Culture
South Africa does not have a single culture throughout the entire country. There are eleven official languages, remember! South Africa's culture is made up of many different cultures and hybrids of those cultures. Because of this, South Africa is known as one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world.
Family Life:
Family is very important to South Africans. The extended family, and often the tribe, is just as important as immediate family. The tribe is just as important as immediate family because it is similar to a small nation. It also provides emotional and financial support. For people in urban areas, immediate family is the emphasis of family life. People tend to live with immediate family members, but extended family may live together if there are financial problems. The average number of children in a family is two-three.
Family is very important to South Africans. The extended family, and often the tribe, is just as important as immediate family. The tribe is just as important as immediate family because it is similar to a small nation. It also provides emotional and financial support. For people in urban areas, immediate family is the emphasis of family life. People tend to live with immediate family members, but extended family may live together if there are financial problems. The average number of children in a family is two-three.
Religion
A majority of the population in South Africa is Christian. There is only a small amount of people with Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism beliefs. Most of the white Christians belong to the Calvinist Dutch Reformed Church. Other Christian denominations include: Roman Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglicans, Apostolic, and Pentecostal. Most of the black Christians belong to the Apostolic or Pentecostal churches.
A majority of the population in South Africa is Christian. There is only a small amount of people with Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism beliefs. Most of the white Christians belong to the Calvinist Dutch Reformed Church. Other Christian denominations include: Roman Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglicans, Apostolic, and Pentecostal. Most of the black Christians belong to the Apostolic or Pentecostal churches.
Tribal religion is centered around veneration of ancestors and ancestral guidance. They also believe in spirits and spiritual modes of healing. Sometimes even black magic is used to manipulate the powers of spirits.
Food
Traditional South African food is cooked over an open fire, or in a pot. A typical meal includes meat, a starch (usually maize, potatoes, or rice), and a vegetable (usually beetroots, carrots, cabbage, or pumpkin). South African dishes include: tripe, morogo, chakalaka, amadumbe, boerewors roll. Tripe is a regional delicacy in the Cape that is usually served lightly curried with small potatoes and fried onions. Morogo is a type of wild spinach. It is combined with butter-braised onions and tomatoe, or it is mixed into maize porridge. Chakalaka is a very spicy relish. A boerewors roll is usually sold at a roadside stand. It is a spicy sausage placed in a bun, and covered in mustard. It is similar to an American hotdog.
Traditional South African food is cooked over an open fire, or in a pot. A typical meal includes meat, a starch (usually maize, potatoes, or rice), and a vegetable (usually beetroots, carrots, cabbage, or pumpkin). South African dishes include: tripe, morogo, chakalaka, amadumbe, boerewors roll. Tripe is a regional delicacy in the Cape that is usually served lightly curried with small potatoes and fried onions. Morogo is a type of wild spinach. It is combined with butter-braised onions and tomatoe, or it is mixed into maize porridge. Chakalaka is a very spicy relish. A boerewors roll is usually sold at a roadside stand. It is a spicy sausage placed in a bun, and covered in mustard. It is similar to an American hotdog.
Tripe
Amadumbe
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Morogo
Chakalaka
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Boerewors Roll
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Social Etiquette
When greeting someone in South Africa, it is common to shake hands while maintaining eye contact. Sometimes women do not shake hands, so it is suggested to wait for the woman to put her hand out first. Men often kiss a woman's cheeks if they know each other well. After the greeting, there is generally a leisurely chat. Unlike the United States, it is common for South Africans to stand closer than an arms-width apart. During a conversation, it is also common to touch. If a person is invited to someone's house, it is respectful to bring a nicely wrapped gift or flowers. A gift could include quality chocolate or a nice bottle of South African wine. Being on time is very important in South Africa; it is a sign of disrespect if a person is late, even by only a few minutes.
When greeting someone in South Africa, it is common to shake hands while maintaining eye contact. Sometimes women do not shake hands, so it is suggested to wait for the woman to put her hand out first. Men often kiss a woman's cheeks if they know each other well. After the greeting, there is generally a leisurely chat. Unlike the United States, it is common for South Africans to stand closer than an arms-width apart. During a conversation, it is also common to touch. If a person is invited to someone's house, it is respectful to bring a nicely wrapped gift or flowers. A gift could include quality chocolate or a nice bottle of South African wine. Being on time is very important in South Africa; it is a sign of disrespect if a person is late, even by only a few minutes.
Holidays
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Clothing
Most people in South Africa typically wear Western style clothing. However, traditional African clothing is dramatically different. Each tribe has a unique style of clothing. The Ndebele traditionally wore colorful clothes with very artistic bead work. The Zulu tribe wore colorful clothing also, but they were known to wear animal skins also. The Xhosa tribe traditionally wore blankets or wrapped skirts. Today these tribes wear the traditional clothing for special ceremonies.
Most people in South Africa typically wear Western style clothing. However, traditional African clothing is dramatically different. Each tribe has a unique style of clothing. The Ndebele traditionally wore colorful clothes with very artistic bead work. The Zulu tribe wore colorful clothing also, but they were known to wear animal skins also. The Xhosa tribe traditionally wore blankets or wrapped skirts. Today these tribes wear the traditional clothing for special ceremonies.
Sports
In 2010 South Africa held the 2010 Fifa World Cup. It was the first African country to host this event. The Fifa World Cup helped increase South Africa's tourism industry and economy, and restored South Africa's reputation. South Africa built five brand new stadiums, and renovated five current stadiums. The stadiums are fun places for tourists to visit because they are beautiful and grand. The two most famous stadiums are located in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
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Yacht Racing
Cape Town Stadium
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Health System
Basic primary care is offered free by the government. The government contributes 40% of its budget on the healthcare system. However, this free health care has to stretch out to help about 80% of the population. Therefore, sometimes the quality is not up to par. There are 4,200 public health care facilities. People per clinic is about 13,789; this exceeds WHO guidelines of 10,000 people per clinic. There is a private sector of health care that caters to middle and high-income levels.
AIDS is very prevalent in South Africa. 17.8% of the population has HIV/AIDS. This is the highest in the world. South Africa has a "battle plan" to help fight this disease.
Basic primary care is offered free by the government. The government contributes 40% of its budget on the healthcare system. However, this free health care has to stretch out to help about 80% of the population. Therefore, sometimes the quality is not up to par. There are 4,200 public health care facilities. People per clinic is about 13,789; this exceeds WHO guidelines of 10,000 people per clinic. There is a private sector of health care that caters to middle and high-income levels.
AIDS is very prevalent in South Africa. 17.8% of the population has HIV/AIDS. This is the highest in the world. South Africa has a "battle plan" to help fight this disease.
Sources:
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/south-africa-country-profile.html
http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/South-Africa.html
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/South-Africa-RELIGIONS.html
http://www.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student_details.php?Id=9&CID=187
http://www.southafrica.info/about/health/health.htm#.UWy_D7WsiSo
http://www.info.gov.za/aboutsa/holidays.htm
http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/us/what-to-do/the-urban-vibe/food-and-wine/traditional-south-african-food-2/
http://www.rebirth.co.za/traditional_african_clothing.htm
http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/south-africa-country-profile.html
http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/South-Africa.html
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/South-Africa-RELIGIONS.html
http://www.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student_details.php?Id=9&CID=187
http://www.southafrica.info/about/health/health.htm#.UWy_D7WsiSo
http://www.info.gov.za/aboutsa/holidays.htm
http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/us/what-to-do/the-urban-vibe/food-and-wine/traditional-south-african-food-2/
http://www.rebirth.co.za/traditional_african_clothing.htm
http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/