South Africa (Free State) : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

School holidays :

Secular holiday : In celebration of the Springboks momentous achievement in Paris

Secular holiday : Started in 1994 (at the end of apartheid), to foster national unity between South African communities. Not a paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

Secular holiday : Boxing Day was renamed Day of Goodwill in 1994 to split from South Africa's colonial past, and to include all South Africans.

Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

School holidays : Https://www.kwathabeng.co.za
Dates are different in coastal states until 2024
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35% of black Africans, 32% of coloureds, 61% of Indians/Asians and 76% of white citizens have completed high school
number of instructional days per year in lower secondary education: 200 days
Teaching languages: English, Afrikaans, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
schools may remain open on Saturday
school uniforms required
University of Cape Town ranking: Times Higher Education #148/QS ranking #191/Shanghai #201-300
University of the Witwatersrand ranking: Times Higher Education #182/QS ranking #364/Shanghai #201-300
University of KwaZulu-Natal ranking: Times Higher Education #501-600/QS ranking #751-450/Shanghai #401-500

We carry confirmed dates till Jan 2027

Please note that authorities may take last-minute decisions; please double-check if this information is vital to you
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School holidays :

Secular holiday : On this day in 1960 the police killed 69 people at Sharpeville who were participating in a protest against the pass laws. Many were shot in the back. The carnage made world headlines. Four days later the government banned black political organizations, many leaders were arrested or went into exile. During the Apartheid era there were human rights abuses by all sides; Human Rights Day is but one step to ensure that the people of South Africa are aware of their human rights and to ensure that such abuses never again occur. [http://africanhistory.about.com]

Catholic or protestant : The First Council of Nicaea (a gathering of bishops in the early days of Christianity) wanted to find a day to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This commemoration had to be linked to Jewish holiday traditions, since the last supper of Christ was believed to be a Jewish Passover meal. But the Jewish calendar is based on lunar and solar cycles, so the Easter celebration had to follow the same calendar.

Secular holiday : It was typical in South Africa to take a day off of work after Easter. This day, which is also known as Easter Monday, was renamed as Family Day in 1995. This extra day off for the holiday was meant to give families more quality family time together and to allow them to go on vacations with friends and family.

School holidays :

Secular holiday : Commemorates the first post-apartheid elections, where South Africans of all races were freely allowed to determine the future of their newfound democracy. Held in 1994, they saw Nelson Mandela elected as President.

Secular holiday : Chicago, Saturday May 1st, 1886: 350,000 workers go on strike to call for an 8-hour working day. Industries are paralyzed nationwide. On Monday, as demonstrations go on, the police open fire. On Tuesday, Chicago is again on strike. Following a bomb launched against them, the police shoot again. 12 dead, of which 7 policemen. 8 anarchists will be condemned and executed. In 1889, the Socialist International Movement met in Paris and declared this day international workers' day . The Soviets will follow suit, just as the Nazis. In France, under the Vichy regime (1940-1944), the celebration is renamed Labour Day .

Secular holiday : In 1975 protests started in African schools after a directive from the then Bantu Education Department that Afrikaans had to be used on an equal basis with English as a language of instruction in secondary schools. The issue, however, was not so much the Afrikaans as the whole system of Bantu education which was characterised by separate schools and universities, poor facilities, overcrowded classrooms and inadequately trained teachers. On 16 June 1976 more than 20 000 pupils from Soweto began a protest march. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday Previously known as Soweto Day.

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