South Africa Holidays and Traditions

What makes an Australian Christmas unique is that over there they have a sandy Christmas and have warm weather. What they do over there for fun is that they go surfing, make a sandman, which is kinda like a snowman, but it is made out of sand. They also go to the beach and play in the sand. On Christmas they eat goose or BBQ outside because it is warm outside. Their Christmas traditions are is that they decorate a gum tree we ornaments and other kinds of decorations. Moreover, hang stockings but not over the fireplace. They have Swag Man instead of Santa Claus who drives a four wheeler with his dingoes. Those are the things that make an Australian Christmas unique.

Christmas means a lot to the Haitian culture because this signifies the birth of Jesus. They celebrate the birth of Jesus and mourn during the dates of December 23- January 6. New Year’s

He has his own day, Martin Luther King Day. Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on January 15 marking the anniversary of the influential civil rights leader. On this day we remember what MLK sacrificed for America and remembering his achievements. Martin Luther King had won a Nobel Peace Prize of 1964 for what he did for the African Americans and provided leadership to the civil rights movement. He was also awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom and in 1977 Congressional Gold Medal (www.nobelprize.org). His intention were to change America but his speeches and works were being practised throughout countries like South Africa. King wrote a very famous speech, “I have A Dream.” In this speech he talked about how all men are born equal, how this nation will once rise again, and all Negro slaves shall be free. (www.archives.gov). This speech was very emotional for citizens because it brought back the faith that they had lost in

South Africa’s largest sport is rugby. They will have grand festivals before and after each big game. Instead of baseball, they play cricket. Hunting is also a big sport in South Africa; some of the game they hunt include deer, which are described to be enormous compared to the deer in the United States, rhino, and buffalo. On some highways you will see wild animals strolling down the side and across the roads, including lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo. I could not imagine seeing wildlife like that in our everyday surroundings! Lions, leopards and elephant are of course, illegal to hunt. They also celebrate Woodstock, just as we do in the US.

Cuba’s celebrations are greatly reduced ever since Fidel Castro outlawed it in 1969. Today, it is celebrated with not as much festivity as other countries. Columbia celebrates the Christmas season much earlier than most, starting on December 7th to have “The Day of the Candles.” They also have families gather each night for nine days to perform religious prayers called novenas. In Spain, they start the winter solstice with “Hogueras,” which lets people jump over fires to symbolize that they are going to overcome sickness that winter. Mexico is well known for their Christmas ornaments and for their three holidays, Las Posadas, La Fiesta de Reyes and Las Pastorelas. Each country differs on giving gifts to children. In Spain, children receive gifts from the Three Wise Men as recalled to into the Bible. They leave their shoes outside on January 5th and the next day, Epiphany, children get candy and cakes. Mexico also has the tradition of letting children open their Christmas presents on Epiphany, however, the night before, they write a letter to the Three Wise Men asking for what they want. In Columbia, it is baby Jesus that reads the letter of what children want. They leave the letter under the tree on December 24th and open presents the day after. Sadly, for Cuba, ever since the decline of Christmas in 1969, Christmas isn’t celebrated like other countries. However, before that,

In past decades that came everyone would celebrate this week once a year. Later on into the late 1960’s thanks to civil rights this week was then named Black History Month which was well recognized in

In USA we have many national holidays for all sorts of things. These holidays often times in remembrance or too honor someone or something of importance. For example, not long before this was written Martin Luther King Jr. day arrived. It honors MLK and all he did for African American equality. There is another day that should be honored though, that currently isn’t. The Boston Tea Party, it played a large role in the revolution, is already well known but is a topic that could use more discussion, and it had drastic results. Yet, it still has nothing in its honor besides a few memorials.

as Martin Luther King day. This day is celebrated to recognize a man who knew right

A new holiday “Kwanzaa” had been created. The holiday was a day that they would celebrate their culture fully and freely. Kwanzaa was a movement day for African Americans

From the information given, New Year in each country has a unique celebration; especially there is a big

Most countries have many holidays or days of recognition to celebrate the accomplishments of national leaders. For example, in the United States, we recognize the birthdays of presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, and we have a Martin Luther King Day to honor Mr. King’s fight for civil rights in our country. However, few leaders have an internationally-recognized day set aside in their honor each year. Nelson Mandela is one of those leaders, as July

dismantling apartheid in 1993. Mandela’s birthday was July 18 so now that date is called Mandela’s Day which is an international day to promote global peace.

South African heritage and culture is immensely diverse, and consists of many different groups of people who each have their own traditions and beliefs. Having such a diversity of people and cultures is what makes South Africa so unique. In the true sense of the phrase, we are a rainbow nation.

     Before one starts to outline the traditional religion in Africa, one must first explain the way Africa is as a whole. Without the knowledge of the past combined with knowledge of culture, one would have a very vague, if any, understanding of traditional religion.

Looking back at ancient civilization, fireworks, elaborate performances, or decorations had not been invented or developed. These rituals that are associated with the tradition today were added throughout the years. It was because of time that people started incorporating ideas that were added on along with the festival. Therefore you were lucky and fortunate to spend Chinese New Year with