South African Heritage Day is celebrated yearly on the 24 of September.
On the 22nd of September 2023, the Pellissier Combined School celebrated the occasion by dressing up according to the multiple and colourfully diverse cultures in the country as they were represented by the learners. The school has a primary school section and a high school that has its own premises on the next block.
The class teachers selected the best dressed learner of each grade and from these finalists selected a best dressed boy and girl. The prizes were sponsored by the Bethulie Heritage Foundation.
Some of the cute and interesting outfits worn by some Primary School learners
The finalists wearing their traditional clothing representing cultures like Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho and the Koi San
The two winners holding their big vases packed full of goodies like cold drink, sweets and chocolates.
The day was not just a cultural celebration in terms of displaying clothing. Trudie Venter, the chairperson of the Bethulie Heritage Foundation, and her committee brought artifacts from the Pellissier House Museum to show the children the diverse heritage of the town of Bethulie. There was also a slide show and talk addressing the history of the settlement of the town’s people.
The children were intrigued and enjoyed the lesson a lot. They were very surprised to learn all the information about their small town on the edge of the Free State border.