January 26th is the day in 1990 when Nelson Mandela was released from prison.
The holiday is meant to celebrate the day in 1990 when Nelson Mandela was released from prison. In South Africa, it’s known as Freedom Day, and it’s also celebrated in the United States as Mandela Day. This year, it fell on a Sunday, which meant that many schools and businesses were closed for the holiday. Here’s what you need to know about this day of celebration.
Why do we celebrate 26 January?
The day has become a global celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy. It’s also a time to reflect on how far South Africa has come since its first democratic elections in 1994, following the end of apartheid. Mandela was born on July 18th 1918 and became an anti-apartheid activist at a young age. He became president of South Africa after his release from prison in 1990, serving until 1999 when he stepped down after serving one term. He died at home on December 5th 2013 at the age of 95.
What does Freedom Day mean?
“Freedom Day” means different things to different people around the world. In South Africa, it commemorates freedom from oppression and discrimination under apartheid rule.
In other countries like Canada and Namibia, Freedom Day is celebrated as part of Black History Month each October.
