Yom Kippur Yom Kippur Yom Kippur (; , , or ), also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with an approximate 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. "Yom" means "day" in Hebrew and "Kippur" comes from a root that means "to atone". Yom Kippur is usually expressed in English as "Day of Atonement". Yom Kippur is "the tenth day of [the] seventh month" (Tishrei) and is regarded as the
Day of the Vow Day of the Vow The Day of the Vow () was a religious public holiday in South Africa. It was an important holiday for Afrikaners, originating from the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838. Initially called Dingane's Day (), 16 December was made an annual national holiday in 1910, before being renamed Day of the Vow in 1982. In 1994, after the end of Apartheid, it was replaced by the Day of Reconciliation, an annual holiday also on 16 December. The day of the Vow traces its origin as an annual religious holiday to The Battle of Blood