National Holiday

According to Afrikaaner tradition, 16th December was called Day of the Vow. On this day in 1838, 470 Voortrekkers (Pioneers), mostly women and children, prayed asking God to give them victory over thousands of Zulus who were about to attack them, at the Battle of Blood River. They promised to remember it as a day of thanksgiving for ever. God did indeed answer their prayer as only three Voortrekkers were injured, but over 3000 Zulus were killed.

The African National Congress (ANC) commemorates the 16th December as the day it started to arm their soldiers to overthrow Apartheid. Over this weekend the ANC has been holding its National Congress and is electing a new president, who is highly likely to become the new President of South Africa in 2009. Live coverage of the National Congress in on two of the four TV channels and films about the struggles to overcome Aparteid fill another channel.

In 1994, the New Government of South Africa renamed 16th December a Day of Reconciliation; a day to focus on overcoming the conflicts of the past and building a new nation.

So this is a long weekend in South Africa with many people beginning their holidays. It is quite common for people here to take four to six weeks holiday at one time, with many industries closing down completely, rather like the 'industrial fortnight' which still happens in parts of the UK and the French August holidays, when large parts of the country shuts down for the whole month.