INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
CATERING FOR THE
RAINBOW NATION
September is Heritage Month, and we celebrate Heritage Day on the 24 th, so perhaps this is a good time to explore how we, in estates, honour and accommodate the heritage and traditions of all South Africans.
Estates should be spaces where people can express their personal and cultural identities – obviously without offending the neighbours. But it’ s easy to slip into a western-centric mindset so it’ s important to be aware of the key cultural needs of all residents, and ensure they are accommodated.
Some of these needs are simple – like lots of temporary visitor parking from time to time, or sensitively thought out menus – but others may be more complex.
Religious and cultural festivals
Almost all religions have holy days and festivals during the year, so it is important, as a community, to decide whether the estate will acknowledge and honour them. Christmas and Easter are mainstream celebrations, and many estates put up Christmas decorations, have Christmas parties and organise Easter egg hunts. Some even celebrate the pagan festival of Halloween by facilitating estate-wide trick-or-treating. But religious celebrations mean a lot more than decorations, food, presents and costumes.
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