People and beliefs
Many faiths and cultures in South Africa, respect, tolerance and our special days. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.
Know it already? Jump straight to the quiz
Faiths and festivals
| Festival | Faith | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas | Christianity | The birth of Jesus |
| Diwali | Hinduism | The festival of lights |
| Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr | Islam | A month of fasting, and the festival at its end |
| Hanukkah | Judaism | A festival of lights over eight nights |
- A church, mosque, synagogue and temple are all places of worship. Be quiet and follow the customs there.
- Prayer is talking to God. Some people fast or cover their heads as part of their faith.
- Your friend doesn’t eat pork? Make sure there is other food for her.
Our country’s special days
| Day | Date | What we remember |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Day | 27 April | The first democratic election in 1994 |
| Youth Day | 16 June | The Soweto uprising of 1976 |
| Heritage Day | 24 September | All our cultures |
National symbols stand for the country: the king protea is the national flower and the springbok the national animal. Our anthem has five languages. See someone treated unfairly (discrimination) or mocked for their faith? Say it is wrong and tell an adult.
Remember this and test yourself
- South Africa is diverse: many cultures, faiths and twelve official languages (Sign Language since 2023).
- The Constitution says everyone may practise their own faith: treat others with respect.
- Tolerance: accepting others even though they differ from you.
- A custom is a set way of doing things; a tradition is passed down over generations.
- Ubuntu: I am because we are; we care for each other.
Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.
Respect is a bridge: it reaches everyone, even if they believe differently.
Important words
First say what the word means, then turn the card over.
Match column A to column B
Tap a word in column A, then its meaning in column B. You can also start in column B.
True or false?
Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.
Now the real quiz!
The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.
Take the quiz: People and beliefs- Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
- The ticks (“I know this”) are saved on this device only. We never ask for names or emails.
Follows CAPS for Grade 4 Life Skills. Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.