South African Boys' Clothes: Activities


Figure 1.--This photo was taken in Gauteng state (South Africa) during a Christmas party for pensioners. The party was probably organized by a Church. In South Africa Christmas is in summertime.

We do not yet have much information about boys activities in South Africa. There are a variety of family outings that South African families can take. South Africa has some wonderful parks. Some of the national parks are world famous. Religion is an important activity. The original Dutch settlers were members of the Durch Reformed Church. French Hugenoughts and Jews expanded the religious makeup. The British brought the Anglican Church and msny other denominations. Indian workers brought the Hindu and Muslim faith. At this point we only have some limited informstion on Sunday schools. We do have some information on schools. Of course sports are a popular activity. Rugby is especially popular in South Africa. We notice play activities. We note some choirs in South Africa, mostly school choirs. South Africans celebrate most of the familiar holidays celebrated in Europe. One example is Arbor Day. Of course the holidays often look different than in Europe because the seasons are reversed. We do not note if there are any specifically African holidays. The Boy Scouts are the principal youth group.

Family Outings

There are a variety of family outings that South African families can take. South Africa has some wonderful parks. Some of the national parks are world famous.

Holidays

South Africans celebrate most of the familiar holidays celebrated in Europe. One example is Arbor Day. Of course the holidays often look different than in Europe because the seasons are reversed. We do not note if there are any specifically African holidays.

Music

We note some choirs in South Africa, mostly school choirs.

Pets

South Africans have the standard dogs and cats for pets that are popular in other countries, Dogs are particularly popular in rural areas where they serve a variety of useful purposes besides just being pets. Boys in particular seem drawn to dogs. And of course on farms they provide great companions for children less likely to have friends nearby. We are not sure about the popular breeds. We are less cure about cats, but we know some South Africans have them. Birds are also popular pets. Some come from Africa. A number of people like to keep tropical fish. We are not sure where they are sourced. A few South Africans keep reptiles as pers, usually locally obtained reptiles.

Play

One interesting topic about children around the world is play. This of course varies from country to country and over time. We do not yet know much about play activities in South Africa, but have begun to collrct information. We suspect that there are major differences between racial groups. This is partly but not entirely based on income differences. Here we see a group of Aftrikaner children playing the American standard--cowboys and Indians. We are not sure how common that was, not are we entirely sure what the cultural influence was. We suspect it my have been TV and the movies.

Religion

South Africa has a wide diversity of religions. South African culture is widely based on Christian traditions, but many other religious traditions. South Africans follow many different religions and customs. The Governmrent has promoted Ch\risdtiamity. About 80 percent of the country idebntifies as being Christian. Most South African Christians are Protestants. There are a number of denominations and an estimatedf 85 percent are members of a church. The original Dutch settlers were members of the Durch Reformed Church. French Hugenoughts and Jews expanded thee religious makeup. The British brought the Anglican Church and many other denominations. The religion in South Africa followed by the Khoisan peoples are complicated. Traditionally the Khoisan people fear one supreme god who they believe controlls the whole world. They developed rituals and made small sacrifices. They also feared an evil deity who they blamed for pain and misery. Their religious beliefs over time were influenced by the European settlers. The people of the remote areas of neigboring Botswana and Namibia still follow some of the Khoisan religious practices. Missioraries reached South Africa at an early time (late-15th century). The London Missionary Society sent Missionaries to the Cape colony (1799). They were followed by the Glasgow Missionary Society and Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. Missionaries from United States, France, Scandavia and Germany arrived during the 29th cntury. Indian workers brought the Hindu and Muslim faith. At this point we only have some limited informstion on Sunday schools.

Schools

South Africa like many former British colonies (Australia and New Zealand) has had uniforms based on traditional English styles. A school uniform consisting of a blazer, school tie, and dress pants which has been worn by boys in many countries, especially English-speaking countries. This uniform evolved in England during the late 19th century and spread to the English colonies which at the time spanned the globe. South Africa of course was one of those countries. Australian schools, despite the widely different climate tended to follow the British syles very closely until the 1960s when they begun to develop their own distinctive styles and standards. Schoolwear was of course affected by overall South African boys' clothing trends.

Sports

South Africa because of the mild climate is aonderful country for outdoor activities, including sports. Sport is more popular and widely ptacticed in South Africa than any other African country. A factor here is the relatively high income levels compared to many sub-Saharan countries. And there are relatively few Muslims who for cultural reasons in North Africa that are not as involved in sport as most other people. Sport is so popular that it has been called the national religion. And unlike many other activities, it transcending racial and language groups. The country's sports program was curtailed by the sanctions taken against South Africa during the Apartheid era. Sport has proven to be an important unifying factor. As in the rest of Africa, football (soccer) is the single most popular sport. It is not, however as dominant as in most other African countries. There are several other popular sports. South Africa was a Bitish colony and thus the major British team sports are played in the country. The most popular is rugby. Cricket is also popular, but requires more equipment than the other sports which means that many children can not play it. Golf and tennis are also popular. Many schools have active sports programs.

Tourism

South Africa is best known as a tourist attraction. The most popular attraction is the country's Africam wildlife, the great heards of grazing animals and the predators that follow them. To this we also have elephants, giraffs, and rhinocerus. This interest is not a new matter. The ancient Romans were fascinated by African wildlife and imported amimals for the Coliseum games. And Adminral Cheng Ho/Zheng He brought African animals back to the Emperor on his famed voyages. The country's wild game parks today are an enormously popular tourist attraction. This was complicated during the Apartheid error by international sanctions and internal disorders. South African also like to travel. This was also complicated dyring the Apartheid era. Some South Africans traveled to nearby countries such as Lesotho and Mozambiqu wgere gaming and other diversions were available that were not allowed in stright-laced Apartheid South Africa. Since the fall of Apartheid, South Africans are now more able to travel abroad to America and Europe.

Youth Groups

The best known youth group in South Africa is of course the Boy Scouts. Baden Powell played an important role in the Bohr War and his expereinces in South Africa played an important role in the foundation of the Scoyting movement. During the Apartheid era, the Scouts were on of the few institutions in which one could find some minimal degree of participation by different racial groups. This was probably because English South Afraicans played a major role in the Scouting movement. Less well known outside of the country is the the Voortrekker movement. This movement was run by Afrukaaner South Africans and almost all the boys were Afrrikaaners. The penkoppe (singular: penkop) are the junior division of comparable to what Cubs are to Boy Scouts. Penkop ('pin head') is basically an affectionate designation of a youngster in general, referring to the crew cut of many Afrikaner boys. More particularly the term is used for boy soldiers who joined the ranks of the Boer Commandos that fought the British between 1899 and 1902. They in turn serve as as a role model for Voortrekker 'cubs', hence their name.






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Created: 12:41 AM 6/1/2010
Last updated: 10:34 PM 2/13/2011