August 9, 2013
A perfect excuse for red velvet cupcakes; M bought me this adorable hand-beaded pin to celebrate my first Women's Day.
August 9th is Women's Day in South Africa. The day honours a 1956 protest led by four women to rise up against legislation of "pass" laws on women in South Africa (requiring non-white women to carry a pass to prove they had permission to be in a white area, thus denying their right of freedom of movement). They brought stacks of signed petitions (over 100,000) to the Prime Minister's offices and stood in silence for thirty minutes to emphasize their point. Women from all over the country came to support these four women, and together they marched, 20,000 strong, to the government Union Buildings in the country's capital city of Pretoria chanting "wathint' abafazi, wathint' imbokodo, uza kufa!" - if you strike a woman, you strike a rock.
When South Africa became a democratic nation in 1994, Women's Day was declared a public holiday to celebrate the incredible strength and tenacity of the women of this country.
And so, Women's Day become known as the that day rock beat paper. Perfectly clever, if you ask me.
Image source: The Inspiration Room
Wow, what a great story Alison! Thanks for posting, I had never heard of this. Looks like you're having an amazing time.
ReplyDeleteChuck