Heroes' Day (South Africa)
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Kruger Day or Heroes' Day was a official public holiday in South Africa from 1882 to 1899 and again from 1952 to 1994, which celebrated annually on 10 October. The day was named after Paul Kruger, a South African politician who served as president of the South African Republic; the holiday celebrated his birthday on October 10. The day was used to underline the values and principles of the Afrikaner people.[1]
Origin[edit]
Kruger Day was first celebrated in 1882, while Paul Kruger was serving as a politician in the South African Republic. Kruger was then the vice president, but because he enjoyed so much respect from his people, his birthday was commemorated with a day of feasting. The following year it was officially introduced as a public holiday.
20th century[edit]
Use of the holiday ended in 1902, after the British defeated the Boer republics in the Second Boer War. In 1910, with Unification, the day was still not recognized as a public holiday, though popular celebrations of a heroes' day did take place. An event in Cape Town on 25 March 1916 included a march by banner-carrying students, followed by several public addresses in the city hall.[2]
A few years after the National Party came to power in South Africa, the day was introduced again as Heroes' Day (Afrikaans: Heldedag) from 1952 onward. From time to time, later governments referred to it as either Heroes' Day or Kruger Day. With the ANC government coming to power in the 1994 elections, a new set of holidays replaced the former ones, and Kruger Day was no longer recognized as a public holiday.
Post-apartheid status[edit]
Heroes' Day remains one of six holidays in the Afrikaner enclave of Orania,[3][4] and events in the spirit of Heroes' Day are promoted by some schools and cultural organisations,[5][6][7] and held on the Saturday nearest 10 October.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ SA moet ook nuwe helde soek Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Beeld, 18 Oktober 2006
- ^ "Heldedag word in Kaapstad gevier". 1916: Studente vier Heldedag. gelofteland.org. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ Strydom, Lida (30 March 2011). "Afrikaners is plesierig en dan maak hulle só . . ". Beeld. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ Strydom, John (11 October 2013). "Heldedag 2013". Orania. orania.co.za. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ "Heldedag - 11 Oktober 2008". Die Verkenners, Paardekraal. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ "10 October 2012 - Krugerdag - Heldedag". Radio Pretoria. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ Correspondent (12 July 1997). "Dié 'ou' vakansie-dae steeds gedenk". Beeld. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.