September 24th
Heritage is defined as, ""that which we inherit: the sum total of wild life and scenic parks, sites of scientific or historical importance, national monuments, historic buildings, works of art, literature and music, oral traditions and museum collections together with their documentation."
The Apartheid, which means separateness in African, was a system of racial segregation that was enforced in South Africa from 1948 until democratic elections were held in 1944. During this time, non-white people were not allowed to vote or have influence. Education, Medical Care, and other public services were segregated, and those avaliable to black people were generally inferior.
Scouts and the army are encouraged to participate in holiday festivities. At Hout Bay there is an army procession and a recreation of the battle fought there.
In 2005, National Braii Day became part of the celebration of South African culture on Heritage Day. The word Braii is African for barbeque or roast and is a social custom in South Africa.It is a grand social event where families come together at a picnic spot with their own meat, salad, or side dish. Meats are the most important food at the celebration and typically include boerewors, sosaties or kebabs, marinated chicken, pork and lamb chops, steaks, sausages of different flavors and thickness, and when someone has really splurged, a rack or two of spareribs.
Past president Nelson Mandela coined the phrase "rainbow nation" to describe South Africa's diverse cultures, customs, traditions, histories, and languages. In address marking Heritage Day in 1996, he stated:
"When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation."
For Additional Information on Heritage Day:
Interesting Facts about South African Heritage
Learn More about National Braii Day
