Happy Fourth of July from all of us here at Chaa Creek!
All of us here at Chaa Creek want to take a moment to wish our American friends, families, visitors and colleagues a very happy Fourth of July.
It’s hard to imagine two nations that share a closer bond and as many similarities as Belize and the United States of America. What with the many Belizeans currently living in the States, the growing number of Americans residing in Belize, and through the magic of the internet and social media, it feels like the distance between the two freedom-loving nations is shrinking more and more each year.
Of all these similarities, “freedom-loving” particularly stands out this week. It’s hard to image any nation that values their independence and freedom more than the US and Belize. Both countries shed blood on the way to nationhood – America more famously during the American Revolution, and Belize, less well known but just as enthusiastically during the Battle of St George’s Caye.
Then the people of the two nations put in place constitutions, laws and systems to ensure the healthy maintenance of their hard-won freedom.
And that’s what Belize celebrates every year on the 21st of September, and joins the United States in celebrating on the 4th of July.
There are, of course, many other things the United States of America and Belize have in common.
Both are predominantly English-speaking former British colonies with Spanish as a second language, both have large portions of their lands under protection in the form of national parks and other areas, are famous as multicultural melting pots, have birds as their national symbols *, and – once again – both enjoy vibrant democracies that they enthusiastically celebrate on independence days each year.
So, just as you see a growing number of people in the American cities joining in to commemorate Belizean Independence Day on September 21, you’ll also see some serious partying throughout Belize on the Fourth of July.
Chaa Creek always comes alive on the American Independence Day, with things at the Jungle Lounge ratcheting up a bit with raised glasses and expressions of mutual respect and admiration. You may even see apple pie on the menu at the Mariposa restaurant…
We think it’s great that this enduring and endearing relationship between our two countries only seems to grow stronger each year, so on that note, and one more time, with gusto:
Happy Fourth of July!
* It seems like everyone on earth knows that the bald eagle is America’s bird. Do you know Belize’s?
Hint: It’s on the cover of each box of Fruit Loops