Post by yenilira on Oct 29, 2011 0:19:09 GMT 1
Like most other countries I've visited, (and there's been quite a few), Turkey has several national holidays a year where banks and other businesses close, travel gets more complicated and interesting celebrations take place.
Much like the UK and US, some of these are religious holidays and some are secular.
But today is the 29th of October, which is 'Republic Day' in Turkey.
This day of celebration was cancelled yesterday out of respect for the victims of the Van tragedy.
But how did this day come about?
Republic Day marks the creation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. After Turkey’s victory in the War of Independence (1919-1923), the Turkish parliament proclaimed the new Turkish state as a republic. A new constitution, which the parliament adopted on October 29, 1923, replaced the constitution of the Ottoman Empire. The leader in the Turkish War of Independence, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, became the country’s first president on the same day, and according to Atatürk, Republic Day is 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. Many school children participate in school performances for parents and teachers. Parades may take place in some cities and politicians may give public speeches on this day. Many people also lay wreaths to Atatürk’s monuments or visit Atatürk’s mausoleum in the country’s capital, Ankara.
In the evening of October 29 many cities have traditional processions with flags and musical bands to commemorate this Day in Turkey. The processions usually end with fireworks, which begin after dark.
Republic Day is an official national holiday in Turkey. Public administration buildings, schools, post offices and many small businesses are usually closed, public transport schedules may vary, and public transport routes may change in the event of street performances and processions. The afternoon of the previous day, October 28, is also an official holiday.
Other important national dates in the year are
23rd April - National Independence & Children's Day - anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Grand National Essembly (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi – TBMM) in 1920.
1st May - Labour & Solidarity Day 'May Day' (added to the calendar in 2009) - Istanbul only.
19th May - Atatürk Commemoration and Youth & Sports Day - which marks the 81st anniversary this year of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's landing in Anatolia from Istanbul to launch the Turkish War of Independence in 1919 and is celebrated with ceremonies throughout the country.
1st to 29th August this year - Ramazan, the month of fasting (not a national holiday but affects businesses and definitely people!) Obviously, you'd think this would be the one you'd want to watch out for when arranging your (family) holiday dates in Turkey. But no, in the holiday resorts, etc., it doesn't really affect tourists, as most places, i.e. shops, cafes, restaurants, stay open.
It is from July 20th to August 18th in 2012.
30-31-August-1 September - Ramazan Bayrami. Three-day festival when sweets are eaten to celebrate the end of the fast of Ramazan month. Also known as " ªeker (sweets) Bayrami" since it's customary to offer candies to family members and friends that are visiting. “ ªeker” is 'sugar'. 19-20-21 August in 2012.
Called Eid es-Seghir in many other Muslim countries
(The dates of the religious festivals change according to the Islamic calendar and thus occur 10-11 days [exact difference between Gregorian and Lunar calendars is 10 days and 21 hrs] earlier each year. This is called “kameri takvim”.)
30th August - Victory Day - from the Battle of Dumlupinar where the Greeks were finally defeated in 1922, resulting in the Treaty of Lausanne which established the borders of modern-day Turkey.
28-29 October - Republic Day - Anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish Republic. Today.
10th November - Atatürk Memorial Day - (also not a national holiday but marked by 5 minutes of silence at 9.05 everywhere) Commemorates the death in 1938 of 'the Father of the Turkish Nation'.
5-9 November - Kurban Bayrami (Sacrifice holiday) - (26-28 October in 2012) -
the feast of the sacrifice (or Eid ul-Adha in Arabic countries), this holiday comes after the major time that muslims make the Haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca.
This is a festival when sacrificial sheep or other animals are slaughtered and the meat distributed to the poor, in memory of the ram sacrificed by Abraham in place of his son.
It must be said the Turks are fiercely nationalistic and proud of their homeland, hence the number of historical dates in their calendar.
Note:
Turkish people do not celebrate Christmas as such, however they are beginning to put up Christmas trees and lights etc. This is only due to a trend, and does not signify a religious inclination.
Turks do celebrate New Years Eve, however, pretty much like Christmas is celebrated over here: They will have a roast Turkey dinner with friends and family, and exchange gifts and cards.
Although most Turkish people are Muslims, (98% of the population) they are more relaxed about Islam than the rest of the Muslim countries as demonstrated by the facts that they do consume alcohol, some eat pork/boar, and most women do not wear the Islamic clothes.
The idea of Christmas for the Turkish is not a throughly alien one: Santa Claus (Father Christmas) was born in Turkey and is called Noel Baba in Turkish. A historic temple where his home was (Demre/Myra) still exists today and is open for visits. It has long been the tradition, especially amongst the more educated and west-oriented families, that Noel Baba would bring gifts to kids on the New Year's Eve.
Teºekkürler
YL.
Much like the UK and US, some of these are religious holidays and some are secular.
But today is the 29th of October, which is 'Republic Day' in Turkey.
This day of celebration was cancelled yesterday out of respect for the victims of the Van tragedy.
But how did this day come about?
Republic Day marks the creation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. After Turkey’s victory in the War of Independence (1919-1923), the Turkish parliament proclaimed the new Turkish state as a republic. A new constitution, which the parliament adopted on October 29, 1923, replaced the constitution of the Ottoman Empire. The leader in the Turkish War of Independence, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, became the country’s first president on the same day, and according to Atatürk, Republic Day is 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. Many school children participate in school performances for parents and teachers. Parades may take place in some cities and politicians may give public speeches on this day. Many people also lay wreaths to Atatürk’s monuments or visit Atatürk’s mausoleum in the country’s capital, Ankara.
In the evening of October 29 many cities have traditional processions with flags and musical bands to commemorate this Day in Turkey. The processions usually end with fireworks, which begin after dark.
Republic Day is an official national holiday in Turkey. Public administration buildings, schools, post offices and many small businesses are usually closed, public transport schedules may vary, and public transport routes may change in the event of street performances and processions. The afternoon of the previous day, October 28, is also an official holiday.
Other important national dates in the year are
23rd April - National Independence & Children's Day - anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Grand National Essembly (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi – TBMM) in 1920.
1st May - Labour & Solidarity Day 'May Day' (added to the calendar in 2009) - Istanbul only.
19th May - Atatürk Commemoration and Youth & Sports Day - which marks the 81st anniversary this year of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's landing in Anatolia from Istanbul to launch the Turkish War of Independence in 1919 and is celebrated with ceremonies throughout the country.
1st to 29th August this year - Ramazan, the month of fasting (not a national holiday but affects businesses and definitely people!) Obviously, you'd think this would be the one you'd want to watch out for when arranging your (family) holiday dates in Turkey. But no, in the holiday resorts, etc., it doesn't really affect tourists, as most places, i.e. shops, cafes, restaurants, stay open.
It is from July 20th to August 18th in 2012.
30-31-August-1 September - Ramazan Bayrami. Three-day festival when sweets are eaten to celebrate the end of the fast of Ramazan month. Also known as " ªeker (sweets) Bayrami" since it's customary to offer candies to family members and friends that are visiting. “ ªeker” is 'sugar'. 19-20-21 August in 2012.
Called Eid es-Seghir in many other Muslim countries
(The dates of the religious festivals change according to the Islamic calendar and thus occur 10-11 days [exact difference between Gregorian and Lunar calendars is 10 days and 21 hrs] earlier each year. This is called “kameri takvim”.)
30th August - Victory Day - from the Battle of Dumlupinar where the Greeks were finally defeated in 1922, resulting in the Treaty of Lausanne which established the borders of modern-day Turkey.
28-29 October - Republic Day - Anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish Republic. Today.
10th November - Atatürk Memorial Day - (also not a national holiday but marked by 5 minutes of silence at 9.05 everywhere) Commemorates the death in 1938 of 'the Father of the Turkish Nation'.
5-9 November - Kurban Bayrami (Sacrifice holiday) - (26-28 October in 2012) -
the feast of the sacrifice (or Eid ul-Adha in Arabic countries), this holiday comes after the major time that muslims make the Haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca.
This is a festival when sacrificial sheep or other animals are slaughtered and the meat distributed to the poor, in memory of the ram sacrificed by Abraham in place of his son.
It must be said the Turks are fiercely nationalistic and proud of their homeland, hence the number of historical dates in their calendar.
Note:
Turkish people do not celebrate Christmas as such, however they are beginning to put up Christmas trees and lights etc. This is only due to a trend, and does not signify a religious inclination.
Turks do celebrate New Years Eve, however, pretty much like Christmas is celebrated over here: They will have a roast Turkey dinner with friends and family, and exchange gifts and cards.
Although most Turkish people are Muslims, (98% of the population) they are more relaxed about Islam than the rest of the Muslim countries as demonstrated by the facts that they do consume alcohol, some eat pork/boar, and most women do not wear the Islamic clothes.
The idea of Christmas for the Turkish is not a throughly alien one: Santa Claus (Father Christmas) was born in Turkey and is called Noel Baba in Turkish. A historic temple where his home was (Demre/Myra) still exists today and is open for visits. It has long been the tradition, especially amongst the more educated and west-oriented families, that Noel Baba would bring gifts to kids on the New Year's Eve.
Teºekkürler
YL.