Heritage Day is a very special day in South Africa. However, it is easy to forget the true meaning behind the public holiday.
Many people see it as just a day to stay at home and relax by the braai with family and friends. Let’s have a look at the history of Heritage day in South Africa and why this day is honoured.
The history of Heritage Day in South African
Heritage Day is one of South Africa’s newer public holidays, declared after the republic became a democracy in 1994. The day was first observed in 1996. This day was set aside to unite the rainbow nation as people from different walks and cultures share their cultural beliefs, interests and teach each other different languages and ways of life.
Celebrating Heritage Day the DebtBusters way, the people at DebtBusters would like to share with you what Heritage Day means to them. We are proud to say that collectively our people represent all of the 11 official languages and so we have taken snippets of each to share with you:
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IsiZulu - “Usuku olubaluleke kakhulu umhlaka 24 Septemba. Ilona langa esithola ukuphumula isilungu siziqhenye ngamafa esawa shiyelwa okhokho bethu. Sithole nethuba loku bonga nokuzi khumbuza nge ndabuko yethu.’’
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Afrikaans — “Erfenisdag is 'n Suid-Afrikaanse openbare vakansiedag wat op 24 September gevier is. Op hierdie dag word Suid-Afrikaners regoor die spektrum aangemoedig om hul kultuur en die diversiteit van hul oortuigings en tradisies te vier, in die breër konteks van 'n volk wat aan al sy mense behoort. Ek dink dit is vantasties”
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English — “It is a day of reflection for me. I reflect on my personal heritage as well as my heritage in the beautiful country we get to call home. How I fit into it all and the responsibility left to us to keep it the magical place it is and not to ever forget the sacrifices made so I can enjoy its freedoms.”
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Sepedi - “Letšatši la setšo lere thusha go kwishisha gore retšwa kae, rebo bang legore re keteke ditšo tšabo rena kago fapafapana.”
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Setswana — “Ke nako ya go kopana le go ipelela ngwao ya merafe ee farologaneng.”
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Sesotho — “Letsatsi lenang le thusa basha hore ba tsebe hore batswa bale kae, kebo mang le hore hobaneng Basotho ele Basotho.”
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Xitsonga — “Heritage Day I siku ra ndhavuko laha vanhu va swekaki swilo swa ndhavuko ku fana na Tihove;Tshopi na swinwana na swinwana. Hitlhela hi tlangela siku leri hi kumbala swiambalo swa ndhavuko ku fana na xibelani; tinjhovo.”k
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siSwati — “Lisho kutsini lilanga lekubha emasiko etfu, njengebantfu labamnyama asingawalahli emasiko etfu nemvelaphi yetfu”
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Tshivenda — “Duvha la vhupfa na mvele ndi duvha la u pembela ha tshaka na mvelele dzo fhambananaho, Mita na dzikhonanai vha a tangana ha nwiwa ha liwa ho takaliwa. Vhathu vhaambara zwi ambaro zwa sialala ya vhavenda.”
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IsiNdebele - "Lusuku lomlando lojabulisako, lilanga lokujabula le muli nokuthokozela amasiko ethu"
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isiXhosa — “Indincedisa kwi kumbulo ze mvelaphi yam kuba ke umhlamba esiphila kuwo ehlala etshitsha iyancedisa into yokuba neNdawo engana tshitsho kuba ingumthetho olungileyo kwa bantu bayo. Incedisana Nokwazi ufundisa abantwana bethu ukuxomamelana neziNyanya zethu ukuze zisikhusele kobubomi zincedisana noThixo wethu ongumdala wezulu noMhlaba”
Let’s use this day to reflect on our own culture as well as other that make up our nation. [Author: Jessica Dawson]
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