Public holidays in Belize

This is a list of public holidays in Belize.

Public holidays

Date	Day	Observance	Observance rule	Explanatory note
1 January	New Year's Day	fixed at 1 January (see Note 1)
15 January	George Price Day	15 January (see Note 2)	This day was established in 2021 to commemorate Belize's only premier and first Prime Minister, George Cadle Price.
9 March	National Heroes and Benefactors Day	9 March (see Note 2)	This day was originally designated "Baron Bliss Day" to honor a wealthy Englishman who left his fortune to the former British Honduras.[1]
Good Friday	fixed by church calendar (moveable)	Crucifixion of Jesus
Holy Saturday	fixed by church calendar (moveable)
Easter Monday	fixed by church calendar (moveable)
1 May	Labour Day	fixed at May 1 (see Note 1)	Also called International Workers' Day
1 August	Emancipation Day	fixed at 1 August (see Note 1)
10 September	Saint George's Caye Day	fixed at 10 September (see Note 1)	The Battle of St. George's Caye was a key battle involving British colonists, freed slaves who worked as lumber cutters, and pirates who fought against the Spanish Empire in 1798. There is an annual regatta in San Pedro Town.[2]
21 September	Independence Day	fixed at 21 September (see Note 1)	"British Honduras" became "Belize" in 1973 and was granted independence by Great Britain in 1981.[3]
12 October	Pan America Day	12 October (see Note 2)	Formerly called Columbus Day
19 November	Garifuna Settlement Day	fixed at 19 November (see Note 1)	Since 1941, this holiday has honoured the Garifuna people, a group of mixed-race people with African and Carib roots.[4]
25 December	Christmas Day	fixed at 25 December (see Note 1)	Birth of Jesus
26 December	Boxing Day	fixed at 26 December (see Note 1)	This is a day set aside for charitable works, although many people participate in sports or go shopping.[5]

• (*) Moveable holidays
• (**) Replacement days:
  • Note 1 – Chapter 289 of the laws of Belize states that if the holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as the bank and public holiday.
  • Note 2 – Chapter 289 of the laws of Belize states that if the holiday falls on a Sunday or a Friday, the following Monday is observed as the bank and public holiday; further, if the holiday falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, the preceding Monday is observed as the bank and public holiday.

Variable holidays

• 2020^[6]
  • 9 March, Monday: National Heroes and Benefactors Day
  • 10 April, Friday: Good Friday
  • 11 April, Saturday: Holy Saturday
  • 13 April, Monday: Easter Monday
  • 25 May, Monday: Commonwealth Day
  • 28 December, Monday: Boxing Day Holiday
• 2021^[7]
  • 2 April, Friday: Good Friday
  • 3 April, Saturday: Holy Saturday
  • 5 April, Monday: Easter Monday
  • 24 May, Monday: Commonwealth Day
  • 11 October, Monday: Pan America Day
  • 27 December, Monday: Boxing Day Holiday
• 2022^[8]
  • 7 March, Monday: National Heroes and Benefactors Day
  • 15 April, Friday: Good Friday
  • 16 April, Saturday: Holy Saturday
  • 18 April, Monday: Easter Monday
  • 2 May Monday: Labour Day Holiday
  • 23 May, Monday: Commonwealth Day
  • 10 October, Monday: Pan America Day
• 2023^[9]
  • 2 January, Monday: New Year Holiday
  • 6 March, Monday: National Heroes and Benefactors Day
  • 7 April, Friday: Good Friday
  • 8 April, Saturday: Holy Saturday
  • 10 April, Monday: Easter Monday
  • 29 May, Monday: Sovereign's Day
  • 11 September, Monday: Saint George's Caye Holiday
  • 9 October, Monday: Pan America Day
  • 20 November, Monday: Garifuna Settlement Holiday