29 Years and More

It started with one word: yummy.

Yummy Products will be attending the DMV  Freedom Day on Saturday May  06 2023  in Ellicott  City, MD & we can’t wait to see you in Big numbers ! Due to our limited stock available we recommend pre ordering. 

I looked at the words on the poster and made a wild guess that I was looking at something South African. Much to my relief, I was correct.

The picnic mentioned is a celebration of South African freedom. From the website for South African Freedom in the USA:

The South African Freedom Day Picnic is a family event filled with fun, music, food, and games for all ages. Entry to the event is free of charge, and everyone is invited to come join the celebrations. Event Details Saturday, 6 May 2023 11am – 6pm Free Venue Centennial Park (Pavilion H) 4800 Woodland Rd, Ellicott City, Maryland. 

So what is Freedom Day?

Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa celebrated on 27 April. It celebrates South African freedom and commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held in 1994.

I noticed that the website talks about celebrating Mzansi freedom. That was a new word for me, so I looked it up. Mzansi is an informal name for South Africa. It comes from the Zulu word for “south.” 

The group that presents the Freedom Day picnic each year describes itself as a South African diaspora community in the USA. The event provides an opportunity for people to get together and celebrate the end of apartheid, and also gives local small vendors an opportunity to do business selling food and drink and other South African-themed products.

Back to Yummy Products. I can’t find much information on them. Their Twitter account is new as of April. Their Facebook page goes back to September of 2022, so does their Instagram. (No website) I’ve learned that biltong is a meat jerky and boerwors is a sausage. Both originated in South Africa. The folks at Yummy Products are anticipating high interest at the event and encouraging people to order ahead. 

I imagine that wanting food that tastes like home is a big part of these celebrations.

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams marked Freedom Day on April 27th with flags and songs and some assistance from the South African Tourism board. Until I came across the tweet from Yummy Products, I wasn’t aware of the existence of South African Freedom Day or that it was celebrated anywhere in the US. 

And people say you can’t learn anything on Twitter.

I think there’s a lot going on in Centennial Park. Last year I discovered a Medical Goth event. (I wonder how that went.) In 2019 it was the site of Howard County’s first Pride celebration. This year I’ve learned about the Freedom Day Picnic. Who knows what other cool things happen at Centennial?*

Village Green/Town² Comments

*Centennial Park “…was established in 1987 with a vision to create an environment where anyone and everyone could visit to play, hike, boat and come together as a community.” It is managed by the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks.