Day of Reconciliation

Not to be confused with National Day for Truth and Reconciliation or Reconciliation Day.
Day of Reconciliation
The National flag largely represents peace and unity.
Also calledReconciliation day
Observed byRepublic of South Africa
Date16 December
First time16 December 1995
Related toDay of the Vow

The Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa held annually on 16 December. The holiday came into effect in 1995 after the end of apartheid, with the intention of fostering reconciliation and national unity for the country.[1] Recognising the need for racial harmony, the government chose the date for its significance to both Afrikaner and indigenous South African cultures. The celebration of the Day of Reconciliation can take the form of remembering past history, recognising veteran's contributions, marching, and other festivities.

The origins of the celebration for Afrikaners goes back to the Day of the Vow, which commemorates the Voortrekker victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838. For black and indigenous South Africans, the date marks both peaceful protests against racial injustice and the founding of the Umkhonto we Sizwe paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC) on 16 December 1961. Nelson Mandela and the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission chose a day that was special to both ethno-racial groups in the country in order to work on healing the damage done by apartheid.

Date and observance

The first time the Day of Reconciliation was celebrated as a public holiday was in 1995.[2] The new government chose to represent national unity by choosing a date that had significance for "both the Afrikaner and liberation struggle traditions".[2]

On Day of Reconciliation, cultural groups participate in parades and various festivities take place throughout the country.[3] On Day of Reconciliation 2013, a statue of Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa, was unveiled at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.[4] During the celebration in 2009, President Jacob Zuma honored forgotten heroes of South Africa, including inscribing around 100 dead veteran's names on the Wall of Names at Freedom Park.[5] In 2008, the first victim of "necklacing," Maki Skosana, was given a tombstone and remembered.[6] For the celebration in 2001, the African National Congress (ANC) remembered the police raid that led to the Rivonia trial.[7] Some of the communities take part in a walk which also serve as a memorial to Mandela.[8] Other parts of South Africa have chosen to emphasize their need for racial harmony in their communities.[8]

Each year has had a different theme. For example:

  • 2013: Nation Building, Social Cohesion, and Reconciliation.[9]
  • 2014: Social Cohesion, Reconciliation, and National Unity in the 20 Years of Democracy.[10]
  • 2015: Bridging the Divide: Building a common South African nationhood towards a national development state.[11]
  • 2016: Bridging The Divide Towards A Non-Racist Society.[12]
  • 2017: The Year of OR Tambo: Reconciliation through Radical Socio-Economic Transformation.[13]
  • 2018: The Year of Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu: Liberators for Reconciliation.[14]
  • 2019: The Year of Indigenous Languages: Supporting National Reconciliation Through the Promotion, Development and Preservation of Indigenous Languages.[15]
  • 2020: United In Action Against Racism, Gender-based Violence and Other Intolerances.[16]
  • 2021: The year of Charlotte Maxeke: Promoting Reconciliation During the 25th Anniversary of the Constitution[17]
  • 2022: National Unity, Healing, and Renewal[18]

Origin

Afrikaner origins

Further information: Battle of Blood River and Day of the Vow

For Afrikaners, 16 December was commemorated as the Day of the Vow,[1] also known as Day of the Covenant or Dingaansdag (Dingaan's Day).[19] The Day of the Vow was a religious holiday commemorating the Voortrekker victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River in 1838,[2] and is still celebrated by some Afrikaners.[20] On that day, 470 Voortrekkers were attacked in an early morning battle led by Dingane's generals.[19] The Voortrekkers defeated the Zulus who numbered in the tens of thousands and during the battle, 3,000 Zulu warriors were killed.[19] The event became a "rallying point for the development of Afrikaner nationalism, culture and identity."[19]

The religious significance of the event, where it is called Day of the Covenant or Day of the Vow, involves the belief that the Voortrekker victory of the Zulus was ordained by God.[19] The General Synod of the Afrikaners' Natal Churches chose 16 December as "an ecclesiastical day of thanksgiving by all its congregations" in 1864.[19] Later, in 1894, Dingane's Day was declared a public holiday by the Government of the Orange Free State.[19]

During the Apartheid era, 16 December continued to be celebrated as the Day of the Vow[21] and the Day of the Covenant.[22] In 1952, Dingane's Day was changed to Day of the Covenant and in 1980 was changed to The Day of the Vow.[22] The Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria was erected on 16 December 1949 to commemorate Dingane's Day.[23][24]

The last year South Africa celebrated Day of the Vow was in 1994.[25] The transition from Day of the Vow to Day of Reconciliation was viewed with mixed emotions for Afrikaners.[25]

African origins

Further information: Umkhonto we Sizwe

Black and indigenous South Africans who did not have the right to vote after the South African War, protested racial discrimination on 16 December 1910.[19] Other protests against the government handling of racial discrimination continued to be held on 16 December. In 1929, 1930 and 1934, anti-pass demonstrations were held by the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) on that day.[19] The All African Convention (AAC) was held during the same time in 1935, covering dates 15 December through 18 December.[19]

Much later, when efforts of passive protest and resistance against apartheid had been unsuccessful, the African National Congress (ANC) decided to form a military or armed group.[10] The decision to move to armed resistance happened after the ANC was banned by the government.[26] Nelson Mandela believed that non-violent resistance was not working to stop Apartheid, and advocated acts of sabotage.[27] The date of 16 December is the anniversary of the 1961 founding of Umkhonto we Sizwe ("Spear of the Nation" or MK), the armed wing of the ANC.[1] On that day, Umkhonto we Sizwe enacted its "first acts of sabotage" which included bomb blasts against government buildings in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Durban.[19] Also on 16 December 1961, the Umkhonto we Sizwe distributed leaflets describing how the group "will carry on the struggle for freedom and democracy by new methods, which are necessary to complement the actions of the established national liberation organisations."[28]

Day of Reconciliation

Desmond Tutu spoke about the purpose of the holiday in 1995.

When Apartheid ended, it was decided to keep 16 December as a public holiday, but to infuse it "with the purpose of fostering reconciliation and national unity."[21] It was established by the government in 1994.[29] Nelson Mandela was part of the group of politicians that helped start the idea for the holiday.[30] On 16 December 1995, the first celebration took place.[2] The first meeting of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission also took place on 16 December 1995.[31] In an address in 1995, Archbishop Desmond Tutu described the holiday as serving the need of healing the wounds of Apartheid.[32]

The holiday is also used to celebrate minority cultural groups in South Africa, such as the San people.[8] South African President, Jacob Zuma, in 2009, also stressed that the holiday was meant to also promote "non-sexism."[33]

Other significance

It is the first of four public holidays observed at the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer, along with Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill and New Year's Day. Many small businesses close down and employees go on leave over this period.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Day of Reconciliation". Government of South Africa. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "Day of Reconciliation celebrated as a public holiday in SA for the first time". South African History Online. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  3. ^ Wa Monareng, Motsebi (16 December 2015). "Mpumalanga Reconciliation Day celebrations display cultural diversity". SABC. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Nelson Mandela Statue Unveiled in South Africa on Day of Reconciliation". CTV News. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  5. ^ Bateman, Barry (17 December 2009). "Zuma homage to the 'forgotten heroes'; Tribute paid to struggle veterans at Day of Reconciliation ceremony". The Star. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  6. ^ "First Necklacing Victim Gets Day of Reconciliation Burial". Cape Times. 17 December 2008.
  7. ^ "South Africa's ANC Old Guard Reminisce at Site of Police Raid". The Index-Journal. 16 December 2001. Retrieved 9 July 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c "SA Celebrates Reconciliation Day". SABC. 16 December 2015. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Invitation to Reconciliation Day". South African Government. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  10. ^ a b "16 December: a day to learn from the past". South Africa.info. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Day of Reconciliation 2015". South African Government. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  12. ^ "Reconciliation Day 2016". South African Government. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Message by President Jacob Zuma on National Reconciliation Day 2017". Department Of Arts and Culture. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  14. ^ "National Reconciliation Day 2018". South African Government. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  15. ^ "Day of Reconciliation 2019". South African Government. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  16. ^ "President Cyril Ramaphosa to virtually deliver Reconciliation Day keynote address, 16 Dec". South African Government. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Reconciliation Month 2021". South African Government. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Minister Nathi Mthethwa: 2022 National Reconciliation Day". South African Government. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "December 16, the reflection of a changing South African heritage". South African History Online. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  20. ^ Bearak, Barry (16 December 2009). "Holiday of White Conquest Persists in South Africa". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Day of Reconciliation". Office Holidays. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Day of Reconciliation". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  23. ^ Malathronas, John (12 September 2016). "City of change: Exploring new South Africa in old Pretoria". CNN. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  24. ^ Anonymous (31 March 2011). "December 16, the reflection of a changing South African heritage". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  25. ^ a b "South Africa: Holiday Tradition Ends". The Galveston Daily News. 17 December 1994. Retrieved 9 July 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ O'Malley, Padraig. "Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) operations report – The O'Malley Archives". Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  27. ^ Laing, Aislinn (5 February 2011). "Nelson Mandela's Spear of the Nation: the ANC's armed resistance". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  28. ^ "The formation of Umkhonto We Sizwe". African National Congress. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  29. ^ Sagolla, Lisa Jo (11 November 2010). "Collaborating Across Cultures". Back Stage. 51 (45): 6 – via EBSCOhost.
  30. ^ "Former Battleground Provides Perfect Setting for Day of Reconciliation". SA People News. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  31. ^ Daly, Erin; Sarkin, Jeremy (2007). Reconciliation in Divided Societies: Finding Common Ground. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 276. ISBN 9780812239768.
  32. ^ Wilson, Richard A. (2001). The Politics of Truth and Reconciliation in South Africa: Legitimizing the Post-Apartheid State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 14. ISBN 0521001943.
  33. ^ "Thousands Celebrate Day of Unity". The Times. 17 December 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2016 – via EBSCOhost.
  34. ^ "When To Go To South Africa". Go2Africa Pty (Ltd). Retrieved 16 February 2011"South Africans tend to take their annual holidays ... mid-December to late January"{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)

Read other articles:

Haitam Aleesami

Haitam Aleesami Informasi pribadiNama lengkap Haitam AleesamiTanggal lahir 31 Juli 1991 (umur 32)Tempat lahir Oslo, NorwegiaTinggi 1,81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)Posisi bermain Bek kiri / Sayap kiriInformasi klubKlub saat ini PalermoNomor 19Karier junior Holmlia SK0000–2009 SkeidKarier senior*Tahun Tim Tampil (Gol)2010–2012 Skeid 2012–2014 Fredrikstad FK 68 (5)2015–2016 IFK Göteborg 45 (2)2016– Palermo 31 (1)Tim nasional‡2015– Norwegia 14 (0) * Penampilan dan...

 

 

Chaoyangmen

Chaoyangmen dilihat dari arah barat. Chaoyangmen (Hanzi sederhana: 朝阳门; Hanzi tradisional: 朝陽門; Pinyin: Cháoyángmén; Manchu:ᡧᡠᠨᠪᡝᠠᠯᡳᡥᠠᡩᡠᡴᠠ; Möllendorff:šun be aliha duka) dulunya adalah gerbang di tembok kota Beijing. Sekarang menjadi simpul transportasi dan perbatasan distrik di Beijing. Terletak di Distrik Dongcheng timur laut pusat kota Beijing dan dilalui oleh Jalan lingkar ke-2 dari arah utara-selatan. Jalur 2, Beijing Subway dan J...

 

 

Dia Anakku

Artikel ini bukan mengenai Dia Bukan Anakku. Dia AnakkuGenre Drama Roman Komedi PembuatMD EntertainmentSutradaraAnto AgamPemeran Aryani Fitriana Andrew Andika Gracia Indri Revand Narya Paramitha Rusady Enno Lerian Della Puspita Benny Ruswandi Bemby Putuanda Penggubah lagu temaBondan Prakoso feat. Fadee2 BlackLagu pembukaKita Untuk Selamanya oleh Bondan Prakoso feat. Fadee2 BlackLagu penutupKita Untuk Selamanya oleh Bondan Prakoso feat. Fadee2 BlackPenata musikIwang ModulusNegara asalInd...

Pangeran Andrew, Adipati York

Pangeran AndrewAdipati YorkKelahiran19 Februari 1960 (umur 64)Istana Buckingham, LondonWangsaWindsor (resmi)Glücksburg (jalur ayah)Nama lengkapAndrew Albert Christian Edward[1]AyahPangeran Philip, Adipati EdinburghIbuRatu Elizabeth IIPasanganSarah Ferguson(nikah 1986; cerai 1996)AnakPutri Beatrice dari YorkPutri Eugenie dari YorkPekerjaanPemerintah; sebelumnya Militer Keluarga Kerajaan Britania Rayadan Wilayah Persemakmuran lainnya Baginda Sang RajaBaginda Sang Permaisuri Paduka...

 

 

Stadion Olimpiade Lluís Companys

Stadion Olimpiade Lluís CompanysEstadio Olímpico Lluís CompanysEstadi Olímpic Lluís CompanysUEFA Nama lamaStadion Montjuic (1929–85)Stadion Olimpiade Montjuïc (1989–2001)LokasiBarcelona, Catalunya, SpanyolPemilikDewan Kota BarcelonaKapasitas60,713KonstruksiDidirikan1927; 97 tahun lalu (1927)Dibuka20 Mei 1929; 94 tahun lalu (1929-05-20)Direnovasi1985–1989ArsitekPere Domènech i RouraPemakaiBarcelona Dragons (1991–1992; 1995–2002)RCD Espanyol (1997–2009)FC Barcelona ...

 

 

Gracie's Apizza

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (November 2022) Pizzeria in Portland, Oregon, U.S. Gracie's ApizzaThe restaurant's exterior in 2022Restaurant informationOwner(s)Craig MeliloFood typePizzaStreet address7304 North Leavitt AvenueCityPortlandCountyMultnomahStateOregonPostal/ZIP Code97203CountryUnited StatesCoordinates45°35′21″N 122°45′14″W / 45.5893°N 122.7540°W / 45.5893...

Clothing in ancient Greece

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Clothing in ancient Greece – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Charioteer of Delphi wearing a chiton. Clothing in ancient Greece refers to clothing starting from the Aegean bronze a...

 

 

Cambridge

City and district in Cambridgeshire, England This article is about the city in England. For the city in the United States, see Cambridge, Massachusetts. For the university, see University of Cambridge. For other uses, see Cambridge (disambiguation). City and non-metropolitan district in EnglandCambridgeCity and non-metropolitan districtCity of CambridgeKing's CollegePunts on the River CamGreat St Mary's ChurchTrinity Street Coat of armsNickname: Cambs/University City of Cambridge/Silicon...

 

 

Hollywood Blonds

Professional wrestling tag team The Hollywood Blonds is a name used by several professional wrestling tag teams over the years. The original Blonds were Buddy Roberts and Jerry Brown, who used the name in the 1970s. Rip Rogers and Ted Oates wrestled as The Hollywood Blonds in the mid-1980s in the National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP). The name was also adopted by Pretty Boy Larry Sharpe and Dynamite Jack Evans, who had a stint in then World Wide Wrestling Federatio...

Euromaidan

Gambar-gambar Euromaidan. Euromaidan (Ukraina: Євромайдан, Yevromaidan, secara harfiah berarti Euroalun-alun) adalah serangkaian unjuk rasa dan kerusuhan di Ukraina yang dimulai pada malam 21 November 2013 setelah meletusnya demonstrasi yang meminta integrasi yang lebih erat dengan Uni Eropa. Cakupan demonstrasi ini meluas menjadi seruan agar Presiden Ukraina Viktor Yanukovych dan pemerintahannya mengundurkan diri.[1] Banyak demonstran yang bergabung akibat penggunaan ke...

 

 

Anarkali

Jahangir dan Anarkali. Makam Anarkali, di kota Pakistan Lahore. Anarkali (bahasa Urdu: انارکلی) (bunga delima), lahir sebagai Sharif un-Nissa dalam Keluarga Sheikh,[1] juga dikenal sebagai Nadira Begum, ada yang mengatakan dia adalah Pelacur dari Lahore (sekarang Pakistan) tapi para sejarawan memiliki perdebatan tentang hal itu jadi itu semua masih belum pasti, Menurut suatu cerita, Anarkali memiliki hubungan dengan Putra Mahkota Jahangir dan Kaisar Mughal Akbar menempatkan...

 

 

2020年夏季奥林匹克运动会阿尔及利亚代表团

2020年夏季奥林匹克运动会阿尔及利亚代表團阿尔及利亚国旗IOC編碼ALGNOC阿爾及利亞奧林匹克委員會網站www.coa.dz（法文）2020年夏季奥林匹克运动会（東京）2021年7月23日至8月8日（受2019冠状病毒病疫情影响推迟，但仍保留原定名称）運動員41參賽項目14个大项旗手开幕式：穆罕默德·弗利希（拳击）和阿梅爾·梅利（英语：Amel Melih）（游泳）[1]闭幕式：伊曼·哈利夫（拳�...

Human trafficking in Georgia (country)

Forced prostitution and forced labor Projection map of Georgia highlighting the disputed territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Human trafficking in Georgia is common, with people being subjected to forced prostitution and forced labor. In 2009, women and girls from Georgia were forced into prostitution in Georgia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Greece, and in recent years, cases of forced prostitution of Georgian victims have also been documented in Russia, Germany, and Austria. Me...

 

 

Sudtirolesi

Questa voce o sezione sugli argomenti gruppi etnici e Trentino-Alto Adige non cita le fonti necessarie o quelle presenti sono insufficienti. Commento: totale assenza di fonti Puoi migliorare questa voce aggiungendo citazioni da fonti attendibili secondo le linee guida sull'uso delle fonti. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Questa voce sugli argomenti gruppi etnici e Trentino-Alto Adige è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedi...

 

 

The Spy Who Loved Me (novel)

The Spy Who Loved Me Sampul cetakan ulang edisi Amerika Serikat tahun 2023, oleh penerbit HarperCollins.PengarangIan FlemingNegaraBritania RayaBahasaInggrisSeriJames BondGenreFiksi mata-mataPenerbitJonathan Cape (edisi pertama)Tanggal terbit16 April 1962Jenis mediaCetak (sampul keras dan kertas)Halaman198Didahului olehThunderball (1961) Diikuti olehOn Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963)  The Spy Who Loved Me adalah novel kesembilan dan buku kesepuluh dalam seri J...

François Bazin (composer)

French opera composer (1816–1878) François BazinBorn(1816-09-04)4 September 1816Marseille, FranceDied2 July 1878(1878-07-02) (aged 61)ParisNationalityFrenchCitizenship FranceOccupationComposer François Emmanuel Joseph Bazin (pronounced [fʁɑ̃.swa ba.zɛ̃]) (4 September 1816 – 2 July 1878) was a well-known French opera composer active during the nineteenth century. Biography Born in Marseille, Bazin was a student of Daniel Auber at the Conservatoire de P...

 

 

Lucius Munatius Plancus

Roman politician and soldier (87 – 15 BC), consul in 42 BC Bust of Plancus symbolising Roman philosophy. The bust has been said to show evidence of hemiplegia. Found in 1823 near the Jardin des Plantes and the amphitheatre of Lyon. On display at the Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon. Lucius Munatius Plancus (c. 87 BC – c. 15 BC) was a Roman senator, consul in 42 BC, and censor in 22 BC with Paullus Aemilius Lepidus. He is one of the classic historical example...

 

 

Ball

Round object For other uses, see Ball (disambiguation). Group of balls A ball is a round object (usually spherical, but can sometimes be ovoid)[1] with several uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch or juggling. Balls made from hard-wearing materials are used in engineering applications to provide very low friction bearings, known as...

Spezia Calcio 2013-2014

Voce principale: Spezia Calcio. Spezia CalcioStagione 2013-2014Sport calcio Squadra Spezia Allenatore Giovanni Stroppa, poi Devis Mangia All. in seconda Andrea Guerra, poi Paolo Cozzi Presidente Lamberto Tacoli Serie B8º posto, quarti di finale play-off promozione Coppa ItaliaOttavi di finale Maggiori presenzeCampionato: Migliore (39)Totale: Migliore (44) Miglior marcatoreCampionato: Ebagua (13)Totale: Ebagua (16) 2012-2013 2014-2015 Si invita a seguire il modello di voce Questa voce r...

 

 

Juventus FC

Association football club from Turin, Italy This article is about the men's association football club from Turin, Italy. For other uses, see Juventus FC (disambiguation). Juventus redirects here. For the ancient Roman goddess, see Juventas. For other uses, see Juventus (disambiguation). Football clubJuventusFull nameJuventus Football Club S.p.A.Nickname(s)La Vecchia Signora (The Old Lady)La Fidanzata d'Italia (The Girlfriend of Italy)Madama (Piedmontese pronunciation: [maˈdama]; The ...