On 16 December: Day of Reconciliation: Afrikaners traditionally celebrated 16 December as the Day of the Vow, remembering the day in 1838 when a group of Voortrekkers defeated a Zulu army at the Battle of Blood River, while ANC activists commemorated it as the day in 1961 when the ANC started to arm its soldiers to overthrow Apartheid. In the new South Africa's it's a day of reconciliation, a day to focus on overcoming the conflicts of the past and building a new nation.
OTHER SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL HOLIDAYS:When Apartheid ended and the African National Congress under Nelson Mandela came into power in South Africa in 1994, the national holidays were changed to days that would be meaningful to all South Africans.
21 March: Human Rights Day: On this day in 1960 the police killed 69 people at Sharpeville who were participating in a protest against the pass laws. Many were shot in the back. The carnage made world headlines. Four days later the government banned black political organisations, many leaders were arrested or went into exile. During the Apartheid era there were human rights abuses by all sides; Human Rights Day is but one step to ensure that the people of South Africa are aware of their human rights and to ensure that such abuses never again occur.
27 April: Freedom Day: This was the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in South Africa, ie an election when all adults could vote irrespective of their race, and the day in 1997 when the new constitution took effect.
1 May: Worker's Day: Many countries around the world commemorate the contribution made by workers to society on May Day (America doesn't celebrate this holiday because of its communist origins). It has traditionally been a day to protest for better wages and working conditions. Given the role that trade unions played in the fight for freedom, it is unsurprising that South Africa commemorates this day.
16 June: Youth Day: In June 1976 students in Soweto rioted in protest against the introduction of Afrikaans as the language of instruction of half their school curriculum, sparking eight months of violent uprisings across the country. Youth Day is a national holiday in honour of all the young people who lost their lives in the struggle against Apartheid and Bantu Education.
9 August: National Women's Day: On this day in 1956 some 20,000 women marched to the Union [government] Buildings in Pretoria to protest against a law requiring black women to carry passes. This day is celebrated as a reminder of the contribution made by women to society, the achievements that have been made for women's rights, and to acknowledge the difficulties and prejudices many women still face.
24 September: Heritage Day: Nelson Mandela coined the phrase "rainbow nation" to describe South Africa's diverse cultures, customs, traditions, histories, and languages. This day is a celebration of that diversity.
South African National AnthemPlease
submit your
National Anthems here:
http://www.africanmusicforum.com/video/phpdir/index.php?cat=33 ....and tell us something about it, and your National Holidays.
P.S -- If you have an upcoming SPECIAL DAY, you can include in our CALENDAR. You may enter events upto 2010:
http://www.africanmusicforum.com/community/calendar.htmlIf you specified a birthday in your profile, it will be featured yearly -- automatically | Please don't lie about your age!
