Reconciliation Day: Find Peace

Hi Guys. The day of reconciliation was created to mean something to many South Africans. We are a nation filled with a history of segregation & hatred. We were forced to see one other as different depending on the colour of our skin & to a large extent, those rules still apply today. Reconciliation day on 16 December is celebrated annually in South Africa. The holiday came into effect in 1994 to foster our nation to reconcile after the effects of apartheid. 16 December was chosen because it had significant meaning to both the Black & Afrikaans South Africans.

For Black South Africans, the Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) which is the military wing of the ANC was formed on this day in 1961. December 16 was also a holiday celebrated by the Afrikaans South Africans as the day of the Vow, on which a vow was made before the battle of the blood river. There are many versions of this truth but legend has it that some Voortrekker leaders made a public Vow on 16 December 1838, that if God protected them & gave them victory over the Zulus during the battle, they would honour & celebrate the day for ever.

Under the new democratic South Africa, it was decided that this day would be celebrated to try & heal the wounds of the nation. People I guess were expected to come together & bury their hatchets & try to move forward as a nation. I am not sure how significant this idea is today. Many youths (because I am one & can speak for) take this day to party & spend time with loved ones. I for one will be with my friends laughing & sharing food & drinks. I do however wish this day could bring the patriotism that we felt as a nation in 2010 during the world cup where people of all colour shared so many hugs & selfies that were genuine. I think because we all had one goal, to host the world, have fun & show the world we can. If only we could take just one day in the year & act like that, maybe we could heal a little more each year until we do it daily.  

Celebrate anyway it makes you happiest. Do it in style & keep moving forward. Reconcile, even if it’s with that one cashier you avoid because you think she is rude, you don’t have to apologize or tell her how you feel, just release the hate from your heart & let go.