Republic Day - Cumhuriyet Bayramı (October 29)

Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı) is a national holiday in Turkey, always celebrated on 29 October. The afternoon of 28 October is also a holiday. The holiday commemorates the proclamation of the Turkish republic in 29 October 1923.

Following the defeat of the Ottomans in World War I, the allies had occupied Turkey as part of the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire.

An uprising of Turkish nationalists led to the Turkish war of independence (1919 -1923). The allies left Turkish regions in July 1923.

Mustafa Kemal, the leader of the Turkish troops was named the first president on 29 October 1923 when the Turkish republic was proclaimed in the new capital, Ankara. In 1934, Kemal was given the title Atatürk, which means 'Father of the Turks'.

In 1923, the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed by the Grand Assembly. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was unanimously named the first president of the country. Mr Atatürk led the War of Independence that had started on May 19, 1999 and ended after three years.

The peace treaty, The Treaty of Lausanne, was instrumental in the formation of the country. The treaty was signed in Lausanne, Switzerland, on July 24, 1923. The peace treaty officially put an end to the war that took place between the Allied British Empire and Turkey. It also involved Serb-Croat-Slovene State, the Kingdom of Romania, Kingdom of Greece, Empire of Japan, Kingdom of Italy and French Republic. An earlier attempt for peace, The Treaty of Sèvres, failed as the national movement in Turkey rejected it.

Ankara, the capital city, hosts many of the official events of celebration which include ceremonies at the Anıtkabir, Atatürks Mausoleum.

Many people in Turkey celebrate Republic Day on October 29 by attending performances and participating in traditional processions with flags and musical bands. The Turkish Republic’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk proclaimed Republic Day as Turkey’s most important holiday. 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. Schools in the country celebrate the Republic Day with readings, displays, songs and other presentations. Many school children participate in school performances for parents and teachers. Republic Day is an official national holiday in Turkey. Public administration buildings, schools, post offices and many small businesses are usually closed on this day.

The Ramadan Feast In Turkey

The Ramadan Feast

The Ramadan Feast in Turkey is a time for visiting relatives and paying one’s respect to older people. Many Turks give away sweets and desserts during the festival, and children may watch free Turkish shadow plays which name is Karagöz and Hacivat.

What do people do?

Many people wake up early on the first day of the Ramadan Feast. They put on their best clothes, called bayramlık, which they often buy specifically for the occasion, and have a large breakfast. This symbolizes the end of the fasting period, which many Muslims observe during the preceding month of Ramadan.

The Ramadan Feast has an alternative name in Turkey, the Sugar Feast (Şeker Bayramı), because people treat their guests to sweets and traditional desserts during the festival. It is customary to visit one's relatives, especially older ones, and kiss their hand as a sign of respect. Children may go door-to-door, kissing hands of the grown-ups and receiving sweets and small amounts of money in return.

Turkish shadow plays, such as Karagöz and Hacivat, are popular during the Ramadan Feast, and children can watch these plays at fairs free of charge. In a more recent tradition, some people use the official holiday to travel abroad or go to Turkish resorts.

Public life

The Ramadan Feast is an official holiday that continues for three days in Turkey. Administration buildings, schools and most businesses are closed during this period. Public transport fares are usually lower compared to regular days. Highways may be overcrowded, especially in the morning of the first day and in the afternoon of the last day of the Ramadan Feast, as many people travel on these days.

Background

The Ramadan Feast is the first day of Shawwal, which is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Each month in the Islamic calendar begins with the first sighting of the new moon. As a result, the exact dates of the Ramadan Feast change every year, according to the Gregorian calendar. Celebrating the Ramadan Feast after a month of fasting is one of the earliest and most important traditions of Islam.

Symbols

The symbols of the Ramadan Feast include:

• A new moon.
• Sweets or traditional desserts.
• A cup of Turkish tea or coffee.

 These symbols can be seen in artwork related to the Ramadan Feast in Turkey.

Illuminated Blue Mosque saying: Sevelim sevilelim 'Let us love, Let us be loved' by Yunus Emre (a Turkish poet and Sufi mystic).