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Did You Know?

Santa Claus lived in Anatolia, and yes, he was a real person. He was born in a town called Patara along the Mediterranean Sea in 270, and worked as the archbishop in Myra, today’s Demre. He died on December 6th, 347.

  • NATIONAL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

    On these days, parades and other ceremonial activities are carried out by official institutions like schools, state organizations and military forces to commemorate special events on the course of the National War of Independence that lasted four years between 1919 and 1923.

  • National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (April 23)
    23 April 1920

    On this date in 1920, during the War of Independence, the Turkish Grand National Assembly was established in Ankara by Mustafa Kemal and laid down the foundations of a new independent state from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. The founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, dedicated April 23 to the children of the country to emphasize that they are the future of the new nation. This is the world’s first and only holiday for children.

  • Commemoration of Ataturk and Youth and Sports Day (May 19)
    19 May 1919

    On this date in 1919, Mustafa Kemal arrived in Anatolia at the Black Sea Port of Samsun, which marks the beginning of the War of Independence. The week including this holiday has been celebrated as “Youth Week” in Turkey since 1983.

  • Victory Day (August 30)
    30 August 1922

    This national holiday celebrates the Victory of Turkish Army over Greeks in 1922. On this day in 1922, the fifth day of the big attack against the invading Greek Armies, the Turkish Army under the command of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk defeated the Greek forces at Dumlupinar (within Kutahya Province). This final victory determined the result of the Independence War. Within a few weeks, the Turkish mainland was completely liberated, the armistice signed and the rule of the Ottoman dynasty abolished.

  • Republic Day (October 29)
    29 September 1923

    This is the anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish Republic by the Turkish Grand National Assembly in 1923.

  • RELIGIOUS PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

    There are two religious holidays or feasts, which are very important for all Muslims.

  • The dates of these religious festivals change according to the Muslim lunar calendar and thus occur 10 or 11 days earlier each year.

    The dates for next year are as follows: