KULCHA Symposium Presenter, Delmer Tzib: Another Beautiful Day in San Antonio: Reviving culture and tradition in the Yucatec Maya in Belize

Delmer Tzib is an educator at St. Johns College High School in Belize City, Belize. Mr. Tzib possesses a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Belize, a post-graduate diploma in history from the University of the South Pacific, a Diploma in Education Methodology from the University of Belize, and a Master’s degree from the University of the South Pacific. A proud native of San Antonio, Cayo, a Maya community, Mr. Tzib is also an advocate for community activities that promote the Maya culture, traditions, and language.

About the Presentation

Thematic Session: Community Heritage Initiatives - September 3rd, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM (UTC-6:00)

San Antonio, Cayo is a small agricultural community of approximately 3300 inhabitants. It is located on the outskirts of the Maya Mountains in Western Belize. Although the community is considered Yucatec Maya, its traditions, language, and culture are slowly being lost. In an effort to provoke discussions on Maya identity, in 2018 a group of young cultural activists revived San Antonio Day to highlight the Yucatec Maya traditions of the village. The reloaded version of San Antonio Day, Another Beautiful Day in San Antonio, encompasses a trifocal approach that incorporates sports, culture, and environmental awareness. The celebration engages the local Primary Schools and the general public with a bicycle race, a football marathon, model competitions (on topics such as forestry and Maya milpa cycle), traditional dances, traditional games, and educational booths. This paper discusses the central aims, activities, and challenges faced by the organizing committee. It provides an inside perspective and reflection on the process of organizing a cultural activity in a modern Maya community in Belize.