St Aiden's ~ South African Public Holidays

South Africa's National Holidays

A look at the significance of South Africa's seven 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.

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.

This is the source:

http://africanhistory.about.com/library/bl/blsaholidays.htm

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