What to do on Day of Goodwill?

What do you do on Day of Goodwill?

Many families will still treat the Day of Goodwill as a day of rest and relaxation after the festivities of Christmas Day. For South Africans, 26 December is in the middle of the summer, so many families choose to head to the beach or their local parks and have a picnic or braai.

Why do we celebrate 26 December in South Africa?

About Day of Goodwill (26 December 2025)

In South Africa, the day after Christmas Day, 26 December, every year is designated the Day of Goodwill. It is set aside so that South Africans may continue the spirit of Christmas to all the people in the country.

What do we celebrate on 26 December?

Boxing Day, also known as Offering Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Boxing Day was once a day to donate gifts to those in need, but it has evolved to become a part of Christmas festivities.

What is the day after Christmas called in South Africa?

The Day of Goodwill is a national holiday in South Africa. It is celebrated every year on December 26, the day after Christmas. The holiday was previously known as Boxing Day.

All about the Day of Goodwill for Kids

What is traditionally eaten on Christmas in South Africa?

The Christmas meal is either turkey, duck, roast beef or suckling pig with yellow rice & raisins and vegetables, followed by Christmas Pudding or a traditional South African dessert called Malva Pudding (sometimes also called Lekker Pudding) - get the recipe.

What do you do on Boxing Day?

Boxing Day, the traditionally British holiday recognized the day after Christmas, offers an extension of the festivities. People in countries like Canada, the U.K. and South Africa spend an extra day with friends, shopping or watching sports.

What do Christians do on 26th December?

Saint Stephen's Day, also called the Feast of Saint Stephen, is a Christian saint's day to commemorate Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr or protomartyr, celebrated on 26 December in Western Christianity and 27 December in Eastern Christianity.

What to serve on Boxing Day?

What is the black holiday on December 26?

Kwanzaa (/ˈkwɑːnzə/) is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day.

Why is day of Goodwill celebrated in South Africa?

One such country is South Africa which celebrates December 26 not as the traditional boxing day but as a Day of Goodwill. Established in 1994, by the government of Nelson Mandela, the Day of Goodwill is targeted at removing any vestiges of colonial influence and building a more inclusive and progressive South Africa.

Is Boxing Day only in South Africa?

Boxing Day takes place on December 26th and is only celebrated in a few countries; mainly ones historically connected to the UK (such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) and in some European countries.

What is the most important national day in South Africa?

Freedom Day (South Africa) Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa celebrated on 27 April. It commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994 and the day on which the new constitution was introduced.

Why do we celebrate the Day of Reconciliation?

Recognising the need for racial harmony, the government chose the date for its significance to both Afrikaner and indigenous South African cultures. The celebration of the Day of Reconciliation can take the form of remembering past history, recognising veteran's contributions, marching, and other festivities.

Why is Boxing Day celebrated?

Rather, Boxing Day got its name when Queen Victoria was on the throne. In Victorian times, the wealthy would box up items they no longer needed to give to the poor. It was a day when servants would be given time off and thanked for their hard work with a 'special box' of treats.

What should you do on fight day?

How do you greet someone on Boxing Day?

Happy Boxing Day! May you bring kindness and joy to everyone around you. May your holiday season be filled with love, hope, and the spirit of giving. With the Christmas spirit still alive, may this Boxing Day inspire acts of charity and kindness.

Why is it called Boxing Day in Canada?

Some believe it comes from the alms boxes churches put out to collect donations for the less fortunate. Others, however, attribute it to the old practice of giving boxes of gifts to servants on the day after Christmas as they were required to work on Christmas Day.

What is Santa called in South Africa?

Santa goes by a few names in South Africa, including Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) and Kersvader (Father Christmas) for those who speak Afrikaans.

What do Zimbabweans eat for Christmas?

The special food eaten at Christmas in Zimbabwe is Chicken with rice. Chicken used to be an expensive food in Zimbabwe. Chicken and rice is often eaten at the Christmas Day parties. The streets in the big cities also can have colorful Christmas lights.

What insect is eaten on Christmas in South Africa?

In South Africa, deep-fried emperor moth caterpillars are considered something of a delicacy, and are served as a starter on Christmas Day.

What is the biggest holiday in South Africa?

1. Freedom Day. This national public holiday is one of the most important days of the year. It commemorates the anniversary of South Africa's first non-racial election on 27th April 1994 – a very important sentiment to South Africans living in the post-apartheid world.

What is the T-day in South Africa?

The South African government has introduced a number of retirement fund reforms over the last decade with the aim of promoting retirement savings and helping South Africans achieve their retirement goals. Further changes came into effect on 1 March 2021 – referred to as T-Day.

What happened on June 16th?

The Soweto uprising, also known as the Soweto riots or the Soweto rebellion, was a series of demonstrations and protests led by black school children in South Africa during apartheid that began on the morning of 16 June 1976. Hector Pieterson carried by Mbuyisa Makhubo after being shot by the South African Police.

What is happening on day of Goodwill?

Each year on December 26th, South Africa celebrates the Day of Goodwill. The day has become a day to recover from the indulgences of Christmas festivities. People are also encouraged to give back to society following the Christmas holiday.