Heritage Day, on September 24, recognises and celebrates the cultural wealth of our nation. South Africans celebrate the day by remembering the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa.
Because Heritage Day falls on a Sunday this year, today (September 25) is given as a public holiday for all to celebrate on!
Various events are staged throughout the country to commemorate this day.
Living heritage is the foundation of all communities, and an essential source of identity and continuity. Aspects of living heritage include: cultural tradition, oral history, performance, ritual, popular memory, skills and techniques, indigenous knowledge system and the holistic approach to nature, society and social relationships.
In South Africa, the term “intangible cultural heritage” is used interchangeably with the term “living heritage”.
Living heritage plays an important role in promoting cultural diversity, social cohesion, reconciliation, peace and economic development.
In every community, there are living human treasures who possess a high degree of knowledge, skills and history pertaining to different aspects of diverse living heritage. It is therefore important for South Africans to reclaim, restore and preserve these various aspects of living heritage.
What can you do for Heritage Day? Here are some ideas.
Have a braai with friends and family:
Of course, a braai is a must for Heritage Day. Uniquely South African, braais are a tradition that everybody loves to get involved in. Whether it’s a fresh-off-the-braai-stand wors roll or enjoying a great salad, braais are all about sharing good food and good company and sharing the true heritage of our country.
Another great idea is to pay a visit to some of the many world heritage sites that our country has to offer, and some of them are right on our doorstep!
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