Day of Reconciliation

Day of Reconciliation

The Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa held annually on 16 December. The holiday came into effect in 1994 after the end of apartheid, with the intention of fostering reconciliation and national unity.[1] The day is also the de-facto start of the South African summer holiday period.[2]

Before 1994, 16 December was commemorated as the Day of the Vow,[1] also known as Day of the Covenant or Dingaan's Day. The Day of the Vow was a religious holiday commemorating the Voortrekker victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River in 1838.

On the other side of the political spectrum, 16 December is also the anniversary of the 1961 founding of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), the armed wing of the African National Congress.

References

  1. ^ a b "Public Holidays". Government Communications. 2009-06-18. http://www.info.gov.za/aboutsa/holidays.htm#16december. Retrieved 2009-11-05. 
  2. ^ "When To Go To South Africa". Go2Africa Pty (Ltd). http://www.go2africa.com/south-africa/african-safari-guide/when-to-go. Retrieved 2011-02-16"South Africans tend to take their annual holidays ... mid-December to late January" 

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