Home | Contact | Subscribe | Login | Previews | Newsletter | Caselaw | Service | Shop

 

  Member Content

  Subscribe to Feeds

  Member Login

  Alphabetical Index

  Labour Legislation

  Workshops & Training

  HR Guides & Templates

  Knowledge Resources

  Newsletters

  Surveys

  Discussion Forums

  Job Descriptions

  Abbrev. & Acronyms
  BEE Certificate

  What's New

  Membership Centre

  Subscribe

  Renew Membership

  Preview Content

  Caselaw.co.za

  Workinfo.com

Workinfo.com is now accepting credit card payments instantly.

  Caselaw.co.za

  Labour Court Search

  CCMA Awards

  Subscriptions

  About Workinfo.com

  Contact Us

  Customer Service

  About Workinfo.com

  Notices & Disclaimers

  Security Notices

  Shop.workinfo.com

  Online Shopping

  Publications

  Courses & Workshops

  Affiliate Programme

 

  Services

  Recruitment Services

  Consulting Services

 

 

Public, Religious and School Holidays - South Africa

The School Holidays for 2007 and 2008 have been published. To view the school terms for 2007/2008, download the Gazette.

Government Gazette School Holidays (2007/2008)

Public holidays/holydays recognised in 2007

Date

Name of holiday

Monday 1 January

New Year's Day

Wednesday 21 March

Human Rights Day

Friday 6 April

Good Friday

Monday 9 April

Family Day (Easter Monday)

Friday 27 April

Freedom Day

Tuesday 1 May Worker's Day

Saturday 16 June

Youth Day

Thursday 9 August

National Women's Day

Monday 24 September

Heritage Day

Sunday 16 December Day of Reconciliation

Monday 17 December

Public Holiday

Tuesday 25 December

Christmas Day

Wednesday 26 December

Day of Goodwill


Public holidays/holydays recognised in 2008

Date

Name of holiday

Tuesday 1 January

New Year's Day

Friday 21 March

Human Rights Day

Friday 21 March Good Friday
Monday 24 March Family Day

Sunday 27 April

Freedom Day

Monday 28 April Public Holiday
Thursday 1 May Worker's Day

Monday 16 June

Youth Day

Saturday 9 August

National Women's Day

Wednesday 24 September

Heritage Day

Tuesday 16 December Day of Reconciliation

Thursday 25 December

Christmas Day

Friday 26 December

Day of Goodwill

SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2007

  New Year's Day
01 January
Monday
  Human Rights Day
21 March
Wednesday
  Good Friday 6 April Friday
  Family Day 9 April Monday
  Freedom Day
27 April
Friday
  Workers' Day
01 May
Tuesday
  Youth Day
16 June
Saturday
  National Women's Days
09 August
Thursday
  Heritage Day
24 September
Monday
  Reconciliation Day
16 December
Sunday
  Public Holiday 17 December Monday
  Christmas Day
25 December
Tuesday
  Day of Goodwill
26 December
Wednesday

School Holidays

30 April 2007 - School Holiday (due to the following Tuesday being a Public Holiday)

10 August 2007 -   School Holiday (due to the preceding Thursday being a Public Holiday)

2 May 2008 - School Holiday (due to the preceding Thursday being a Public Holiday)

In terms of the the Public Holidays Act, if a Public Holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be deemed to be the Public Holiday.

For official announcements on Public Holidays, see Department of Home Affairs.

Easter weekend dates for 2006 - 2010

Good Friday  Family Day  Year  
14 April 17 April 2006
6 April 9 April 2007
21 March 24 March 2008
10 April 13 April 2009
2 April 5 April 2010

 


Days to Remember

Days to Remember    
February 14 Valentine's Day  
September 6 2006

April 25, 2007

Secretaries' Day April 24-30 is Administrative Professional’s Week. Wednesday, April 27th is Administrative Professional’s Day, also known as Secretary's Day
Second Sunday in May Mother's Day  
July 18 Madiba's Birthday Live the Legacy - donate to the Madiba foundation. Visit http://www.nelsonmandela.org 
Third Sunday in June Father's Day In 1909, Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Spokane Washington, first proposed the idea of a "father's day". Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise all his children alone on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.

The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. Mrs. Dodd wanted Father's Day to be celebrated on the first Sunday in June, her father's birthday. However, the Spokane council couldn't get the resolution through the first reading until the third Sunday in June. At about the same time in various towns and cities across American other people were beginning to celebrate a "father's day." In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day.

Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.

The white or red rose is the official flower for Father's Day. Mrs. Dodd suggested that people wear a white rose to honor a father who was deceased and a red rose for a father who was living.

First Sunday  after a Monday in September Grandparents Day In the USA, celebrated as the first Sunday after Labor Day (celebrated on the first Monday in September)
October 16 Boss's Day

Patricia Haroski, a secretary from Deerfield, Ilinois, originated National Boss Day in 1958 in honor of her white-collar father, who helped his children with good advice throughout their careers.

In honor of the elder Haroski's birthday - October 16 - daughter Patricia registered the day with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Four years later, National Boss Day was backed by Illinois Governor Otto Kerner who officially proclaimed the day in 1962. The idea quickly gained favor across the country and is now even observed in England, Australia and South Africa.

Today, National Boss Day (or Bosses Day) always falls on October 16

First Sunday in August  Friendship Day  Celebrating the idea that "you can't choose your relatives...but you can choose your friends!" :-) ...the first Sunday in August was proclaimed National Friendship Day by the U.S. Congress in 1935,

Today, Friendship Day remains a tradition observed in many countries and cultures around the world

April 22  Earth Day April 22 is the day when millions around the world celebrate Earth Day, which has grown to encompass events taking place throughout April, also known as Earth Month.

Workinfo.com suggestion - a good day to focus on Global warming, and reducing your carbon footprint.

1 April April Fools Day Modern April Fools Day got its start during the ancient Roman holiday of Saturnalia (in honor of the god Saturn) when all class distinctions were abolished and slaves and their masters switched roles - temporarily, at least. Chaos ruled the day around the time of the spring equinox, which also marked the first day of the New Year under the ancient Julian calendar.

By the Middle Ages, Europeans retained the old Roman taste for a good time. So every spring, a Lord of Misrule, or King of Fools, was elected in towns & cities across Europe to celebrate.

Hundreds of years went by, and the practice was still being commemorated by Victor Hugo's character, Quasi Modo, as the King of Fools in Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Centuries later, a fairly hilarious look at gags pulled in the 19th century was April Fools and Other Fools, published in 1881.

Workinfo.com suggestion - keep the gags, but also a good day for managers to treat their employees, do their own typing, make coffee for subordinates. Keep the Roman Saturnalia tradition alive. Perhaps a chance to take that one manager with the worst employee skills and treat them to public humiliation.

March 17 St. Patrick's Day What can we say about St Patrick's Day - "res ipsa loquitur" - whiskey, women, song and jokes


School Holidays for 2007 (proposed)

See the official Government Gazette [PDF file]

SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2007

 GROUP 1: COASTAL PROVINCES: EASTERN CAPE, KWAZULU-NATAL, NORTHERN CAPE AND WESTERN CAPE

 TERM   DURATION  NO. OF WEEKS  NO. OF DAYS  NO.OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS  ACTUAL NO. OF SCHOOL DAYS
1 (15) 17 Jan- 30 March 11 55 1 (52) 54
2 11 April-22 June 11 53 2+1 51
3 16 July-21 Sept 10 50 1+1 48
4 1 Oct-30 Nov (4 Dec) 9(10) 45 0 49(47)
TOTAL   41(42) 203 6 196(200)

 GROUP 2: INLAND PROVINCES: FREE STATE, GAUTENG, LIMPOPO, MPUMALANGA AND NORTH WEST

TERM DURATION NO. OF WEEKS NO.OF DAYS NO. OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACTUAL NO.OF SCHOOL DAYS
1 (8)10 Jan-23 March 11 55 1 52(54)
2 11 April-22 June 11 53 2+1 51
3 16 July-21 Sept- 10 50 1+1 48
4 1 Oct-30 Nov (4 Dec) 9(10) 45 0 47(49)
TOTAL   41(42) 204 6 196(200)

 

SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2008

 GROUP 1: COASTAL PROVINCES: EASTERN CAPE, KWAZULU-NATAL, NORTHERN CAPE AND WESTERN CAPE

TERM DURATION NO. OF WEEKS NO.OF DAYS NO.OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACTUAL NO.OF SCHOOL DAYS
1st term (14) 16 Jan-19 March 10 48 0 46(48)
2nd term 7 April-20 June 11 55 3+1 51
3rd term 14 July-26 Sept 12 55 2 54
4th term 6 Oct-5 (9) Dec 9(10) 45 0 45(47)

 

TOTAL   42(43) 203 6 198(200)

 

 GROUP 2: INLAND PROVINCES: FREE STATE, GAUTENG, LIMPOPO, MPUMALANGA AND NORTH WEST

TERM DURATION NO. OF WEEKS NO. OF DAYS NO. OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACTUAL NO. OF SCHOOL DAYS
1st term

 

(7) 9 Jan-14 March 10 50 0 (50) 48
2nd term 9 April-27 June 12 58 4+1 53
3rd term 21 July-26 Sept 10 50 2 49
4th term 6 Oct- 5(9) Dec 9(10) 47 0 (47) 45
Total

 

  42(43) 205 7 195 (199)
           

Religious Holidays

We do not identify non-core authentic religions (in our view). To find out about Wicca/Neo Pagan, Scientology, and other endless variations please see http://www.interfaithcalendar.org  

Christian Jewish Muslim Eastern

JANUARY 2007

1 Mary, Mother of God - Catholic Christian Gantan-sai (New Years) - Shinto
Feast of St Basil - Orthodox Christian
3 Mahayana Buddhist New Year ** - Buddhist
5 Twelfth Night - Christian Guru Gobindh Singh birthday - Sikh
6 Epiphany - Christian
Feast of the Theophany - Orthodox Christian
Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings) - Christian
7 Feast of the Nativity - Orthodox Christian
Baptism of the Lord Jesus - Christian
13 Maghi - Sikh
18-25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity  - Christian
20 Hijra - New Year * - Islam
21 World Religion Day * - Baha'i
23 Vasant Panchami ** - Hindu
25 Conversion of St. Paul - Christian
28 Triodion begins - Orthodox Christian
29 Ashura * - Islam

FEBRUARY 2007

2 Candlemas - Christian
Presentation of Christ in the Temple - Anglican Christian
3 Tu B'shvat * - Jewish
8 Nirvana Day ** - Buddhism
11 Meatfare - Orthodox Christian
14 St. Valentines Day - Christian
15 Nirvana Day ** - Buddhist
16
Maha Shivaratri ** - Hindu
18 Transfiguration Sunday - Christian
Cheesefare Sunday - Orthodox Christian Chinese New Year - Confucian/Daoist/Buddhist
19 Clean Monday (Lent begins) - Orthodox Christian
20 Shrove Tuesday - Christian
21 Ash Wednesday (Lent begins) - Christian
25 Sunday of Orthodoxy - Orthodox Christian
26-March 1 Intercalary Days * - Baha'i

MARCH 2007

1 St. David of Wales - Christian
3 Magha Puja Day ** - Buddhist
4-5 Purim * - Jewish
4 Holi ** - Hindu
Hola Maholla - Sikh
17 St Patrick's Day - Christian
19 New Year ** - Hindu
19-27 Ramayana ** - Hindu
20 Mawlid an Nabi * - Islam
21 Naw Ruz (New Year) * - Baha'i
25 Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Christian
26
27 Ramanavami ** - Hindu
31 Lazarus Saturday - Orthodox Christian Mawlid an Nabi * - Islam

APRIL 2007

1 Palm Sunday - Christian
2 Theravadin Buddhist New Year ** - Buddhist
Hanuman Jayanti ** - Hindu
3-10 * Pesach (Passover)*   - Jewish
Maundy Thursday - Christian 
6 Good Friday - Christian
Holy Friday - Orthodox Christian
8 Easter - Christian Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) - Sikh
Easter/Pascha - Orthodox Christian
15 Yom HaShoah * - Jewish
21 Ridvan begins * - Baha'i
23 St George's Day - Christian
30 St. James the Great Day - Orthodox Christian

MAY 2007

2 Buddha Day - Visakha Puja - Wesak **  - Buddhist
3 St. Phillip and St. James the Lesser - Christian
6 Lag B'Omer * - Jewish
17 Ascension of Christ - Christian
23-24 Shavuot * - Jewish
23 Declaration of the Bab * - Baha'i
27 Pentecost - Christian
Trinity - Orthodox Christian
29 Ascension of Baha'u'llah * - Baha'i

JUNE 2007

3 All Saints Day - Orthodox Christian
Trinity Sunday - Christian
7 Corpus Christi- Catholic Christian
9 St. Columba of Iona - Celtic Christian
11 Trinity - Christian
15 Sacred Heart of Jesus - Catholic Christian
16 Guru Arjan Dev martyrdom - Sikh
24 Saint John the Baptist  - Christian
29 Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul - Christian
30 Guru Purnima ** - Hindu
Asala Puja Day ** - Buddhist

JULY 2007

9 Martyrdom of the Bab * - Baha'i
11 St Benedict Day - Catholic Christian
13 Obon (Ulambana) ** - Buddhist
15 St. Vladimir Day - Orthodox Christian
24 Tisha B'Av * - Jewish
25 St. James the Great Day - Christian

AUGUST 2007

1 Lammas - Christian
6 Transfiguration of The Lord - Orthodox Christian
11 Lailat al Miraj * - Islam
15