When is Turkish Republic Day?
Republic Day (Turkish: Cumhuriyet Bayramı) is a national holiday in Turkey, always celebrated on October 29th. It is the National Day of Turkey.
The afternoon of October 28th is also a holiday.
The holiday commemorates the proclamation of the Turkish republic on October 29th 1923.
History of Turkish Republic Day
Following the defeat of the Ottomans in World War I, the allies 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 October 29th 1923 when the First Grand National Assembly declared Türkiye to be a republic officially in the new capital, Ankara, at the First Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Building.
On the same day, it was decided by the parliament to celebrate with 101 guns.
In 1934, Kemal was given the title Atatürk, which means 'Father of the Turks'.
A republican constitution was adopted the following April. Islam remained the state religion for several years, though this was eventually removed from the constitution in April 1928, making Turkey a secular state. Turkey remained a single-party government until 1945.
For the Turkish people, Republic Day is one of the national holidays where national unity and solidarity and social solidarity are at the highest level. It was essential to determine a new form of administration in order to eliminate the administrative vacuum that emerged after the War of Independence, which ended with the victory of the Turkish nation.
How is Turkish Republic Day Celebrated?
The holiday lasts 35 hours, starting at 1:00 pm on October 28th. Festivities include parades, torchlight processions, and music to mark the founding of the republic.
People lay wreaths at the many statues of Atatürk across the country or visit Atatürk’s mausoleum in the country’s capital, Ankara. People also gather in streets and stadiums for celebrations and traditionally, they join celebratory walks which are held in the evening.
As with other national holidays in Turkey, public transport generally runs on a Saturday schedule. Most businesses, schools, banks, council offices and the Turkish stock exchange will be closed.
Public transport is free on Republic Day in Istanbul.
