Christmas Market for the books
The market will be held from 09:00 to 20:00 over the three-day period on the corner of Voortrekker and Peperboom streets.
The Reconciliation Capital Christmas Market will be held over three days at the Heidelberg Heritage Museum.
Starting on December 16, the community is invited to join the festivities and experience a bit of heritage during the most wonderful time of the year.
To discover the rich history of this particular day in the community, Bouwer Wiersma wrote about its significance.
“December 16 resonates in the history of South Africa. It takes us back to pioneers and, of course, the significance of Heidelberg.”
Heidelberg was crowned capital of the ZAR by Paul Kruger on December 16, 1880.
“In our claim to fame, we were the undefeated capital of the ZAR,” Wiersma wrote.
“Our status was recognised a century later when the then Prime Minister, PW Botha, officially unveiled a history plaque at our Old Town Hall.
“The struggle for real independence and reconciliation continued. On December 16, 1914, young Republican Jopie Fourie was caught.
“He never resigned from the army before becoming a rebel. He died before a firing squad.
“A similar fate awaited our local Salmon van As, who 13 years earlier also died as a martyr for the cause at the back of the Old Jail.
“A cause that was finally realised by Heidelberg seat Prime Minister dr HF Verwoerd declaring us a Republic in 1961.
“During his term, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned after the Rivonia trial and sentenced to life.”
After his release, the newly elected President Nelson Mandela travelled down HF Verwoerd Street in 1996 to collect honorary citizenship at the Town Hall.
“He completed the circle of reconciliation,” wrote Wiersma.
“Heidelberg Road in Ratanda also reminds us of reconciliation. It served as the proverbial line in the sand between Zulu and Sotho factions.
“The Los my cherry and RIP extensions were united by locals and secretary of the advisory board Justice Tshungu. His name of Ratanda for the township was accepted.”
The lesson learnt was that love can conquer indifferences.
“He combined the Sotho word rata and Zulu word thanda, meaning love in both languages, for the new township,” Wiersma wrote.
“This is yet another example of Heidelberg bearing witness as capital to the reconciliation spirit.
“We can, therefore, think of no better way to revisit the Heidelberg Heritage Museum during this time. Who knows, you may even find inner peace this Christmas season.”
The market will be held from 09:00 to 20:00 over the three days on the corner of Voortrekker and Peperboom streets.
For more information or stall bookings, contact 078 804 6220 or 082 671 6595.
