2de Nuwe Jaar The 2nd of January is known as 2de Nuwe Jaar(2nd New Year). This day is when the Kaapse Klopse, or Coon Carnival (known as Cape Town Minstrel Carnival ) takes place. This day celebrates festivals the slaves in Cape Town held to commemorate New year (This wasn't always a minstrel festival). The reason is that this was the time that slaves were given off to celebrate. The festival has a strong American influence which we will discuss later. Participants are typically from Afrikaans-speaking working class "coloured" families who have preserved the custom since the mid-19th century. +- 12000 minstrels gather in Cape Town and march in groups called Klopse. These groups are usually formed in neighbourhoods (eg Lentegeur Entertainers). Festivities include street parades with singing and dancing, costume competitions and marches through the streets.

A joke is told about the date the festival is held:

Van Riebeeck arrived here in April 1652. They had very few white women. Thus the first coloured children were born 9 months later. The time of the festival.  ¶ 11/20/2006 04:13:00 PM