World's Greatest Holiday

Monday, September 24 was Heritage Day in South Africa

Sunday we all wore our attire to church - which was so much fun.  See my last blog: Heritage Day.

Monday, the actual day of the holiday I walked into town (twice) and that was so great because most of the people who had to work were wearing their traditional Zulu dress.

Today, Tuesday, I arrived at the Lutheran church to find many of the children wearing their traditional dress.  So adorable. 

Pleated skirt, beads, beads, beads.  

It was almost impossible to take the children's pictures - everyone wanted to be in every shot.  Everyone was crowding into the camera.  So I brought out a chair and placed them on top of the chair, one-by-one. Didn't quite solve the crowding problem.

A few came with their faces painted the traditional way.  I love it.

Variation of the skirt.

So very beautiful.

In the full garb.

This sweet, little one was obviously wearing her mothers' neck piece - so big.

I wish I had gotten a better shot of the beads on her legs.

Many of the items worn by the children were 'homemake'.

Numonde, one of my little favorites.  So wonderful.

These two girls are both in Grade R.  They will be going on to first grade in January.

The Zulu names for some items of traditional clothing are:

• isicholo, a wide straw hat worn by women, especially mature women
• isidwaba, a pleated cowhide skirt, sometimes decorated with beads
• uhbulahlu, bead work like headdresses and necklaces

I own several of these same bracelets.

Play-doh in Zulu dress - what fun.

Rejoice the teacher and one wonderful little girl.

The children started singing and dancing the traditional Zulu dance.

Traditional Zulu clothing is made out of fibers like straw and cotton as well as animal hides. Zulu women traditionally cover their heads, wearing distinctive straw hats, as a sign of respect. Traditional Zulu clothing is very colorful and almost always incorporates bead work. Some bead work has symbolic meaning within the Zulu culture. 

The girls were so proud wearing these special clothes.  They even walked prouder.  

What a wonderful, beautiful day with my lovely ladies.

Heritage Day

Heritage Day (South Africa)

To me it feels like there are countless public holidays in this country.  Fourteen official days in South Africa to be exact.  That's many more than the United States of America.  Monday, September 24th is yet another day of stores either not being open at all or closing early.  Another day for friends and family to hang out together.  Another day, where the taxis won't be running on any kind of schedule so I will stay in Hillcrest rather than run the risk of getting stuck in Ntshongweni without a taxi home.   

1 January	New Year's Day
2 January**	Public holiday
21 March	Human Rights Day
6 April *	Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)
9 April *	Family Day (Monday after Easter Sunday)
27 April	Freedom Day
1 May	Workers' Day
16 June	Youth Day
9 August	National Women's Day
24 September	Heritage Day
16 December	Day of Reconciliation
17 December**	Public holiday
25 December	Christmas Day
26 December	Day of Goodwill

Today, Sunday, September 23rd is a day I've been looking forward to for an entire year.  Last year the week after Heritage Day I arrived in Hillcrest and Shara & Julia told us about wearing traditional Zulu clothing to church - I couldn't wait.  365 days have passed and today I was so excited to don my Zulu clothing.

After church the women happily posed for photo's in their Zulu garb.

Celebration of Heritage Day

South Africans celebrate Heritage 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.

One of these things is not like the others, One of these things just doesn't belong, Can you tell which thing is not like the others By the time I finish my song? 

My ministry partner Ginger and me.

I love how beautiful the women were.

As we walked through Hillcrest, Pinetown and Ntshongweni we were met with various comments and stares.  97% of the folks told Ginger and I how beautiful we looked.  We told them we were celebrating them and their heritage.  They all seemed pleased.  We were also told we were 'cute', 'looking good' and 'stunning'.  Not everyday you see white women dressed in Zulu wear.

Men traditionally wear these patchwork looking pants.

My friend Nomthandazo Thwala (above)

Heritage Day, 24 September, is a public holiday on which South Africans across the spectrum are encouraged to celebrate their cultural heritage and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people.

The happy couple; Pastor and his bride.

I really need to get some beaded shoes and something for my ankles.

Flower Hair Bow Donation

My sweet friend Amanda is amazing.  We met in January 2010 in the Dominican Republic as we both were there with Compassion International to meet the children we each sponsor through this wonderful ministry.

Amanda and I were fast friends and have stayed in touch through the years :)

These girls really did love the hair bow - it's just that they just woke up from their nap and didn't know I was so quickly pinning a bow in her hair and taking her picture.

Amanda has a huge heart for children and a tremendous craft at all things crafty.

  Crocheted flowers for the girls at the Lutheran creche, where I serve as a missionary, was her donation to us. 

But there was an immediate problem.  Amanda mailed them to South Africa in July.

July is the dead of winter here.  All the children, and missionaries, have to wear a hat to keep warm.  There is no heating of any type here.  Believe me - burrrrr

I'm so tired... can I go back to my mat and finish my nap?

So, the grand gift giving had to wait to mid September - Awwwww Sweet spring time.

The next problem was that there were not enough for all the girls.

So I decided to hand them out as the children were leaving in the afternoon, just in case those who didn't get one wouldn't know that those who left before them did.  Does that make sense?

So, the next problem is I usually leave for my one hour + compute before the children wake up from their afternoon naps.  Not today, I stayed.

But I couldn't stay too long, so I decided to hand them out, classroom by classroom, to the 'sleeping' girls.

They all loved them!

If a child was actually asleep I either left it by her mat or put it into her backpack.

By the grace of God, every girl (with hair) got a hair bow.

It is very common in South Africa for girls to have short hair or have their heads shaved completely bald.

'Shoota, shoota,' they loved getting their picture taken with their new accessory.

Thank you Amanda for loving these precious little girls in Ntshongweni with your talent and making us all so beautiful.