Reconciliation Day can refer to a few different observances, but the best‑known fixed “Reconciliation Day” holiday is in South Africa and falls every year on 16 December.

Main dates called “Reconciliation Day”

  • Day of Reconciliation (South Africa)
    • Date: 16 December every year.
* Purpose: Public holiday created in 1995 after apartheid to promote national unity and **reconciliation** between communities.
  • National Reconciliation Day (April 2 – mainly U.S. observance)
    • Date: 2 April every year.
* Focus: A personal/relational observance encouraging people to repair damaged relationships and make amends.
  • Related but differently named days (often confused)
    • National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Canada: 30 September , a federal statutory day to honour residential school survivors and their families.
* **Reconciliation Day (ACT, Australia):** Observed in the Australian Capital Territory to honour First Nations peoples and promote reconciliation; upcoming official dates are set locally and can vary by year.

Quick pointers

  • If you mean the South African public holiday , “Reconciliation Day” is always 16 December.
  • If you’ve seen “Reconciliation Day” discussed in North American relationship or lifestyle content, that is likely the April 2 observance.
  • If you are in Canada and hearing about reconciliation around orange shirts and residential schools, that is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on 30 September , not formally called “Reconciliation Day.”

If you tell your country or region, a more precise date and context can be given for “when is Reconciliation Day” as it applies to you.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.