page_title: Orania, Northern Cape
section_title: Cultural holidays
hierarchical_section_title: Orania, Northern Cape / Culture / Cultural holidays
caption_attribution_description: Orania Koeksuster Sculpture
context_page_description: Orania is an Afrikaner town in South Africa located along the Orange River in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape province. The town is split in two halves by the R369 road and lies halfway between Cape Town and Pretoria.
  The stated aim of the town is to create a stronghold for Afrikaans and the Afrikaner identity by keeping their language and culture alive. The town residents state that anyone who defines themselves as an Afrikaner and identifies with Afrikaner ethnicity is welcome to live in Orania.
  Critics accuse the town authorities of rejecting the Rainbow Nation concept and trying to recreate pre-democratic South Africa within an enclave, while residents contend the desire to preserve their linguistic and cultural heritage and protect themselves from high crime levels as their motivation, claiming the right to self-determination as provided by the Constitution of South Africa. The town's relations with the South African government are non-confrontational, and although opposed to the aspirations of the community, it has recognised them as legitimate.
  The small community has a radio station and its own currency, the Ora.
context_section_description: Geloftedag on 16 December is one of the most important holidays for the community. Locals wear traditional clothing and commemorate the victory in 1838 of 470 Afrikaners over an army of 15,000 Zulu warriors.
  A list of cultural holidays in Orania:
caption: The Koeksister Monument in Orania
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