General Information about Belize

Belize's official language is English, but the Creoles (the largest ethnic group) speak their own colorful dialect and standard English. Spanish is the main language in the north and in some towns of the west. You may also hear Mayan languages, Chinese, German Mennonite, Lebanese, Arabic, Hindi, and Garifuna (the language of the Garinagu in the district of Stann Creek). Most people in Belize are Catholic, but the British influence has created a varied and substantial number of Protestant congregations, including Swiss and German Mennonites. Mayan practice of Catholicism is a fascinating fusion of animistic shamanism and Christian rituals.