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Holidays

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)

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 Atatürk, 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 Atatürk and Youth and Sports Day (May 19)

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)

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 Atatürk defeated the Greek forces at Dumlupınar (within Kütahya 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)

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.

Şeker Bayramı - Ramazan Bayramı (the Festival of Fast-Breaking) This three day festival comes after an entire month of fasting during Ramadan (the ninth month of the Muslim year) . It begins on the first day of the tenth month of the Muslim year and marks the end of fasting.

On the first day of the festival Muslims meet at mosques, special prayers take place between dawn and noon. After the prayers, families and friends meet in each other’s homes. Special cakes and sweet desserts are prepared for this occasion. Many Muslims celebrate the Festival by sending greeting cards to each other.

Kurban Bayramı (the Festival of Sacrifice) This four-day festival begins on the tenth day of the last month of the Muslim year and marks the completion of Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

On the morning of the first day of this festival, Muslims may sacrifice an animal. Usually this is a sheep or a goat, though other larger animals are sometimes used, especially if families join together to make the sacrifice. It is the festival at which Muslims remember that Prophet Abraham was ready to make a sacrifice of his son, Ishmael.He did not have to do this because, just in time an angel came to him and told him to stop, because he had already demonstrated his willingness to give up everything he loved for God’s sake. He sacrificed a ram instead.

Sacrificing the animal is a symbol. This is a sign that Muslims are ready to give up everything for the sake of God just as Abraham was willing to do that.

The meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts such that the first part goes to the poor persons, the second part to friends and relatives and the third part for the use of one’s family.

Both religious events are celebrated through prayers and sermons encouraging peace and general goodwill among all, visits to parents, grandparents and relatives for feast greeting, also visits to family cemeteries.

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

The dates for 2005 are as follows:

January 20-23 The Festival of Sacrifice (Kurban Bayramı)

November 3-5 The Festival of Fast-Breaking (Ramazan Bayramı)

Principal Turkish International Culture and Art Festivals

More than 100 festivals are organized in Turkey every year. Along with the local festivals organized in almost every city of the country, international culture and art festivals are also held in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Antalya. Istanbul is the most important center of international culture and art festivals.

Principal Turkish International Culture and Art Festivals and other important events are as follows:

Whirling Dance Performances

1- Performances at Mevlevihane in Galata

The Mevlevi Dervish Lodge or Mevlevihane in Galata, Istanbul, is today the home of the Museum of Divan Literature, as well as several times a year serving its old function as the place of worship of the Mevlevi or Whirling Dervishes, whose extraordinary ceremonies and unique music enrapture modern audiences just as they have since the 13th century.

The semahane, or hall where the sema, whirling dance, is performed, dates from the 18th century, its intricate woodwork being in the classical Ottoman style. Nowhere else has a semahane of this type survived to the present day. It was the first building to be constructed specifically as a Mevlevi dervish lodge in Istanbul.

Visit www.emav.org for performance schedule.

2- Performances during Mevlana Commemoration Ceremonies (December 10-17 2004)

December 10 8.30pm
December 11 8.30pm
December 12 8.30pm
December 13 1.00pm
December 13 8.30pm
December 14 1.00pm
December 14 8.30pm
December 15 8.30pm
December 16 8.30pm
December 17 8.30pm

Visit www.konya.gov.tr for ticket prices and contact addresses.

Weather

Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean Coasts:
These coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The swimming season becomes shorter as one travels north:

Marmara and North Aegean:
June to September

South Aegean and Mediterranean:
April to October

Black Sea Coast:
Temperate climate with warm summers, mild winters and relatively high rainfall.

Central Anatolia:
These areas have a steppe climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters.

Eastern Anatolia:
Long snowy, cold winters with mild summers.

Southeast Anatolia:
These areas have a hot summer with mild, rainy winters.

Average air temperatures for major cities in celsius:

Conversion Formula: F = (9/5)C + 32

Copyright © 2003 Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, Washington, DC.