I reconise this holiday as what I feel is none political and one for the people, the text from the government web pages say it all quite well. The holiday was added to the calender when the new government was elected, so in a long term meaning this can still be said to be a new event.
For many its the start of the braai season! (barbacue)
I would like to thank fellow HBYC member Justin Philips for the use of his pictures as he rounded Cape Point on his way to Simonstown and the FBYC for their Spring Regatta.
24 September [Heritage Day]
"The day is one of our newly created public holidays and its significance rests in recognising aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and difficult to pin down: creative expression, our historical inheritance, language, the food we eat as well as the land in which we live.
"Within a broader social and political context, the day's events…are a powerful agent for promulgating a South African identity, fostering reconciliation and promoting the notion that variety is a national asset as opposed to igniting conflict.
"Heritage has defined as "that which we inherit: the sum total of wild life and scenic parks, sites of scientific or historical importance, national monuments, historic buildings, works of art, literature and music, oral traditions and museum collections together with their documentation."
(Statement issued by the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, 17 September 1996)
In an address marking Heritage Day in 1996, (former) President Mandela stated:
"When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.
We did so knowing that the struggles against the injustice and inequities of the past are part of our national identity; they are part of our culture. We knew that, if indeed our nation has to rise like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes of division and conflict, we had to acknowledge those whose selfless efforts and talents were dedicated to this goal of non-racial democracy."
Government determines a theme for each year’s celebrations.
Cape Point to port, well done Justin, I suspect he did this trip single handed (again)
Thats my take on a holiday for heritage and South Africa.
How nice can this be!
Roy
For many its the start of the braai season! (barbacue)
I would like to thank fellow HBYC member Justin Philips for the use of his pictures as he rounded Cape Point on his way to Simonstown and the FBYC for their Spring Regatta.
Justin heads out to False Bay from Hout Bay.
24 September [Heritage Day]
"The day is one of our newly created public holidays and its significance rests in recognising aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and difficult to pin down: creative expression, our historical inheritance, language, the food we eat as well as the land in which we live.
"Within a broader social and political context, the day's events…are a powerful agent for promulgating a South African identity, fostering reconciliation and promoting the notion that variety is a national asset as opposed to igniting conflict.
One of South Africas heritage sites must surly be Cape Point and Justin has that off his port bow in this picture.
"Heritage has defined as "that which we inherit: the sum total of wild life and scenic parks, sites of scientific or historical importance, national monuments, historic buildings, works of art, literature and music, oral traditions and museum collections together with their documentation."
(Statement issued by the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, 17 September 1996)
In an address marking Heritage Day in 1996, (former) President Mandela stated:
"When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.
We did so knowing that the struggles against the injustice and inequities of the past are part of our national identity; they are part of our culture. We knew that, if indeed our nation has to rise like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes of division and conflict, we had to acknowledge those whose selfless efforts and talents were dedicated to this goal of non-racial democracy."
Government determines a theme for each year’s celebrations.
Cape Point to port, well done Justin, I suspect he did this trip single handed (again)
Thats my take on a holiday for heritage and South Africa.
How nice can this be!
Roy
