take Christmas seriously in Belize. Twelve days isn’t quite enough for us, so festivities in Placencia begin well before the 25th and continue through New Year’s weekend, with revelry, music and of course good food and drink going from door to door in the form of the traditional Creole Christmas “Bram”.

Creole Brukdown music makes a strong appearance and you might even hear the sound of an accordion as buckets are turned into drums and revelers break into song. Bramming from home to home is complemented by the famous Garifuna Jonkunu dancers from Seine Bight Village who drum their way down the peninsula from business to business. This spirited masked dance has its origins in the colonial days of the Caribbean islands and makes fun of white slave owners.

Homemade eggnog stiffened with plenty of rum, this heady concoction is finished with freshly grated nutmeg. If you want to try some for yourself, head to Barefoot Bar, where it is on the specials menu during the holiday season. If you need energy, a shot of Belizean Bittas will cure your cold and keep you dancing. After a long night of celebration,

But what keeps everyone going for these weeks of celebration? Christmas in Belize is not complete without a thick slice of moist, rich Black Cake, a dark rum laced fruit cake that everyone’s grandmother makes best. Orders for this delicious concoction are often placed weeks in advance, while the candied fruits soak patiently in rum, awaiting their day of glory. The perfect accompaniment to this delicacy is Rum Po Po.

Rum Popo

Cow Foot Soup is a classic “goma killer” that will allay any hangover. Check the specials boards around town for this and the equally hearty and delicious Conch Soup made with the sweet meat of the queen conch.

Cow foot soup

On the Placencia Peninsula, where Creole and Garifuna cultures predominate and North American influence is strong, imported ham and turkey often take center stage for Christmas dinner and sides of stuffing and cranberry sauce share space with rice and beans and potato salad. However, a lucky few with hunter friends might enjoy a whole baked Gibnut for their holiday dinner. This large rabbit like denizen of the rainforest has flesh as rich and filling as suckling pig. After Christmas Day leftovers make for a good Boxing Day feast and the festivities continue with lots of parties, rum, beer and soft drinks flowing freely until New Year’s, when Placencia Creole families celebrate with a rich and creamy rice pudding. Don’t miss out on these delicious flavours of the season during your time on the peninsula!

Gibnut Christmas dinner

Lyra Spang is owner/ guide of Taste Belize Tours, a unique cultural & culinary tour company. She researches & writes about food whenever she can. tastebelize@gmail.com.