Republic Day | |
---|---|
Official name | Cumhuriyet Bayramı ( Turkish) |
Also called | The twenty-ninth of October ( Turkish: Yirmi Dokuz Ekim) |
Observed by |
Turkey Northern Cyprus |
Type | National |
Significance | The day in 1923 that the republic was proclaimed by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey |
Celebrations | Fireworks, concerts, parades, events at schools, cultural programmes |
Date | 29 October |
Next time | 29 October 2024 |
Frequency | Annual |
First time | 1923 |
Republic Day ( Turkish: Cumhuriyet Bayramı) is a public holiday in Turkey commemorating the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, on 29 October 1923. The annual celebrations start at 1:00 pm on 28 October and continue for 35 hours. [1]
The holiday commemorates the events of 29 October 1923, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk declared that Turkey was henceforth a republic. [2] Turkey had de facto been a republic since 23 April 1920, the date of the establishment of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, but the official confirmation of this fact came three-and-a-half years later. [3] On 29 October 1923, the status of the nation as a republic was declared and its official name was proclaimed to be Türkiye Cumhuriyeti ("the Republic of Turkey"). [3] After that, a vote was held in the Grand National Assembly, and Atatürk was elected as the first President of the Republic of Turkey. [2] [4]
Republic Day is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Similar to other autumn events, Republic Day celebrations often take place outdoors. According to Law No. 2429 of 1981, Republic Day is a national holiday, so all public institutions are closed on that day. [5] It is also observed by Northern Cyprus. [6]
Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red and white, the colors of the Turkish flag. Anıtkabir is visited by more than a hundred thousand people every year. [7] Parades are often held in the morning, while concerts, and fireworks displays occur in the evening after dark at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares. [8] Republic Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the 10th Anniversary March. [9] Istanbul has the largest fireworks display in the country.[ citation needed] It generally holds displays over the Bosporus. [10] Other major displays are in Ankara in Ulus; and in İzmir over the Gulf of İzmir and Gündoğdu Square. [11] [12]
The tenth year speech was the speech given by the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, at the celebrations of the tenth anniversary of the republic's establishment. [13] This was a speech that not only gives an account of the Turkish War of Independence, in other words, tells about whom, why and how the national struggle was waged, [14] but also contains important information about what should be done and what will be done in the phase of this struggle after the establishment of the Republic. [15] [16]