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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