I also learned about traditional birthday foods. In both villages, it is typical to have BBQ chicken, rice and beans, and coleslaw for birthdays. My host family even had their uncle, who is a chef, come over the night before my birthday to start preparing the chicken. No matter how much I told them I didn't want a big celebration and didn't need a lot of food or friends, they insisted. It is customary to have a big celebration, and I was now a part of their family!
In Belize, lighting firecrackers ("pop-shots") to wake someone up on their birthday is a deeply rooted, generations-old tradition designed to celebrate the person with maximum noise and excitement. It is a high-energy way of signaling that a special day has arrived, often occurring in the very early hours of the morning (sometimes as early as 4:00 a.m.). The primary, traditional superstition behind the loud noise is that it scares away evil spirits and bad luck, ensuring the person has a blessed and safe year ahead. Belizean culture embraces, with passion, loud and vibrant celebrations. The noise is intended to bring joy and announce the celebration to the neighborhood. Being woken up by loud, early-morning fireworks is considered a heartfelt, albeit noisy, sign of love and excitement from family and friends!
The traditional birthday food is directly connected to the environemnt with all the ingredients being local staples. BBQ chicken is often a food cooked and eaten for celebrations, with family members spending long hours over an open fire or a barbeque cooking and talking with friends.
