Herero Day (also known as Red Flag Day) is a gathering of the Herero people of Namibia to commemorate their deceased chieftains. It is held annually on the Sunday closest to August 23, the day on which Herero chief Samuel Maharero's body was returned to Okahandja in 1923.[1] Maharero was eventually reburied in Okahandja alongside his ancestors on August 26, 1923. Some historians[2] claim that August 26 is the day commemorated at the Herero Day events.
The main event of the 3-day gathering is a procession to several graves of Herero chiefs, followed by a church service. The men wear military-style phantasy uniforms, the women wear the traditional dress of the Herero, a voluminous skirt of many layers with a "horned hat", headgear consisting of two wide points.[1]
Herero Day is held as a gesture of defiance against German colonisation.[2]
On August 26, the same day as the one on which Samuel Maharero was reburied in 1923, Namibia celebrates Heroes' Day, a national holiday commemorating the Namibian War of Independence which began on 26 August 1966 at Omugulugwombashe. The Herero Day assembly typically does not take place exactly on August 26 to give high-ranking government officials with Herero descent the opportunity to attend both events.