“Your Sacrifices Are Not Forgotten”: Orania Afrikaners Celebrate St Patrick’s Day
- Afrikaner residents in Orania, Northern Cape, celebrated the popular Irish holiday St Patrick's Day on 17 March
- A few pictures showed some residents at a monument in the area enjoying strong alcoholic beverages
- The X user who posted the images thanked the Irish for their support during the Second Boer War
Source: Twitter
Besides Halloween, which is by far the most popular, South Africans generally don't celebrate other countries' holidays in any significant way. However, some Afrikaners found a reason to embrace one of Ireland's holidays.
Afrikaners share the luck of the Irish
@Volkstaat10, the X page dedicated to uplifting the Afrikaner community, shared a few images of Afrikaner residents in Orania (a white separatist town located in the Northern Cape) gathering for the St Patrick's Day celebration.
The X user captioned their post:
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"Happy Saint Paddy's Day from the Irish Monument in Orania!
"A mere footnote in the Irish story, but a huge chapter in Afrikaner history, are the heroes of the Irish Regiments who joined the Boer struggle against British imperialism. Your sacrifices are not forgotten!"
Take a look at the X pictures below:
Source: Twitter
Source: Twitter
St Patrick's Day commemorates St Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland, who died on 17 March.
The day observes his missionary work and his role in bringing Christianity to Ireland. Over time, it has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture. People often wear green, symbolising Ireland's lush landscapes and the green hills.
The Irish's involvement in the Anglo-Boer War
According to the United Kingdom's National Army Museum, there were nearly 50,000 Irish soldiers in the British army during the Anglo-Boer War, which took place from 1899 to 1902.
However, the ongoing conflict over land between the two parties caused a division amongst the Irish soldiers, with a small contingent of Irish groups joining the Afrikaners in their fight against the British.
What was the Anglo-Boer war about?
In a nutshell, sources state that the Anglo-Boer War, also known as the Second Boer War, sparked as a result of the colonising forces of the British and the Boers, the former having more power in numbers over the latter.
Afrikaner history intrigues the internet
The comment section on the post quickly became a space for people to reflect on Afrikaner history and the Boer struggle. Users from various backgrounds, including some Irish commenters, expressed their support for the Boers and shared historical insights, with a mix of admiration and critical reflection on past events.
An excited @NattymotoX exclaimed after seeing the X post:
"I would love to hear more about this chapter of history!"
A possible Irish citizen, @MauriceSweeney8 shared their thoughts in the comment section, writing:
"We will always support the Boers. We will do everything we can to help in the creation of a Boer republic from the partitioning of South Africa."
@seamusmateus said to the online community:
"My great-grandfather was Irish and fought against the Boer. That's history. I support your cause today and lament what the British did in South Africa."
@Elatha1798 commented on the post:
"Greetings from Ireland. God bless you all."
@BraidmanNathan highlighted:
"About 800 Irish volunteers fought on the Boer side during the Anglo-Boer War. However, over 20,000 Irish soldiers served in the British Army during the conflict. And, along with the Australians, they had a reputation for harsh measures against the civilian Boer population."
Another x user @SirEntity2 added:
"Bless our homelands forever."
5 Other stories about Afrikaners
- In another article, Briefly News reported about an Afrikaner X user who shared what Orania looked like in the 1970s compared to now.
- An Afrikaner woman revealed her unexpected journey of becoming a sangoma. Some praised the cultural integration, while others questioned her adoption of traditional practices.
- A young Afrikaner unpacked the brief history of her ancestors and their fight for freedom. She also delved into why some Afrikaners celebrate 27 February.
- An Afrikaner TikTokker, Rian van Skaap, had a hilarious response about lobola when someone suggested he date their beautiful daughter.
- A South African woman rejected the US resettlement offer and captivated Mzansi in Khelobedu and Tsonga.
Hilary Sekgota, human interest head of desk at Briefly News, contributed to this article.
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Source: Briefly News
