Belizean Pride

As a native of Belize and an educator I have a deep appreciation for my country's national symbols. They prompt a sense of pride causing me to reflection on September 21, 1981 when Belize became an independent nation. As a sovereign nation Belize went through a democratic process to select its national symbols.

The National Flag

The red, white and blue flag of Belize symbolically represents our nation's unity. A blue flag with the Coat of Arms at center in a white circle was proposed by the People's United Party prior to independence. However, public opinion did not come to a common consensus as to its suitability to act as a unifying symbol because of the close association of the flag with the PUP. The United Democratic Party called for a flag that could rally all citizens and as a result the bi-partisan National Symbols Committee invited citizens to submit designs for a National Flag.

The design selected by the Committee is a royal blue flag with one horizontal red stripe at the top and at the bottom, and a white circle with the Coat of Arms in the center.

The Coat of Arms

The shield on the Coat of Arms has three sections created by a vertical line and an inverted V.
A ship in full sail at sea can be seen in the base section. The two upper sections show tools of the timber industry in Belize: a paddle and a squaring axe in the right section and a saw and a beating axe in the left section.

Supporting the shield are two woodcutters, the one on the right holding a beating axe over his shoulder in his right hand, and the one on the left holding a paddle over his shoulder in his left hand. Above the shield is a mahogany tree while below the shield is a scroll upon which the Latin words "Sub Umbra Floreo" are written, meaning "Under the shade I flourish".

A wreath of fifty leaves encircles the Coat of Arms marking the year 1950 when the struggle for self government began.

The National Flower

The national flower of Belize is The Black Orchid. Growing on trees in damp areas and blooming nearly all year round, its clustered stems vary in size up to six inches long and carry two to three leaves.

The black orchid flower has greenish-yellow petals and sepals with purple blotches near the base. The petal of special construction, which is the flowers fanciest, its shaped like a valve of a clam shell and is deep purple-brown, almost black, with conspicuous radiating purple veins.

The National Tree

The Mahogany Tree grows to over a hundred feet tall emerging above the canopy of the surrounding trees with a crown of large, shining green leaves.

The tree puts out a great flush of small whitish flowers - the blossom for dark fruits, which are pear-shaped capsules about six inches long. When the fruits mature they split into five valves, freeing large winged seeds which are carried away by the wind. They fall on the shaded protection of the forest floor and germinate to begin a new life cycle. The mahogany tree matures in 60 to 80 years.

The National Bird

The Keel Billed Toucan is the National Bird of Belize. The bird is about 20 inches in overall length ans is noted for its great, canoe-shaped bill, brightly colored green, blue, red and orange feathers with a distinctive white patch at the base of the tail.

The National Animal

The Tapir or Mountain Cow is the largest land mammal of the American tropics. The tapir is a stoutly built animal with short legs, about the size of a donkey and weighs up to 600 pounds.

Its general color is dusty brown with a white fringe around the eyes and lips, white tipped ears and occasional white patches of fur on the throat and chest. In spite of it's local name, the tapir is not a cow. It is closely related to the horse and the rhinoceros.