Reconciliation Day

Reconciliation Day is celebrated in South Africa on 16th December each year. The celebration is moved to a Monday when it falls on a weekend.

Over the years, 16th December in South Africa has meant differing things to differing peoples – though its current name and the reasons for its celebration in recent times is apt, given its first origins. It became Reconciliation Day in 1994.

The Afrikaner community traditionally celebrated this as the Day of the Vow or the Day of the Covenant, commemorating the day when a group of Voortrekkers defeated a Zulu army at the Battle of Blood River.

The black and some of the coloured community – in particular the African National Congress activists - commemorated it as the day in 1961 when the ANC started to arm its soldiers to overthrow apartheid.

Although the ANC did begin to take a more strident approach in support of their cause at the beginning of the 1960s, there is no definitive evidence to suggest that 16th December 1961 was the day on which the decision to take up arms was taken. However, the very fact that it was a day of rejoicing for the Afrikaners provided sufficient reason for ANC supporters to counter-celebrate with an alternative purpose.

Now, with the advent of democracy in South Africa, the day is set aside to focus on overcoming the conflicts of the past and building a new nation.

If you're looking for a way to commemorate this event, you might be interested in this article: Commemorations with Cross Stitch

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