Garifuna Settlement Day is observed in Belize every November 19, celebrating the arrival of the Garifuna people, who were exiled from the Grenadines by the British army in the 19th century. The holiday was initiated by Belizean civil rights activist Thomas Vincent Ramos in 1941 and became a public holiday in some districts by 1943, with national recognition starting in 1977. The celebration lasts for a week and includes various festive events such as parades, live music, dancing, prayers, and a beauty pageant to elect Miss Garifuna. This day honors the cultural heritage and contributions of the Garifuna people, who are recognized as one of the significant groups along the Caribbean shore.