EIGHT WAYS TO CELEBRATE HERITAGE DAY THIS YEAR

However you choose to celebrate where we come from, Heritage Day offers us all an opportunity to stop, take a breath, consider our rich culture (and history) and celebrate it all with friends and family. Here are fun-filled ways to enjoy this special day.

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First, some history
Heritage Day is one of our newest public holiday additions recognised in only 2008, yet September 24th is marked in calendars that date back to 1828. That was when Shaka, the Zulu king, died, provoking a Remembrance Day in his name due to his inspiration and want for a unified nation.

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What’s your story
Now that you know the history of Heritage Day, take time to learn more about your family and its own history. We’re often so wrapped up in the present and focused on the future that we lose touch with our past.

Whether it’s researching and building a family tree or reading up about one of the 11 official languages we share, Heritage Day offers us all the opportunity to look inward, all while better understanding more about our collective diversity as a country.

Step outside your comfort zone
We live in a country divided by high walls, gated communities, and misguided assumptions. Why not do one thing on September 24 that takes you to a place you may have heard about but have never experienced first-hand? Visit a museum, a memorial site or a cultural centre and learn more about the people and places that make up our great rainbow nation.

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Hop-on, hop-off
Be a tourist in your own city, especially if you live in Cape Town or Johannesburg, where those bright red double-decker buses weave through the streets and take visitors on the ride of their lives. The buses are fitted with audiobooks, so you’ll get to see and hear it all, a lot of which you may not have known before.



Eat yourself full
What would Heritage Day, affectionally called Braai Day, be without a roaring fire and a selection of your favourite cuts? When was the last time you took on a Bunny Chow or ikota, koeksisters, a Gatsby, amagwinya, or stirred up a potjie?

Alternatively, check out your local neighbourhood’s eateries and explore a menu that celebrates a culture different from yours.

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Take a hike
Whether you prefer the wild side or a gentler approach, pick a path near you and walk it. We live in a beautiful country with so much to see and experience, and one of the best ways is to do it on foot. Whether it’s climbing Table Mountain, trekking through the majestic Drakensberg, Pilanesberg or Cederberg, just get out there!

Make it social
Whatever you settle on activities wise, capture special moments and experiences and post them on social media, using the hashtags #heritageday or #braaiiday. Not only will you have a lasting memory captured, but you’ll also be promoting and contributing to unity, the very thing the late great Shaka Zulu championed almost 200 years ago.

Find a hotspot
Whether it’s the V&A Waterfront’s Heritage Day African Festival, Ushaka Marine World or even your favourite mall, visit your local shopping centre before the big day and see what they have in store.

Stay in
We pass and perhaps wave at our neighbours every time we go out, but for many, we seldom invite them in. Why not call over a neighbour or three to yours, or even organise a street party where everyone is invited, make it a bring-and-share for more fun. This will create a connection, foster togetherness, and make you smile, all without leaving the house or breaking the bank.

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