a
reference to a battle fought on December 16, 1838 between
Dutch immigrants (Boers) and the army of
Zulu King Dingaan. In 1838, Dingaan massacred about 600 Boers who were earlier promised safety for helping him recover a herd of stolen cattle. The Boers avenged these deaths on December 16 of that same year at the Battle of Blood River when they attacked the
Zulus and killed 3,000 of their warriors. This
day came to be known as "Dingaan's
Day" and was made a
legal holiday.