Turkey Holidays - 2001

New Year's Day is the first day of the year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1.New Year’s Day in Turkey starts with fireworks after the traditional countdown at the end of the New Year’s Eve.People living in big cities in Turkey traditionally celebrate the New Year in city squares, from where they can watch fireworks at midnight between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Celebrations usually last until dawn and many people use the day off on January 1 to relax and visit friends and relatives.All administration buildings, schools and post offices, as well as most businesses are closed on this day.

April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day, which marks the foundation of the Turkish Parliament in 1920.April 23 was proclaimed a national holiday in 1921. Since 1927 it has also become Children's Day an official holiday dedicated to the children of Turkey and the world. Every year on this date, children from all around the world come together in Turkey to enjoy Children's Day celebrations and festivities in a hope that these memories of friendly atmosphere will contribute to a future of enhanced brotherhood and peace among nations..

Labor and Solidarity Day, observed on May 1, is an official holiday in Turkey. Administration buildings, schools and post offices are usually closed on this day. Labor and Solidarity Day in Turkey is an occasion for some people to demand better conditions for skilled laborers and union workers. Many others use the day to relax and see their friends and relatives. Some people in Turkey participate in demonstrations on Labor and Solidarity Day.

The Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, or simply Atatürk Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day, is an annual Turkish national holiday celebrated on May 19.This holiday, celebrated since 1933, marks the Turkish War of Independence and honors the pioneer of this movement, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Atatürk founded the Republic of Turkey after a major struggle to get to Samsun from Istanbul and rule over the 9th Ottoman Army. The aim of this holiday is to motivate the youth to preserve the culture and values of Turkey.Children sing the national anthem, play sports, parade, commemorate Atatürk and are reminded of the values of democracy and Turkey.Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus also commemorates this day, as it shares its culture and many of its holidays with Turkey.

Victory Day (local name: Zafer Bayrami) on August 30 is a national holiday in Turkey to commemorate the victory in the Battle of Dumlupinar, the final battle in the Turkish War of Independence in 1922.This day is celebrated throughout Turkey in the honor of those whose who got them independence.The armed forces also celebrate this day with march-pasts. 30th August give people of Turkey to breath and live in fresh air, air that smells of independence and victory.

Ramazan Bayrami is the three-day holiday that follows the end of the holy month of Ramazan.In Turkey, it is an official national holiday. On the last day of Ramazan, most offices and businesses close after lunch for "preparation" (arife, ah-ree-FEH). The three-day holiday itself begins at sunset on that day, and lasts until sunset on the third day. So if the last day of Ramazan is Monday, the holiday begins Monday sunset and lasts until Thursday sunset.In Turkey, Ramazan Bayrami is a time for sending greeting cards to friends and loved ones, paying visits, and enjoying a lot of sweets. Everyone enjoys drinking lots of Turkish tea and coffee in broad daylight after the 30 days of daylight fasting during Ramazan.

The Republic Day of Turkey is one of the public holidays in Turkey, commemorating the proclamation of the republic in 1923. The afternoon of previous day is also observed as a holiday.In 29 October 1923 Atatürk declared that Turkey would be a republic and renamed it as the Republic of Turkey.Many people go to local stadiums on October 29 to watch performances dedicated to Republic Day in Turkey. Such performances usually consist of theater sketches, poetry readings and traditional Turkish dances.

Eid al-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God.This is four-day festival when sacrificial sheep are slaughtered and their meat distributed to the poor.Many shops, banks and businesses may be closed for the duration of the festival. This is also the time of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca so both international and domestic travel is intense.