Heritage Day is an important South African public holiday that is celebrated on the 24th of September each year. It is a day on which all South Africans are encouraged to celebrate their culture and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people. Various events are staged throughout the country to commemorate this.

To me it means being proud of where you come from, being proud of the country you live in, and being proud to be a young female South African. It’s about understanding, respecting, and being open to learning about different cultures other than your own. Heritage Day is an opportunity for all South Africans to learn about the country’s rich diversity and involved history. It allows us to acknowledge the challenges of the past, how they affect the present, and what we can do together that will improve our homes and work environment for ourselves and future generations.

Heritage Day is one of the most important National Holidays in South Africa. It is vital to both the nation as a whole and its people that it continues to be recognized, commemorated, and celebrated.

I love family tradition it is very important to me, and I am also very proudly South African so celebrating a day where we have the opportunity to honor our cultures and the diversity of our country through amazing food, colorful clothing, exciting sport, dances, etc. makes us very privileged to be part of such a beautiful country. It gives us all the opportunity to put the hardships and crime aside for a day and stand together and celebrate the Country.

We rescue, restore, preserve and protect our heritage not only because it is our past, but because it is unique or beautiful. It is not a matter of buildings, stones, or intangible traditions; our cultural heritage is our identity, it represents our values, belongings, our strength, continuity, and our pride. It is the treasure that we want our children to learn about and to keep for the following generations. It is the connections between the past and future, a part of history to understand correctly and learn from.

Despite the many differences that exist amongst the various South African cultures, South Africa’s strong sense of unity around longstanding traditions has always remained integral. When needed, our rainbow nation always comes together as a force to be reckoned with.

Thabile Ngubane ( Academy Student)