Happy Heritage Day
Heritage Day was officially recognised as a public holiday in 1996 by former president Nelson Mandela, who said that it is South Africa’s varied and shared cultures which make the country great.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2015/09/heritage_4514478_9580311_5529240_9796001.jpg)
Recently, there has been an initiative to celebrate these shared cultures by braaing, and Heritage Day is often synonymously called Braai Day.
The idea is that when people gather around a fire to cook, eat and spend time with each other, the simple notion of togetherness is played out.
Here are a few ideas on how to spend Heritage day:
* Celebrate your personal heritage. South Africa is made up of widely diverse cultures. This Heritage Day why not reconnect with your ancestry.
* Have a braai with your family and friends. A braai is a must on Heritage Day. Braais are all about sharing good food with good company.
* Check out some heritage sites. South Africa has many natural and cultural sites that are protected because of their important heritage properties.
These are just a few ideas how to spend your Heritage Day and many people also choose to see what is happening in their local community.