Why is heritage day celebrated

Heritage Day on 24 September recognises and celebrates the cultural wealth of our nation. South Africans celebrate the day by remembering the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa. Various events are staged throughout the country to commemorate this day. Living heritage is the foundation of all communities and an essential source of identity and continuity.

He was known for uniting the Zulu clan together and forming the Zulu nation. Every year, South Africans would gather at his grave to honor him. In a request for the day to be confirmed as an official holiday was rejected. Since then South Africans have celebrated Heritage Day by remembering the cultural heritage of the many different cultures that make up their nation.

Events are held across the. There was a media campaign in that sought to have the day recognized as National Braai Day, to acknowledge the backyard barbeque tradition, but the holiday is still officially recognized as Heritage Day.

Shaka the Zulu king dies provoking a remembrance day in his name, celebrating that he often encouraged a cohesive nation. The Public Holidays Bill presented to the Parliament of South Africa does not have September 24 on their list of official public holidays. Nelson Mandela addresses Heritage Day claiming that the day will allow the country's heritage to help build a new nation.

Heritage Month is celebrated every year in September. It was created by the government as a way to foster greater social cohesion and a shared national identity. There is so much to learn! Get the tongs out, heat the barbecue, and invite everyone.

The point is to embrace each other. This was to be an all-inclusive day on which to celebrate the heritage of all South Africans — for all of the diverse cultures to come together, unified, to celebrate their particular unique heritage and contribution to South Africa. Archbishop Emeritus Tutu thought that the idea of using the braai to unite people was a very good one as it is common for people from various cultures in South Africa to gather together around a fire to celebrate.

The unofficial still called Heritage Day renaming of the day to National Braai Day has been criticised by some. Those that think that the name change bastardised the meaning of the day into nothing more than a day of grilling meat over a fire. They are in the minority, however, with most people embracing the name.

It is, however, important to still remember the true meaning of the day and to respect the cultural heritage of other people. This public holiday has noble intentions with pride, togetherness and community being high on the list of objectives. South Africans will celebrate this day in many different ways and that is part of the appeal. Some South Africans will dress in traditional clothes on Heritage Day to celebrate their cultural heritage, while others will spend time with friends and family.

One thing is for sure — a braai will never too far away. After snubbing the idea in as trivializing, the National Heritage Council endorsed it in Tutu was quoted as saying in an interview: "We're going to have this wonderful thing on the 24th of this month It's a fantastic thing, a very simple idea. Irrespective of your politics, of your culture, of your race, of your whatever, hierdie ding doen ons saam ['we do this thing together'] Regardless of the debates and issues bundled up in the celebration of South African heritage with a braai, it is safe to assume that most working South Africans are at least grateful for a day off work.

Background Heritage Day is one of the newly created South African public holidays.