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Xhosa Heritage - Culture
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving celebrations can be clan based or may be societal. Achievement is considered to be a gift from the spiritaul world and therefore one has to thank one's ancestors. Even in modern society, most people would perform umhlinzeko (thanksgiving celebration) for the progress one has achieved, or in the case of a migrant labourer brew some beer or they would slaughter an ox or a goat when they return home. Nowadays there are many adaptations. Some people as a form of thanksgiving would claim benza iti (they are "giving tea") to the ancestors.The festival of the first fruit is celebrated by most African ethnic groups to thank the Supernatural Power and the ancestors for a good harvest. The chief initiates the celebration in a chiefdom. He first tastes the harvest and then other people follow in order of their importance/status.
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