If ever there was a day to celebrate the Rainbow Nation of South Africa, 24 September would be it. South Africans celebrate their heritage and the rich and immensely diverse melting pot of cultures that makes up their country on the 24th of September every year – known as Heritage Day or “Braai Day”.
“Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu,” which translates to “A person is a person because of people,” is a proverb used in South Africa. This saying, in our opinion, transcends linguistic and cultural barriers and perfectly encapsulates the essence of respect, love, and harmony between all cultures, the same idea behind Heritage Day!
September is designated as Heritage Month in the country, and the entire month is devoted to Heritage Day. Greater social cohesiveness and a sense of a common national identity are promoted by this holiday! The day is set aside for contemplation on the present, nostalgia for the past, and appreciation for all that South Africa has to offer!
The population of South Africa is estimated to be 59,308,690, and counting, with 11 official languages, including English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, Sesotho, Northern Sotho, Setswana, SiSwati, Tshivenda, and Xitsonga, South Africans are a very interesting and diverse group of people. The purpose of Heritage Day is to acknowledge and celebrate the rich cultural variety of the nation as well as the traditions and rituals that make South Africans who they are.
The day is usually celebrated with people wearing their traditional clothes, sharing their traditional food with each other and embracing the many different cultures alive in South Africa. Apart from this, hosting a braai with friends and family is also deemed as a perfect way to celebrate the day!
The heritage of South Africa is something we should all be proud of, and that’s why it is important to celebrate Heritage Day each year. It doesn’t matter what colour you are or where you come from; everyone has a little bit of history in them somewhere. So go out there and make sure everyone knows how special their culture is!
