Holidays

In South Africa they celebrate six national holidays. They celebrate all these holidays on different days and months. On March 21 they celebrate Human Rights Day. Human Rights Day is linked with March 21, 1960 and the events of Sharpeville. On that day 69 people died and 180 were wounded when police fired on a peaceful crowd that had gathered to protest against the Pass laws. It was more than a protest against the Pass Laws of the apartheid regime. It was an affirmation by common people, rising in unison to proclaim their rights, and it became an iconic date in our country’s troubled history. On April 27 was the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in South Africa, i.e. an election when all adults could vote irrespective of their race, and the day in 1997 when the new constitution took effect. This holiday is called Freedom Day. On May 1 they celebrate the holiday Workers Day which is where Many countries around the world commemorate the contribution made by workers to society on May Day (America doesn't celebrate this holiday because of its communist origins). On June 16 they celebrate the holiday Youth Day which is when students in Soweto rioted in protest against the introduction of Afrikaans as the language of instruction of half their school curriculum, sparking eight months of violent uprisings across the country. On July 18 they celebrate the holiday called Mandela Day which is when President Jacob Zuma announced 'the annual celebration' of South Africa's most famous son -- Nelson Mandela. "Mandela Day will be celebrated on the 18th of July each year. It will give people in South Africa and all over the world the opportunity to do something good to help others. On August 9 they celebrate the holiday National Women's Day which is when 20,000 women marched to the Union [government] Buildings in Pretoria to protest against a law requiring black women to carry passes. This day is celebrated as a reminder of the contribution made by women to society, the achievements that have been made for women's rights, and to acknowledge the difficulties and prejudices many women still face.