So what is The Day of Reconciliation all about? It must certainly be worth knowing about if it resulted in us getting to stay home for a whole day! It’s a public holiday with the intention to advance reconciliation between different racial groups. Long story short, it’s about two things:

  1. The Day of the Vow aka Dingaan Day – In remembrance of the battle between the Afrikaner and the Zulus at The Battle of Blood River.
  2. The anniversary of the founding of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC.

Reading this I travelled back in time, to my high school history class …

*yawn*

…and asked myself: How is this relevant to my life as I’m standing on the brink of 2010? Which brings me to the reason we have a public holiday: To remember. It might not trigger an emotional response from us youngsters today (I like that… youngsters), but if people lost their lives over something that they felt this passionately about, it is definitely worth remembering, or at least knowing about.

We wouldn’t have been where we are today if it hasn’t been for yesterday’s history makers. It asks for our acknowledgement and respect.

So now that you know and remember; go get that fire going. A braai waits for no man.

By Elzet