South African Holidays

DID YOU KNOW? That in South Africa, if you say "holiday," they may think you mean "vacation"?

Family Day Family Day is observed on the Monday after Easter Sunday. Freedom Day Freedom Day commemorates the first democratic election in South Africa, which was held in 1994. Workers' Day This holiday became popular after the trade union developed in the 1980s.

Youth Day (Soweto Day) This holiday is held in remembrance of hundreds of people that were killed in a march protesting a law about using two languages--Afrikaans and English--equally in secondary schools. Day of Reconciliation (The Day of the Vow) An annual day of thanksgiving in remembrance of a vow made by the Voortrekkers during a battle with the Zulus in 1838. The vow stated that they would build a Church in God's honor if God would grant them victory over the Zulus. Day of Goodwill This traditional holiday falls on the day after Christmas.

DID YOU KNOW? That South Africans celebrate a lot of the same holidays that you do? Although they may use different traditions in their celebrating, they observe Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

A calendar of all South African holidays

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