what is heritage day essay introduction

Heritage Day Essay Guide for Grade 10 Learners

This page contains an essay guide for Grade 10 History learners on how to write a Heritage Day essay (introduction, body, and conclusion). On the 24th of September every year in South Africa, there is a great celebration of all cultures and heritages of all South Africans. This was after the Inkatha Freedom Party proposal in 1996.

Table of Contents

Background on South African Heritage Day

Before you write your essay, you should first know what heritage day is and what it means.

The word ‘heritage’ can be used in different ways. One use of the word emphasises our heritage as human beings. Another use of the word relates to the ways in which people remember the past, through heritage sites, museums, through the construction of monuments and memorials and in families and communities (oral history). Some suggest that heritage is everything that is handed down to us from the past.

One branch of Heritage Studies engages critically (debates) with issues of heritage and public representations of the past, and conservation.

It asks us to think about how the past is remembered and what a person or community or country chooses to remember about the past. It is also concerned with the way the events from the past are portrayed in museums and monuments, and in traditions. It includes the issue of whose past is remembered and whose past has been left unrecognised or, for example, how a monument or museum could be made more inclusive.

Important: you should include relevant images to go with your key points. You can find plenty of images on the internet, as long as you provide the credits/sources.

When you write your Heritage Day essay as a grade 10 student, you will get great marks if you include the following structure:

• Provide a brief history linked to heritage day
• The main key issues you will be discussing throughout your essay
• Explain the changes that were made to this public holiday.
• Explain how the day is celebrated in schools, families, workplaces and other institutions like churches etc.
• How does the celebration of the holiday bring unity and close the gaps of the past?
• Explain how the celebration of the day enforces the application of the constitution of South Africa.
• What key points did your essay cover?
• What new knowledge did you learn or discover?
• What are your views on “Heritage Day”?

Example of “Heritage Day” Essay for Grade 10 Students

Below is an example of how to write an essay about Heritage Day for grade 10 learners, using the structure discussed above:

Introduction:

Heritage Day, celebrated on the 24th of September, is a South African public holiday that serves as a reminder of the nation’s rich cultural heritage and diverse history. The day was established to honor the various cultures, traditions, and beliefs that make South Africa a truly unique and diverse country. This essay will discuss the history of Heritage Day, the changes made to this public holiday, and how its celebration promotes unity and reinforces the South African Constitution .

Changes to Heritage Day:

Initially known as Shaka Day, Heritage Day was introduced to commemorate the legendary Zulu King Shaka who played a significant role in unifying various Zulu clans into one cohesive nation. However, with the advent of a democratic South Africa in 1994, the day was renamed Heritage Day to promote a broader and more inclusive celebration of the nation’s diverse cultural heritage.

Celebrations in Various Institutions:

Heritage Day is celebrated in numerous ways throughout South Africa, with schools, families, workplaces, and religious institutions all participating. In schools, students and teachers dress in traditional attire, and activities such as cultural performances, food fairs, and storytelling sessions are organized to educate learners about different cultural backgrounds. Families gather to share traditional meals, pass down stories, and engage in cultural activities. Workplaces often host events that encourage employees to showcase their diverse backgrounds, while churches and other religious institutions use the day as an opportunity to emphasize the importance of tolerance and acceptance.

Promoting Unity and Closing Gaps:

The celebration of Heritage Day has played a vital role in fostering unity and bridging the divides of the past. By appreciating and acknowledging the various cultures and traditions, South Africans learn to respect and accept one another, ultimately creating a more harmonious society. The public holiday serves as a platform to engage in conversations about the nation’s history, allowing for a better understanding of the diverse experiences that have shaped South Africa.

Enforcing the South African Constitution:

Heritage Day also reinforces the principles enshrined in the South African Constitution, which guarantees cultural and linguistic rights to all citizens. By celebrating and embracing the diverse cultures, South Africans put into practice the values of equality, dignity, and freedom as envisioned by the Constitution.

Conclusion:

In this essay, we have explored the history and significance of Heritage Day, its transformation from Shaka Day, and how it is celebrated across various institutions in South Africa. We have also discussed how the celebration of this day fosters unity and enforces the principles of the South African Constitution. Heritage Day serves as a reminder that our differences make us stronger, and that through understanding and embracing our diverse backgrounds, we can build a more inclusive and united South Africa.

More Resources

Below are more previous resources you can download in pdf format:

National Heritage Day in South Africa: What is Heritage Day and Why Do We Celebrate It

Sep 13, 2021 | News , South Africa

First published in September 2019, updated in September 2021.

September is Heritage Month in South Africa, with  National Heritage Day celebrated on 24 September

Each year in early spring, people across the nation get together to eat, drink and be merry, celebrating what makes us all uniquely South African.

Heritage Day was declared a public holiday in 1996 and, since then, the 24th of September has been a day that encourages us to celebrate our cultural traditions, communities and heritage.

In the following post, we discuss South Africa’s Heritage Day; how it began, the connection to braais and how you can celebrate this year.

What is Heritage Day?

Heritage Day is a public holiday celebrated on 24 September in South Africa that recognises and celebrates the cultural diversity of the country. In its essence, the day embraces and celebrates the true meaning of why we call ourselves the Rainbow Nation.

South Africans mark the day by wearing traditional outfits, eating traditional foods, learning about different cultures and spending time with friends and family.

The History of Heritage Day in South Africa

The 24th of September marks ‘Shaka Day’ or ‘Shaka’s Day’, a day which commemorates the legendary King Shaka Zulu. Shaka Zulu played an important role in uniting different Zulu clans into one cohesive Zulu nation in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Each year, thousands of people gather at King Shaka’s grave to pay tribute to him and to honour his memory.

To learn more about the history, life and legend of King Shaka Zulu, the Anglo Zulu war and Zulu culture, book either the:

• KwaZulu-Natal Shakaland Zulu Village Tour
• Half-Day Soweto Tour
• PheZulu Cultural Village Day Tour
• Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift Battlefields Tour
• Robben Island Half-Day Tour

You can also learn more about King Shaka in the book Shaka Zulu: The Biography of the Founder of the Zulu Nation by E.A. Ritter .

When the New South African Parliament omitted Shaka Day from the proposed Public Holidays Bill, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a South African political party with a large Zulu membership, objected.

Eventually, a compromise was reached, and it was decided that a national holiday would be created where South Africans of all cultures and creeds could come together and celebrate their diverse cultural heritage.

In an address marking Heritage Day in 1996, the late former State President Nelson Mandela said, “When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.”

We did so, knowing that the struggles against the injustice and inequities of the past are part of our national identity; they are part of our culture. We knew that, if indeed our nation had to rise like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes of division and conflict, we had to acknowledge those whose selfless efforts and talents were dedicated to this goal of non-racial democracy.

In more recent years, National Heritage Day has become synonymous with National Braai (Barbecue) Day . Some call it Shisa Nyama or Ukosa , while others call it a braai , but whatever the occasion, nothing beats gathering around a wood fire to cook a meal and celebrate together.

Why Do We Braai on Heritage Day?

There is nothing more South African than lighting a fire and cooking a meal, and it’s something that crosses racial, cultural, religious and social boundaries. The National Braai Day in South Africa was developed by Stellenbosch native, Jan Scannell – more commonly known as ‘Jan Braai’ – who quit his job in finance in 2005 to focus on the National Braai Day Initiative.

Just like the Irish have St Patrick’s Day, the French have Bastille Day and Australians have Australia Day, National Braai Day calls on all South Africans to unite around fires and share and celebrate our unique culture and heritage.

In 2007, Archbishop Desmond Tutu became patron of South Africa’s Braai Day, backing the idea that donning an apron to braai a boerewors (farm sausage) could be a unifying force in a country that had been previously divided. The following year, the initiative received the endorsement of South Africa’s National Heritage Council. It couldn’t be a more apt way to bring a rich and culturally diverse nation such as South Africa together in unity, because what good South African doesn’t love a braai?

How You Can Celebrate Heritage Day

There are plenty of opportunities to celebrate South Africa. Here are six ways to enjoy this year’s Heritage Day. 

• Join chef Annie Badenhorst at Benguela Cove Wine Estate in Hermanus for their Heritage Day Braai on 24 September at 12pm. Guests can select either a delicious gourmet braai picnic basket, or share a flavourful braai platter. There will also be live music and great South African vibes.
• Celebrate with the Vrede en Lust Heritage Day Box which includes a selection of wines, traditional spices and condiments. It’s a great box to gift to friends or purchase for your own Heritage Day picnic or braai.
• Cape Town is known for its delectable traditional dishes, so why not learn how to make them. Spend Heritage Day by booking a cooking class to learn some of the local favourites such as koeksisters, braaivleis and gatsby. One of our personal favourites is the Cape Malay style cooking classes offered in the historic area of Bo-Kaap. Some of our favourite cooking classes are from Lekka Kombuis and Ginger and Lime . 
• Visit one of CapeNature’s 22 nature reserves in the Western Cape for free. Visitors to CapeNature can enjoy a free day entry to explore their natural heritage at selected reserve destinations from 13 to 20 September.
• Join a Heritage Day scenic cruise around the Durban Harbour. The cruise includes starters, a photoshoot, complimentary bottle of champagne (2 bottles per table of 10 people) and lunch.
• Discover the magic of Freedom Park in Pretoria with free entry on 24 September 2021. 

How to Celebrate Your Own South African Heritage Day Anywhere in the World

If you’re not in South Africa, you can still celebrate a South African Heritage Day by hosting your own braai (or barbecue).

Here are a few essentials to get your National Braai Day celebration going:

• Charcoal  
• A braai apron
• A complete grill tool set
• The Democratic Republic of Braai by Jan Braai recipe book
• A South African flag for decoration
• Ina Paarman’s Braai & Grill Seasoning to add some flavour to your meat (or vegetables)
• Your preferred selection of meat, vegetables, salads, bread and condiments

Whatever you choose to do to celebrate National Heritage Day, enjoy it with friends and family, wave the South African flag proudly, and remember your heritage and the place it holds in South Africa’s multicultural landscape.

Read about the other important public holidays in South Africa:

• What is Human Rights Day and Why We Celebrate on March 21
• What is Freedom Day in South Africa and Why Do We Celebrate It
• Why We Celebrate Youth Day on 16 June
• Why We Celebrate Women’s Day on August 9th

While not a public holiday, here’s how you can celebrate Mandela Day on 18 July .

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13 Comments

Nice information

Thank you! 🙂

[email protected]

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Letitia thanks for informative and helpful information

What is the name and surname of the person who published all this Information am doing a school project about heritage please reply

Nice to read your blog!

Thanks 😊, now I know about 24 September

Yo u colll bro ur my step bro 😍🤞🏽

This is one of the best posts I have ever came across. Today we celebrate Heritage day “online” as a corporate company and guess what ? I will be using some of YOUR information to share with our special people ! I have learned so much in 7 to 8 of your first sentences ! Brilliant – what a lovely layout and professional, yet super light and great for culture day celebrations! Happy Heritage day and have a wonderful “BRAAI” !!!! … en melktert !

Thank you so much Vicky! We’re delighted that you found the post valuable. Have a lekker Heritage Day! 🙂

Thank you. I’m grateful. My brother’s assignment benefited much from it, and I also picked up some new knowledge.

This is wonderful

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• My 6 favourite things about this Heritage Day weekend - Brat with a Blog - […] Thursday it was Heritage Day in South Africa. Heritage Day is a public holiday, so like many others Mr…
• Celebrate Heritage Day 2020  | Show National Pride This Heritage Day - […] African Travel Compass states that September 24th was originally Shaka Day. A day that commemorated the great Zulu king Shaka…
• 5 Historical sites you can visit this Heritage Day - Entertainment SA - […] Main Image: africantravel […]
• Heritage Month & Day - Leads 2 Business Blog - […] African Travel Canvas SA History National […]
• Braai, friends and pickled kumquats - Kriya Gangiah shares her take on Heritage Day - samachar24live.com - […] पहले ‘शाका दिवस’ कहा जाता था, 24 सितंबर महान राजा शाका ज़ुलु की याद दिलाता है, जो “क्वाज़ुलु-नताल में…

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What is Heritage Day and why its Important in South Africa

Heritage Day is an important South African public holiday which is celebrated on the 24 th of September each year. It is a day on which all South Africans are encouraged to celebrate their culture and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people. As the self-proclaimed ‘Rainbow Nation’, boasting a vibrant cultural diversity, eleven official languages, a rich and intricate history and a variety of traditions, Heritage Day is recognized and celebrated in many different ways in South Africa.

History of Heritage Day

Photo credit: Retlaw Snellac Photography (Flickr)

While many South Africans are aware of Heritage Day, how many know the history behind it, the true reason we celebrate this momentous holiday, and its connection to various cultures and traditions?

Heritage Day was initially known as ‘Shaka Day’ or ‘Shaka’s Day’, a day dedicated to commemorating the legendary King Shaka Zulu on the presumed date of his death in 1828. Shaka Zulu played an important role in uniting different Zulu clans into one cohesive Zulu nation in Kwa-Zulu Natal. To this day, thousands of people gather at the King Shaka Memorial on the 24 th  of September each year to pay tribute to the great Zulu King.

Photo credit: Jay Calvin (Flickr) | Shaka kaSenzangakhona (1780s -1828) Bronze Statue – ‘Long March to Freedom’ Monument

When the bill presented to the new post-Apartheid Parliament of South Africa in 1996 omitted Shaka Day from the proposed Public Holidays Bill, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a South African political party with a large Zulu membership, strongly objected to the bill. Eventually, a compromise was reached between the Parliament and the ANC (African National Congress), and it was decided that a national holiday would be created where South Africans of all cultures and creeds could come together and celebrate their diverse cultural heritage – Giving rise to Heritage Day!

“When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.”

– Late former President Nelson Mandela in an address marking Heritage Day in 1996

In recent years, Heritage Day has further evolved and become synonymous with National Braai Day. Some call it Shisa Nyama or Ukosa, while others call it a braai. Regardless of what term you use, the intention remains the same – Gathering around a fire, enjoying good food, good company and celebrating your culture and heritage with friends, family, and the ones you love.

Why is Heritage Day Important in South Africa

South Africa ranks among the 10 most culturally diverse countries in the world. A county’s relative diversity is determined based on several factors and high-level considerations, including: Level of ethnic diversity; Number of immigrants; Number of spoken languages; Number of religious beliefs; Number of political parties; Level of religious freedom; LGBT rights and freedom; and Level of personal liberty. Each of these categories are further divided into sub-categories, to ultimately determine the level of cultural diversity in any given country.

In addition to being one of the most culturally diverse countries, the population of South Africa is one of the most complex and diverse in the world. It is because of this intricate and vast diversity that Heritage Day is so important in South Africa and should be celebrated by all its people. National Heritage Day is dedicated to recognizing the cultural wealth of our nation in its entirety. By acknowledging, embracing, and celebrating our various cultures, traditions, and heritage against the background of our unique diversity, we build pride in ourselves, our fellow South Africans, and our nation as we remember the difficulties and hardships of the past, share in the victories of the present, and raise hope for the future.

One of the most important aspects of Heritage Day is the fact that it exposes us as South Africans to different people, cultures, traditions, beliefs, and religions we may never have been exposed to or encountered otherwise. It encourages us to step outside of our own ‘cultural bubble’, and urges us to learn, grow, explore, and experience the vibrant and diverse range of cultures that exists within our glorious rainbow nation. And, in turn, allow us to understand, appreciate, recognize, and respect each culture and everything it embodies.

At the end of the day, we are ALL South Africans, and our ability to grow and learn from each other is not only endless, but a gift. This will further allow us to grow as individuals and contribute to a more unified South Africa.

Heritage Day therefore provides a great opportunity for all South Africans to put their differences in politics, perspectives, and opinions aside, to unite and come together in a single shared purpose and objective – To celebrate South Africa’s profound history and heritage TOGETHER AS ONE NATION!

Living Heritage

Another important aspect of South Africa’s heritage that should not be forgotten is living heritage. In essence, living heritage is the foundation of all communities and an essential source of identity and continuity. The various aspects of living heritage include: Cultural tradition; rituals; oral history; popular memory; performance; indigenous knowledge systems; techniques and skills; and the holistic approach to nature, society, and social relationships. In South Africa, the term ‘living heritage’ is used interchangeably with the term ‘intangible cultural heritage’.

Why is living heritage important and what role does it play? Living heritage plays a vital role in promoting cultural diversity, reconciliation, social cohesion, economic development, and peace. In every South African community, there are living human treasures who possess a high degree of knowledge, skills and history pertaining to different aspects of diverse living heritage. It is important for South Africans to reclaim, restore and preserve these various aspects of living heritage in order to promote and accelerate its use in addressing the various challenges communities are facing today.

South African Cultures

South Africa is the Rainbow Nation, a title that captures the country’s cultural and ethnic diversity. As mentioned, the population of South Africa is one of the most complex and diverse in the world.

South Africa’s black population is divided into four major ethnic groups; namely Nguni (Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, and Swazi), Sotho, Shangaan-Tsonga, and Venda. There are numerous subgroups within these main ethnic groups of which the Zulu and Xhosa (two subgroups of the Nguni group) are the largest.

The majority of South Africa’s white population (about 60%) is of Afrikaans descent, with many of the remaining 40% being of British or European descent. South Africa’s coloured population have a mixed lineage, which often comprises the indigenous Khoisan genes combined with African slaves that were brought here from all over the continent, and white settlers.

Languages in South Africa

South Africa has eleven official languages:

• English (9.6%)
• Afrikaans (13.5%)
• Ndebele (2.1%)
• Sepedi (9.1%)
• Xhosa (16%)
• Venda (2.4%)
• Tswana (8%)
• Southern Sotho (7.6%)
• Zulu (22.7%)
• Swazi or SiSwati (2.5%)
• Tsonga (4.5%)

In addition to its eleven official languages, many other languages from all over the world are frequently spoken in South Africa, some of which include:  Portuguese, Greek, Italian, French, Chinese etc.

Heritage Day is one of the most important National Holidays in South Africa. It is vital to both the nation as a whole and its people that it continues to be recognized, commemorated, and celebrated.

Despite the many differences that exist amongst the various South African cultures, South Africa’s strong sense of unity around longstanding traditions has always remained integral. When needed, our rainbow nation always comes together as a force to be reckoned with.

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Why heritage should be used to interpret the past and forge the future

Professor of Anthropology and Executive Dean of Arts , Nelson Mandela University

Disclosure statement

Rosabelle Boswell receives funding from the National Research Foundation.

Nelson Mandela University provides funding as a partner of The Conversation AFRICA.

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Foundation essay: This is a longer than usual article that takes a wider look at a key issue affecting society.

September is heritage month in South Africa. However, not many people may know that heritage and Heritage Day are much more than another chance for a barbeque, known locally as a braai.

In the past few years, many South Africans have come to associate Heritage Day with a good opportunity to do just that. On this day, some South Africans eat boerewors (homemade flavoured sausage) and drink beer. After all, Heritage Day is unofficially classified by some as ‘National Braai Day’. But heritage is much more than boerewors and beer. It is big business worldwide and has become part of a global toolkit for interpreting the past and forging the future.

A global phenomenon

In the past 50 years, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Council has inscribed more than 900 sites on its World Heritage List . Tourists from across the globe flock to these sites, earning major income for the nations concerned. A Global Heritage Fund study showed that 500 global heritage sites in the developing world are expected to generate over US $100 billion a year by 2025.

Authors on heritage are also prolific, as the literature is vast. Global conferences on heritage and tourism host thousands of anthropologists, tourism specialists, historians, archaeologists and development professionals. The experts debate the meaning of heritage, its commoditisation in the contemporary world, the impact of globalisation on culture, the loss of important monuments and artefacts through war, terrorism and colonisation. The presenters also debate the role of heritage in national political discourse, especially in emergent discourses in post-colonial states.

Sceptics among them argue that heritage has become that warm fuzzy blanket we use to nostalgically reflect on and evoke the past. We may look wistfully at statues of fallen war heroes and remember their contribution to peace, freedom and democracy, consolidating their place in history and collective memory. Heritage is also accused of inducing amnesia, encouraging a remembrance of certain things and a forgetting of others.

Authors argue that this is especially relevant in nations where the legacy of colonialism is still evident, where the political marginalisation or ‘othering’ of groups has led to the associated marginalisation of their heritage. Thus heritage management is rarely a neutral interpretation of the past.

Symbols for the powerful, or for the people

In recent decades then, and certainly in global society, it has become abundantly clear that heritage is not merely a legacy or a gift that we pass from one generation to the next. It can become the symbolic capital of the powerful, their way for reproducing hegemony in the world. The latter is especially relevant when one takes a closer look at the World Heritage List, which indicates that many of the world heritages are situated in the global north.

The majority of tangible heritages identified on the World Heritage List are in North America and Europe. African heritages, many of which are intangible, are few on this list. One might surmise that a list prepared by a multinational organisation is not important, but as the Global Heritage Fund study shows , world heritage is a source of significant revenue. More important than revenue, heritage sites serve as important spaces and places for restorative justice, healing and pride.

The restoration of heritage can offer new narratives of the nation. The stories can also offer a space for democratisation, for the inclusion of women’s contributions to culture and identity. An uncritical ‘use’ of heritage, however, can also be detrimental and encourage what some have called a ‘cultural mosaic’ view of the world, separated and marked by difference.

In 2003, Unesco ratified its Convention for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage . This was a welcome addition to its various, detailed conventions regarding the protection of cultural and natural heritages. But Unesco cannot enforce the protection and safeguarding of heritage. At least, there was not a case of it doing so, until very recently, when it condemned the Islamic State’s bombing of the Bel Temple in Palmyra as a war crime .

This critical decision on the part of the world body raises important questions that can be posed but not answered here. How do we decide what should be safeguarded? Can and should heritages last for all time? What kind of war crimes should we be foregrounding and focusing on?

Where heritage is woven into everyday life

Anthropological research in the southwest Indian Ocean shows that heritage is regional, dynamic, creolised and deeply intangible. The reason for its intangibility is that African slaves and Indian indentured labourers, as well as the islands’ many immigrant communities, could not bring all of their tangible artefacts with them. In most instances, those of African and Indian descent were denigrated and denied their cultural identity.

The heritages which these populations hold, however, now find expression in everyday actions and places. From the honouring of ancestors to the composition of music (in the Sega of Mauritius for example) and the attention to oralature, the creolised people of the islands occupy a rich and culturally dynamic social world. On the magical island of Zanzibar, for instance, identities and heritages are imbued with scent.

The use of ylang-ylang, patchouli and vanilla infuse cultural rituals and mark off cultural boundaries. Scent is used to ward off evil and illness and aroma used to attract romance and health. History is described in scented terms, a time of glorious fragrant harmony and the displeasure and stink of present corruption.

In Madagascar, ancestral veneration is still significant and is replete with a range of cultural practices which find unique expression in different parts of the island. Heritage is evident in wood carving, a unique maritime ethos (in the sand drawing of the Vezo in the south of the island), in food and in hair styling. There are, for instance, the ‘braids of love’ (which for women symbolises one’s desire to find a true and lasting love) or braids signifying that one has recently become a mother.

Celebrating the present rather than the past

To return to the incredibly culturally rich continent of Africa and South Africa in particular, one finds an equally rich set of heritages. This is evident in the country’s 11 official languages, the dress of its indigenous peoples, the cultural rituals they share and in the music they compose and sing. Heritage is also evident in the philosophy of Ubuntu , in the political heritage of liberation and in the multifarious contributions of the nations’ diverse immigrant and settler populations. Ubuntu concerns the collective idealised behaviour and practice, produced by communities over a long period of time.

National Braai Day is, as one anthropology colleague once argued, a way to achieve a universal, apolitical symbol of national unification. However and in view of the ongoing Rhodes Must Fall movement , in which there is the removal and ‘defacing’ of colonial monuments across the country as part of efforts to reclaim the present by effacing the past, one finds that there is little focus on the existing bio and cultural diversity of South Africa and a true celebration of these things in all their complexity.

The braai, delicious as it is, is not exactly post-apartheid or un-gendered food. Some might say that it enacts a nostalgic image of (male, settler) farmers gathered around a fire, drinking their home brew and eating homemade sausages in the veld . It is almost a return in the urban ‘jungle’, to an authentic or imagined past. Perhaps contemporary, post-apartheid South Africa should not lose itself in the boerewors and the braai.

Nevertheless, we should be careful not to throw the boerewors out with the braai, as no two boerewors are the same and the braai is different across South Africa, as each person or ‘community’ brings its own flavour to the feast.

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Essay on World Heritage Day

Students are often asked to write an essay on World Heritage Day in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on World Heritage Day

Introduction.

World Heritage Day, celebrated on 18th April every year, is a day to honor and preserve the rich heritage that defines us as human beings.

Significance

This day serves as a reminder of how our past has shaped our present. It emphasizes the importance of safeguarding diverse cultural and natural heritages around the world.

Celebration

People celebrate by visiting historical monuments and sites. Schools organize exhibitions and workshops to educate students about the significance of heritage.

World Heritage Day is a call to preserve our rich heritage for future generations, reminding us that our past is the foundation for our future.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on World Heritage Day
• Paragraph on World Heritage Day
• Speech on World Heritage Day

250 Words Essay on World Heritage Day

World Heritage Day, celebrated on 18th April every year, is a global observance that underscores the collective responsibility of the international community to preserve and respect cultural and natural heritage. This day is an opportunity to raise public awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts required to protect and conserve it.

The Importance of World Heritage Day

World Heritage Day is not just about celebrating the world’s monuments and sites, but it also emphasizes the importance of safeguarding our shared heritage for future generations. It provides a platform for us to reflect on the significance of these sites, their intrinsic value, and the challenges they face, such as climate change, urbanization, and armed conflict.

Global Cooperation

The celebration of World Heritage Day promotes international cooperation. It is a reminder that protecting and preserving these sites requires global efforts. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) plays a crucial role in this, identifying and cataloging sites of outstanding universal value that deserve our protection and preservation.

Role of Individuals

World Heritage Day also emphasizes the role of individuals. Each person can contribute to the preservation and conservation of these sites, whether by raising awareness, volunteering, or supporting policies that protect these sites.

World Heritage Day is a call to action for all of us. It reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect and preserve our world’s cultural and natural heritage, not just for ourselves, but for future generations. It is an opportunity to celebrate our shared heritage, while also acknowledging the ongoing challenges and the need for collective action.

500 Words Essay on World Heritage Day

Introduction: the significance of world heritage day.

World Heritage Day, celebrated annually on April 18th, is a testament to humanity’s rich cultural and natural heritage. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the diversity of our world’s heritage, its vulnerability, and the efforts required for its protection and conservation.

The Genesis of World Heritage Day

World Heritage Day, also known as International Day for Monuments and Sites, was proposed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) on 18th April 1982 and approved by UNESCO in 1983. The day is a response to the global call for a collective effort to preserve the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

The Importance of World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Sites, as recognized by UNESCO, are places of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity. They are irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration, symbolizing a legacy from the past, a reflection of our present, and a bridge to our future. These sites range from ancient ruins, historical structures, to natural landscapes, each providing unique insights into civilizations and ecosystems that have shaped our world.

World Heritage Day: A Global Celebration

World Heritage Day is not just a day of celebration, but also a day of responsibility. It provides an opportunity to raise public awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts required to protect and conserve it. Communities around the world engage in various activities such as exhibitions, heritage walks, seminars, and public speeches. These activities aim to foster a dialogue about the preservation of our shared heritage and its sustainable management.

The Role of Technology in Heritage Conservation

In the digital age, technology plays a pivotal role in heritage conservation. Advanced tools like 3D scanning and digital mapping enable accurate documentation of heritage sites, while AI and machine learning can predict and mitigate potential threats. Social media platforms facilitate global awareness, engaging a wider audience in heritage conservation efforts.

Challenges and the Way Forward

Despite the concerted efforts, heritage sites worldwide face numerous threats, including urbanization, natural disasters, climate change, and conflict. The key to overcoming these challenges lies in international cooperation, sustainable management, and inclusive policies that respect local communities’ rights and interests.

Education plays a crucial role in this endeavor. By incorporating heritage education in academic curricula, we can instill in future generations the value of our shared heritage and the importance of its preservation.

Conclusion: Our Shared Responsibility

World Heritage Day reminds us of our shared responsibility towards our past and our duty to pass it on to future generations. It is an invitation to celebrate our shared heritage, understand its significance, and commit to its preservation. As we celebrate World Heritage Day, let us pledge to safeguard our shared heritage, for it is in these testaments of the past that we find the roots of our present and the seeds of our future.

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How Does Heritage Day Bring Unity and Close the Gaps of the Past in South Africa? Essay

How Does Heritage Day Bring Unity and Close the Gaps of the Past in South Africa? – Essay

The celebration of heritage brings unity by fostering a shared sense of identity and pride among people. It connects individuals to their roots and helps bridge the gap between diverse cultures by showcasing their unique histories, traditions, and values. Through these celebrations, people develop a collective understanding and appreciation of their common origins and the diverse paths that have shaped their community.

Here’s how the celebration of heritage contributes to unity:

• Cultural Awareness: Increases understanding and respect for different customs and practices, reducing prejudices and promoting acceptance.
• Preservation of Traditions: Encourages the preservation of cultural practices and languages, which might otherwise be lost, strengthening community bonds.
• Educational Opportunities: Provides educational experiences for younger generations, teaching them about their history and the importance of diversity.
• Community Engagement: Brings people together through events and festivals, which facilitates dialogue and builds relationships among community members.
• Economic Benefits: Often, heritage celebrations can boost local economies through tourism and local crafts, which creates shared economic prosperity and fosters a sense of common purpose.

By valuing and celebrating heritage, communities can enhance their cohesion and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all their members.

Table of Contents

In South Africa, Heritage Day , celebrated on the 24th of September , is a profound national holiday that recognises and celebrates the cultural wealth of the nation . It’s a day that reflects the country’s complex history, marked by apartheid, colonialism, and the struggle for freedom , and how its diverse cultures contribute to the nation’s identity. This essay delves into how Heritage Day in South Africa fosters unity and addresses historical divisions.

In a nutshell, Heritage Day brings unity and closes the gaps of the past in South Africa through:

• Celebrating Cultural Diversity : By showcasing the rich tapestry of cultures within the nation, Heritage Day encourages mutual respect and appreciation among different communities, fostering a sense of belonging and unity.
• Remembering Shared Histories : The day serves as a reminder of South Africa’s complex history, including the struggles against apartheid and colonialism, helping to build a shared national identity based on collective memories and experiences.
• Promoting Social Cohesion : Through various nationwide activities and events, such as communal braais (barbecues) and cultural exhibitions, Heritage Day provides opportunities for South Africans to come together, bridging social and cultural divides.
• Educational Impact : Heritage Day plays a crucial role in educating the younger generation about the country’s history and the importance of diversity, democracy, and unity, ensuring that the lessons of the past are remembered and valued.
• Acknowledging and Honoring the Struggle for Freedom : The day pays tribute to the heroes of the liberation struggle, acknowledging their sacrifices and inspiring a sense of pride and unity among all South Africans in the face of their common history of resistance and resilience.

Honouring Diverse Cultural Heritage to Foster Unity

Heritage Day in South Africa is a vibrant celebration of the rich tapestry of cultures that make up the nation’s identity. From the Zulu to the Xhosa, the Afrikaners to the Coloureds, and the Indian community, each group has its unique traditions and histories that are celebrated on this day.

• Promotion of Cultural Understanding : By showcasing the diverse cultural practices and histories of South Africa’s various ethnic groups, Heritage Day encourages understanding and appreciation among these communities. This mutual respect is fundamental to building a unified national identity.
• Breaking Down Historical Barriers : The day provides an opportunity for South Africans to reflect on their shared history of oppression and resistance. It acts as a bridge, connecting people through their collective memory of the struggle for freedom and equality, thereby helping to heal the divisions of the past.

Commemorating the Struggle for Freedom to Close Historical Gaps

Heritage Day is not just a celebration of cultural diversity but also a day to remember the long and arduous struggle against apartheid. This aspect of the holiday plays a critical role in closing the gaps left by South Africa’s troubled past.

• Recognition of Shared Struggles : The day pays homage to the heroes of the liberation struggle, acknowledging their sacrifices for freedom and democracy. This recognition helps to close the historical gaps by reminding all South Africans of their common fight against oppression.
• Educational Impact : Heritage Day serves as an educational tool that fosters a deeper understanding among the younger generation of South Africa’s history. Through events and narratives shared on this day, young people learn about the injustices of the past and the importance of unity and democracy, ensuring that the lessons of history are not forgotten.

Encouraging National Unity Through Celebration

The celebration of Heritage Day in South Africa is a powerful expression of national unity. Through its emphasis on diversity and shared history, the day plays a vital role in knitting the fabric of the South African nation more tightly together.

• Cultural Festivals and Events : Across the country, South Africans engage in a variety of activities, from braais (barbecues) which transcend cultural boundaries, to cultural exhibitions, dances, and music performances. These events serve as gatherings that bring people from different backgrounds together, promoting social cohesion and national unity.
• The Role of “Braai Day” : The informal nickname for Heritage Day, “ Braai Day ,” emphasizes the idea that sharing a meal is a universal way to connect people. This aspect of the celebration is a fun and inclusive way to encourage unity across cultural divides, symbolizing the nation’s diversity and the common ground found in celebrating together.

Heritage Day in South Africa plays a crucial role in promoting unity and bridging the historical gaps that have long divided the nation. By honouring the diverse cultural heritage of its people and commemorating the struggle for freedom, the day reinforces the values of mutual respect, understanding, and a shared national identity. In celebrating Heritage Day, South Africans reaffirm their commitment to overcoming the challenges of the past and building a united and prosperous nation for future generations.

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Heritage Day

24 September

Heritage Day on 24 September recognises and celebrates the cultural wealth of our nation. South Africans celebrate the day by remembering the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa. Various events are staged throughout the country to commemorate this day.

The Department of Arts and Culture in partnership with the Eastern Cape Provincial Government will host the 2013 National Heritage Day celebration under the theme, Reclaiming, Restoring and Celebrating Our Living Heritage. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will address the National Heritage Day celebrations at Mdantsane, in the Buffalo Metropolitan Municipality, Eastern Cape.

Living heritage is the foundation of all communities and an essential source of identity and continuity. Aspects of living heritage include: cultural tradition, oral history, performance, ritual, popular memory, skills and techniques, indigenous knowledge system and the holistic approach to nature, society and social relationships. In South Africa the term “intangible cultural heritage” is used interchangeably with the term “living heritage”.

Living heritage plays an important role in promoting cultural diversity, social cohesion, reconciliation, peace and economic development. In every community there are living human treasures who possess a high degree of knowledge, skills and history pertaining to different aspects of diverse living heritage. It is therefore important for South Africans to reclaim, restore and preserve these various aspects of living heritage to accelerate the use of living heritage to address challenges communities are facing today.

The Department of Arts and Culture developed a draft policy on the South African living heritage. This policy, once adopted, will set the tone for the South African Agenda and highlight the following roles: safeguarding living heritage as a valuable resource for future generations and

Heritage Day is a public holiday .

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Why Reflect on Heritage?

Oct 06, 2020 | by saranne durham.

Heritage Day is a day of reflection. A time when South African ’s look on their shared past. We celebrate the diversity and traditions that underpin our nation.

If remembering our country’s heritage is important – what about an individual’s heritage? Do our own stories matter? Do they impact our future? Or is the telling of an individual’s story a mere lamenting or celebrating of a memory and nothing more?

“Our own stories help shape our future selves.”

Psychologists, within a burgeoning field of psychology known as Narrative Psychology, say that in the same way that the many and varied tales of our country’s triumphs and travails shape the prospects we hold for its future, so our personal heritage – the story we tell of our individual past – shapes the person we become in the future.

Making Sense of Life

According to Jonathan Adler, an assistant professor of psychology at Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts, “Life is incredibly complex, there are lots of things going on in our environment and in our lives at all times. And in order to hold onto our experience, we need to make meaning out of it. The way we do that is by structuring our lives into stories”. It is therefore not surprising that the default mode of human cognition and communication is a narrative, storytelling, one.

It’s important to remember that any narrative creation, historical or autobiographical, contains biases, opinions and even untruths. The reality is personal differences and emotions lead people to see the same event in different ways. What really matters is whether people are making something meaningful and coherent out of what happened. It’s not so much about the truth in the legal sense.

“The complexities of life are easier to understand through storytelling.”

Dr Dan McAdams, a psychology professor at North Western University in Illinois, has spent the past decade studying stories. He takes the view of structuring life into stories, to better understand the complexities of life, a step further. McAdams surmises that “Life stories do not simply reflect personality. They are personality, or more accurately, they are important parts of personality , along with other parts, like dispositional traits, goals, and values”.

The Impact of Your Story

“For better or worse, stories are a very powerful source of self-persuasion, and they are highly internally consistent,” says Dr John Holmes, a psychology professor at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Thus, the stories we tell about ourselves have a strong sway over our future.

In studies conducted by McAdams and colleagues, it was found that people whose personal stories featured a redemptive thread, where good prevails over misfortune, were found to score higher on the Generativity Scale. This tool measures the desire to promote the wellbeing of future generations and make the world a better place. They also tended to be happier people .

“How you tell your personal story could determine your life trajectory.”

Essentially, how we tell our personal stories could determine our trajectory in life. The more positive you are in how you tell your story, the more likely you are to be happy overall. Furthermore, it has also been shown that negative self-talk has an all-around health impact. It can even determine how one is able to deal with stress. Researchers reason that the health benefits of having a positive life perception could impact:

• the span of your life.
• how resistant you are to illnesses such as the common cold.
• your psychological wellbeing.
• cardiovascular health.

Bridging Gaps through Reflection

By reflecting on our own heritage and cultural background then sharing it with others with a different heritage, we create the opportunity to find common ground.

No one is an island. Our own life stories are contextualised within a community setting, communities in turn make up the building blocks of the country we live in. Because how we tell our own narrative will determine how we feel about ourselves, it will also impact the way in which we engage with our community and its heritage. Understanding your own communities’ heritage and celebrating it enables better connections moreover creating stronger unity within a community.  Whether our community thrives or battles can determine the overall bigger picture of a country.

The stories we tell ourselves, and the power those stories have, is one of the core facets of the study of psychology . If this interests you, consider studying a psychology course at SACAP. You can use it as a springboard for pursuing a career in psychology , or apply the skills you learn in any number of other career paths. For more information, enquire now .

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Heritage Day reflections

We recently celebrated Heritage Day in our beloved South Africa. This led me to reflect on the heritage we have as a country with its diverse people and eleven official languages, which are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, Sepedi, Sesotho, siSwati, Xitsonga, Setswana), Tshivenda, isiXhosa and isiZulu. Language is part of our heritage and is linked to our identity. Sadly, for the Khoi and San people, South Africa’s first inhabitants do not have their languages recognised as official.

As a person of mixed race I struggled with my identity through childhood and my first few years at high school. This is a common challenge for many mixed race people in our country. During my high school years, I began to read the Bible more intensely and discovered my true identity in its pages – right from Genesis through to Revelation. In Genesis we discover Adam and Eve as the mother and father of all humankind. We also discover that we were made in God’s image. We learn in Ephesians 1:5 that “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” This discovery was life changing and brought about a freedom and acceptance of myself even though I do not know the full story of my biological heritage.

 “…and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands” Revelation 7:9. So, turn to the Bible with renewed curiosity to discover your true identity and family heritage for yourself.

Rainbow dream

Heritage Day also made me ask the question, “Is the dream of a true rainbow nation still possible?” Following the recent unrest and violence which took place in our country, particularly the murders in Phoenix, and with the narrative in the media of racism, and many conversations taking place referencing the 1949 riots, you begin to wonder if there is hope for our rainbow nation.

Last week I was privileged to be a part of a two-day Bridge Leadership Engagement with church leaders from the PINKU Region (Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma, Kwa Mashu, Umhlanga/Durban North. I watched this group of ministers representing all the racial diversity in our country, connecting at a deeper level through the sharing of their stories. Watching them working together, identifying the problems in their communities and a commitment to finding solutions to build their communities and our beloved country. Part of our godly heritage is love and reconciliation which was exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ. Let us be practitioners of love and reconciliation because of Christ.

God put the first rainbow in the sky as a beacon of hope for Noah. This gives me a reason to hope that the dream of a rainbow nation is still alive!

Craig Bouchier

Craig is a Heartlines' regional representative who has worked in  in different ministry roles for many years. Read more about Craig and his journey from playing soccer for AmaZulu FC, to climbing the corporate ladder and taking up his calling into ministry.

Beyond The River star Lemogang Tsipa keeps rising

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Heritage in contemporary grade 10 South African history textbooks: A case study

2012, Masters Dissertation in History Education

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This conceptual paper is based on experiences and insights which have emerged from my quest to develop a conceptual framework for working with the term 'heritage' within an education for sustainable development study that I am currently conducting. Of specific interest to me, and having potential to improve the relevance and quality of heritage education in southern Africa, given the region's inherent cultural diversity and colonial history, is the need for 'heritage construct inclusivity' within the processes constituting heritage education practices. Working around this broad research goal, I therefore needed to be clear about what I mean or refer to as heritage. I realised, however, how elusive and conceptually problematic the term 'heritage' is. I therefore, drawing from literature and experiences gained during field observations and focus group interviews, came up with the idea of working with three viewpoints of heritage. Drawing on real life cases ...

Alta Engelbrecht

This article focuses on the analysis of three textbooks that are based on the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), a revised curriculum from the National Curriculum Statement which was implemented in 2008. The article uses one element of a historical thinking framework, the analysis of primary sources, to evaluate the textbooks. In the analysis of primary sources the three heuristics distilled by Wineburg (2001) such as sourcing, corroborating and contextualizing are used to evaluate the utilisation of the primary sources in the three textbooks. According to the findings of this article, the writing of the three textbooks is still framed in an outdated mode of textbooks' writing in a dominant narrative style, influenced by Ranke's scientific paradigm or realism. The three textbooks have many primary sources that are poorly contextualized and which inhibit the implementation of sourcing, corroborating and contextualizing heuristics. Although, some primary sources are contextualized, source-based questions are not reflecting most of the elements of sourcing, corroborating and contextualizing heuristics. Instead, they are mostly focused on the information on the source which is influenced by the authors' conventional epistemological beliefs about school history as a compendium of facts. This poor contextualization of sources impacted negatively on the analysis of primary sources by learners as part and parcel of " doing history " in the classroom.

abram mothiba

School history textbooks are seen to embody ideological messages about whose history is important, as they aim both to develop an 'ideal' citizen and teach the subject of history. Since the 1940s, when the first study was done, there have been studies of South African history textbooks that have analysed different aspects of textbooks. These studies often happen at a time of political change (for example, after South Africa became a republic in 1961 or post-apartheid) which often coincides with a time of curriculum change. This article provides an overview of all the studies of South African history textbooks since the 1940s. We compiled a data base of all studies conducted on history textbooks, including post graduate dissertations, published journal articles, books and book chapters. This article firstly provides a broad overview of all the peer-reviewed studies, noting in particular how the number of studies has increased since 2000. The second section then engages in a more detailed analysis of the studies that did content analysis of textbooks. We compare how each study has engaged with the following issues: the object of study, the methodological approach, the sample of textbooks and the theoretical or philosophical orientation. The aim is to provide a broad picture of the state of textbook analysis studies over the past 75 years, and to build up a database of these studies so as to provide an overview of the nature of history textbook research in South Africa.

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What is heritage?

Heritage is a deceptively simple idea. It can be considered to be made up of the practices and traditions that are passed on from parents to children, but it also has to do with what has been passed on from the family, community and place where people have been raised. For example, heritage can include a family's professional history; religious affiliation; or cultural traditions.  Yet heritage also includes that which is part of the national consciousness. A person who was born in South Africa, for instance, has both a national South African heritage, as well as a more personal and private one. Such a person might also be considered to have an African heritage too, because they were born on the continent of Africa. 

Clearly then, there are different types of heritage. A country’s natural heritage is its beautiful environment and natural resources, like gold and water. Areas that are very special and where animals or plants are in danger of extinction like the St. Lucia Wetlands and uKhahlamba Drakensberg Parks in KwaZulu Natal are said to be World Heritage Sites, because they are considered to be so unique that they are internationally respected and protected against harm.

Cultural heritage might include natural resources or land formations, but is also formed of those things that are symbollic of the creativity and livelihoods of a group of people. For instance, it could include special monuments, buildings, sculptures, paintings, cave dwellings or anything else deemed important because of its history, artistic or scientific value. The style of buildings can also be considered part of one's cultural heritage because of their specific type of architecture, where they are built or what they are used for. Therefore, Robben Island, the Cradle of Humankind at the caves of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai in Gauteng, the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and the ancient city of Mapungubwe in Limpopo are all examples of South African cultural heritage.

When people talk about South African heritage, they might be referring to anything from famous stretches of coastline in Kwazulu-Natal , to shweshwe fabric, to Bunny Chow. Heritage is therefore something quite personal and changes from person to person.  

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Transcript: Read Biden’s Remarks at a Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony

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By The New York Times

• May 7, 2024

President Biden delivered these remarks on Tuesday at the Capitol for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Days of Remembrance.

Thank you, Stu, for that introduction, for your leadership of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. You’re a true scholar and statesman and a dear friend. Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, members of Congress and especially the survivors of the Holocaust. If my mother were here, she’d look at you and say, “God love you all. God love you all.”

Abe Foxman and all of the survivors who embody absolute courage and dignity and grace are here as well. During these sacred days of remembrance, we grieve. We give voice to the six million Jews who were systematically targeted and murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II. We honor the memory of victims, the pain of survivors, the bravery of heroes who stood up to Hitler’s unspeakable evil. And we recommit to heading and heeding the lessons of one of the darkest chapters in human history, to revitalize and realize the responsibility of never again.

Never again, simply translated for me, means never forget. Never forget. Never forgetting means we must keep telling the story, must keep teaching the truth, must keep teaching our children and our grandchildren. The truth is, we are at risk of people not knowing the truth. That’s why growing up, my dad taught me and my siblings about the horrors of the Shoah at our family dinner table. That’s why I visited Yad Vashem with my family as a senator, as vice president, as president. And that’s why I took my grandchildren to Dachau, so they could see and bear witness to the perils of indifference, the complicity of silence, in the face of evil they knew was happening.

Germany 1933, Hitler and his Nazi Party’s rise to power by rekindling one of the oldest forms of prejudice and hate: antisemitism. His role didn’t begin with mass murder; it started slowly across economic, political, social and cultural life. Propaganda demonizing Jews. Boycotts of Jewish businesses. Synagogues defaced with swastikas. Harassment of Jews in the street and the schools, antisemitic demonstrations, pogroms, organized riots. With the indifference of the world, Hitler knew he could expand his reign of terror by eliminating Jews from Germany, to annihilate Jews across Europe through genocide, the Nazis called the final solution. Concentration camps, gas chambers, mass shootings. By the time the war ended, six million Jews — one of every three Jews in the entire world — were murdered.

This ancient hatred of Jews didn’t begin with the Holocaust. It didn’t end with the Holocaust either. Or after — even after our victory in World War II. This hatred continues to lie deep in the hearts of too many people in the world and requires our continued vigilance and outspokenness. That hatred was brought to life on October 7th of 2023. On the sacred Jewish holiday, the terrorist group Hamas unleashed the deadliest day of the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Driven by ancient desire to wipe out the Jewish people off the face of the Earth, over 1,200 innocent people, babies, parents, grandparents, slaughtered in a kibbutz, massacred at a music festival, brutally raped, mutilated and sexually assaulted.

Thousands more carrying wounds, bullets and shrapnel from a memory of that terrible day they endured. Hundreds taken hostage, including survivors of the Shoah. Now here we are, not 75 years later, but just seven and half months later and people are already forgetting. They are already forgetting. That Hamas unleashed this terror. It was Hamas that brutalized Israelis. It was Hamas who took and continues to hold hostages. I have not forgotten nor have you. And we will not forget.

As Jews around the world still cope with the atrocity and the trauma of that day and its aftermath, we have seen a ferocious surge of antisemitism in America and around the world. Vicious propaganda on social media. Jews forced to keep their — hide their kippahs under baseball hats, tuck their Jewish stars into their shirts. On college campuses, Jewish students blocked, harassed, attacked while walking to class. Antisemitism, antisemitic posters, slogans, calling for the annihilation of Israel, the world’s only Jewish state.

Too many people denying, downplaying, rationalizing, ignoring the horrors of the Holocaust and October 7th, including Hamas’s appalling use of sexual violence to torture and terrorize Jews. It’s absolutely despicable, and it must stop. Silence and denial can hide much, but it can erase nothing. Some injustices are so heinous, so horrific, so grievous, they cannot be married — buried — no matter how hard people try.

In my view, a major lesson of the Holocaust is, as mentioned earlier, it is not — was not — inevitable. We know hate never goes away; it only hides. Given a little oxygen, it comes out from under the rocks. We also know what stops hate. One thing: All of us. The late Rabbi Jonathan Sachs described antisemitism as a virus that has survived and mutated over time. Together, we cannot continue to let that happen. We have to remember our basic principle as a nation.

We have an obligation, an obligation to learn the lessons of history so we don’t surrender our future to the horrors of the past. We must give hate no safe harbor against anyone. Anyone. From the very founding, our very founding, Jewish Americans represented only about 2 percent of the U.S. population and helped lead the cause of freedom for everyone in our nation. From that experience, we know scapegoating and demonizing any minority is a threat to every minority and the very foundation of our democracy.

It’s in moments like this we have to put these principles that we’re talking about into action. I understand people have strong beliefs and deep convictions about the world. In America, we respect and protect the fundamental right to free speech. To debate, disagree, to protest peacefully, make our voices heard. I understand, that’s America. But there is no place on any campus in America — any place in America — for antisemitism or hate speech or threats of violence of any kind. Whether against Jews or anyone else. Violent attacks, destroying property is not peaceful protest. It’s against the law. And we are not a lawless country. We’re a civil society. We uphold the rule of law, and no one should have to hide or be brave just to be themselves.

The Jewish community, I want you to know: I see your fear, your hurt, your pain. Let me reassure you, as your president, you’re not alone. You belong. You always have and you always will. And my commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, security of Israel, and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state is ironclad even when we disagree.

My administration is working around the clock to free remaining hostages. Just so we have freed hostages already. And we will not rest until we bring them all home. My administration, with our second gentleman’s leadership, has launched our nation’s first national strategy to counter antisemitism that’s mobilizing the full force of the federal government to protect Jewish community, but we know it’s not the work of government alone or Jews alone.

That’s why I’m calling on all Americans to stand united against antisemitism and hate in all its forms. My dear friend, he became a friend, the late Elie Wiesel said, quote: “One person of integrity can make a difference.” We have to remember that now more than ever. Here in the Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol, among the towering statues of history, is a bronze bust of Raoul Wallenberg. Born in Sweden, as a Lutheran, he was a businessman and a diplomat. While stationed in Hungary during World War II, he used diplomatic cover to hide and rescue about 100,000 Jews over a six-month period.

Among them was a 16-year-old Jewish boy who escaped a Nazi labor camp. After the war ended, that boy received a scholarship from the Hillel Foundation to study in America. He came to New York City penniless but determined to turn his pain into purpose, along with his wife, also a Holocaust survivor. He became a renowned economist and foreign policy thinker, eventually making his way to this very Capitol on the staff of a first-term senator.

That Jewish refugee was Tom Lantos, and that senator was me. Tom and his wife, Annette, and their family became dear friends to me and my family. Tom would go on to become the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress, where he became a leading voice on civil rights and human rights around the world. Tom never met Raoul, who was taken prisoner by the Soviets, never to be heard from again. But through Tom’s efforts, Raoul’s bust is here in the Capitol. He was also given honorary U.S. citizenship, only the second person ever after Winston Churchill.

The Holocaust Museum here in Washington is located on a roll — road — in Raoul’s name. The story of the power of a single person to put aside our differences, to see our common humanity, to stand up to hate and its ancient story of resilience from immense pain, persecution, to find hope, purpose and meaning in life we try to live and share with one another. That story endures.

Let me close with this. I know these days of remembrance fall on difficult times. We all do well to remember these days also fall during the month we celebrate Jewish American heritage. A heritage that stretches from our earliest days to enrich every single part of American life today. Great American — great Jewish American — Tom Lantos used the phrase the veneer of civilization is paper-thin. We are its guardians, and we can never rest.

My fellow Americans, we must, we must be those guardians. We must never rest. We must rise against hate, meet across the divide, see our common humanity. And God bless the victims and survivors of the Shoah. May the resilient hearts, courageous spirit and eternal flame of faith of the Jewish people shine their light on America and all around the world. Praise God. Thank you all.