National Spring Day

What’s not to love about spring? The 1st of September always conjures memories of school – wearing civvies and the obligatory bunch of hand-picked flowers for your teacher. September ushers in warmer weather and, oh joy, the last quarter of the year as we begin hurtling towards year end and the summer holidays.

National flower

The giant or king protea (Protea cynaroides)

National tree

The real yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius)

National animal

The springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)

National bird

The national bird of South Africa is the blue crane (Anthropoides paradisia)

National fish

South Africa's national fish is the galjoen (Dichistius capensis)

National orders

National orders are the highest awards that a country, through its President, bestows on its citizens and eminent foreign nationals.

National coat of arms

South Africa's coat of arms, or state emblem, is the highest visual symbol of the state.

National flag

The national flag of the Republic of South Africa was adopted on Freedom Day, 27 April 1994, and first flown 10 May 1994 - the day Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as President.