Heritage Day is an annual public holiday in South Africa. It was first celebrated on 26 May 1996, to celebrate the country’s cultural diversity and to encourage social cohesion after apartheid.
Heritage Day is on the 24th of September every year. It’s a public holiday in South Africa and it’s celebrated with parades, festivals, and other events across the country.
A new name was introduced: National Braai Day.
The National Braai Institute of the South Africa introduced national Braai Day in 2015. The name change was an attempt to change perceptions of braaing and its associated health risks, which have been linked to obesity, diabetes and cancer. Braais can also be held at any time of the year, though they are most commonly associated with playing rugby matches on weekends.
While it may seem like a small change from Heritage Day to National Braai Day, this shift in language reflects a larger movement within South Africa to redefine what it means to be South African today.
What to do for Heritage Day?
Plenty! Here are some things you can do on Heritage Day:
- Braai
- Crafts
- Dance
- Music
- Traditional food
- Heritage walks (often held in schools) * History tours * National Heritage Day is held across South Africa each year, typically in September. The day is an opportunity to celebrate our heritage and culture as well as enhance knowledge about the diverse cultures that exist within South Africa.
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What does Heritage Day celebrate?
- This day celebrates our diversity as a nation and our unity as South Africans. It allows us to appreciate our diverse cultural heritage from all over Africa and from other parts of the world that make up modern South Africa. On this day we can visit museums and historical sites around the country to learn more about how people lived during different historical periods or visit local markets where traditional crafts are sold or participate in cultural festivals so you can experience first-hand what it means to be part of such a diverse society like ours!
