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Public holiday commemorating the founding of modern Turkey From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Republic Day | |
|---|---|
Displays of fireworks, such as these over the Bosporus in 2007, take place across Turkey on 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 2025 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 1923 |
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 institution 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 2023 Republic Centennial featured among others the return of the yearly parade in Ankara and a fleet review of Turkish Navy assets in Istanbul.[13]
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.[14] 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,[15] 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.[16][17]
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