Mestizos and Their Culture in Belize

What does it mean to be Mestizo?

• Someone who only speaks English

• Someone with Maya and European ancestry

• A person who only eats corn

• A person who lives in the jungle

Why did many Mestizos come to Belize?

• To find new friends

• To escape the Caste War in Yucatan

• To learn English

• To build houses

How does ethnicity change over time?

• It stays the same forever

• It can change as people share ideas and traditions

• It only changes when people move away

• It is only about language

What language do Mestizos mainly speak?

• French

• A Spanish-based language with mixed words

• Only Maya

• Only English

Which food is a staple for Mestizos?

• Pizza

• Corn

• Sushi

• Ice cream

What is a huipil?

• A type of food

• A traditional dress worn on special occasions

• A kind of dance

• A type of music

How do Mestizos celebrate their beliefs?

• By ignoring their traditions

• By practicing only Maya rituals

• By combining Catholicism with Maya rituals

• By only celebrating birthdays

What is one example of Mestizo folklore?

• The Three Little Pigs

• La Llorona

• Cinderella

• The Tortoise and the Hare

Why did many Central American Mestizos move to Belize in the 1970s and 1980s?

• To go on vacation

• To escape civil wars

• To learn new languages

• To visit family

How is the growing Mestizo population changing Belizean culture?

• By making everyone speak only English

• By increasing the number of Spanish-speaking people

• By removing all traditions

• By making everyone dress the same