It’s hard to believe that it’s already been one year since the death of South Africa’s iconic leader, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, on Dec. 5, 2013. And it’s even harder to believe that the man who was the catalyst for so much positive change in the country is gone forever.
To commemorate Mandela’s passing, the South African government is holding an interfaith prayer service and symbolic wreath laying on Dec. 5, 2014, which will be led by veterans at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The service will be followed by a bell-ringing ceremony from 9:56:53 a.m. to 10 a.m., then three minutes of silence. The silence will be broken by the singing of the National Anthem at 10:04 a.m.
The six-minute, seven-second time lapse from the start of the bell ringing to the moment of silence is symbolic of the 67 years Madiba spent in the service of humanity.
Those who can’t make it to Pretoria are encouraged to ring bells and sirens, play instruments, or blow into vuvuzelas from 9:57 a.m. to 10 a.m. –no matter where they are in the country, or world — then observe the period of silence. Schools, community centres, places of worship around South Africa will all be participating in this event.
Other events happening around South Africa during the week-long commemoration of Mandela include:
If you can’t participate in any of these events, there are other ways to pay your respects to Mandela:
This story First Appeared on our sister site AFKTravel.com