One of the dark aspects of South Africa's turbulent history left a unique New Year tradition that population on Cape Town holidays can still contemplate today if they are in the city while the festive season.
Slavery was once a fact of life in the Cape Colony. The Dutch colonists brought in slave labour from the East Indies, Malaysia and Madagascar. Slavery in South Africa did not end until 1834, when the ruling British outlawed it throughout the empire. Life for the slaves was harsh - in the whole year, they had only one day off. On January 2, the day after their masters had preeminent the advent of a new year, the slaves were allowed their own day of rest and celebration. It became known as Tweede Nuwe Jaar (Second New Year). Probably because Tweede Nuwe Jaar was the singular day that the slaves could look forward to throughout the long year, it had such a profound impact on their lives that it prolonged as a special occasion even after slavery in South Africa had been abolished.
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The Cape Minstrels
Until recently, Tweede Nuwe Jaar was an legal group holiday in South Africa. But even though the day no longer has legal status, whatever who is enjoying Cape Town holidays will find that the spirit of Tweede Nuwe Jaar is still very much alive. It is a time for parties and celebrations of epic proportions. You aren't likely to hear "Auld Lang Syne" being sung on Tweede Nuwe Jaar, but this is the time for the Cape minstrels to strut their stuff. In North America minstrels have long since been dismissed as a racist form of entertainment, but in Cape Town they are still determined an acceptable part of the city's culture and history. The Cape minstrels are from Cape Town's "coloured" community. Singing, dancing, and playing their instruments, they parade through the streets of the city centre. Members of each minstrel troupe are dressed in matching uniforms. Spectacular colour combinations are the order of the day. Some roads in the city centre are blocked off while Tweede Nuwe Jaar for the festivities. The procession goes through the downtown area and finishes at Green Point Stadium. Just like you do with the Santa Claus parade at home, you have to get out early to be sure of a good spot along the procession route.
American work on and District Six
Even though Tweede Nuwe Jaar goes back to Dutch colonial times, the minstrel tradition that visitors on Cape Town holidays see today dates back to the carnivals of the 1880s. Minstrel entertainers came off American ocean liners to join in Cape Town's musical celebrations. They contributed to a locally evolved style of singing called ghommaliedjies. These were drum songs accompanied by banjos. Originally, they were slave songs performed at Tweede Nuwe Jaar. In the 20th century they evolved into an prominent part of working class "coloured" culture. Up until the 1970s, a major part of the parade route went from Cape Town's District Six through the streets of the city. This part of the Tweede Nuew Jaar carnival died when District Six was infamously razed by the apartheid government. Many of the old participants now have to be bussed in to the stadium. Nonetheless, Tweede Nuwe Jaar is still a great occasion for visitors in Cape Town to join the locals in celebrating New Year's - twice!
A Unique Cape Town New Year Tradition
