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Republic Day (Turkey)

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Republic Day
Displays of fireworks, such as these over the Bosporus in 2007, take place across Turkey on Republic Day.
Official nameCumhuriyet Bayramı (Turkish)
Also calledThe twenty-ninth of October (Turkish: Yirmi Dokuz Ekim)
Observed by Turkey
 Northern Cyprus
TypeNational
SignificanceThe day in 1923 that the republic was proclaimed by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
CelebrationsFireworks, concerts, parades, events at schools, cultural programmes
Date29 October
Next time29 October 2025 (2025-10-29)
FrequencyAnnual
First time1923; 101 years ago (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]

Background

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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 (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi), 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] keeping his position until his death.

Customs

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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]

Tenth year speech

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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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  • Mustafa Kemal's 1933 speech at the 10th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, left to right: Chief of General Staff Mareşal Fevzi (Çakmak), President Gazi Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk), Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Kâzım Köprülü (Özalp), Prime Minister İsmet (İnönü)
    Mustafa Kemal's 1933 speech at the 10th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, left to right: Chief of General Staff Mareşal Fevzi (Çakmak), President Gazi Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk), Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Kâzım Köprülü (Özalp), Prime Minister İsmet (İnönü)
  • Men marching in traditional seymen costumes (2008)
    Men marching in traditional seymen costumes (2008)
  • Military parade during Republic Day celebrations in Ankara (2012)
    Military parade during Republic Day celebrations in Ankara (2012)
  • Fatih Vatan Spor women's football players on Republic Day (2018)
    Fatih Vatan Spor women's football players on Republic Day (2018)
  • Republic Day Parade in Ankara (2012)
    Republic Day Parade in Ankara (2012)
  • Celebrations at Ortaköy, Istanbul (2013)
    Celebrations at Ortaköy, Istanbul (2013)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Marat Terterov, Turkey: A Business And Investment Review, GMB Publishing Ltd, 2006, p. 94.
  2. ^ a b "Declaration of the Turkish republic". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  3. ^ a b Hamza, Eroğlu (July 2003). "Türkiye Cumhuriyetinin İlânı" (PDF). Atatürk Araştırma Merkezi Dergisi (in Turkish). Vol. 9, no. 56. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  4. ^ Ergül, Coşkun (4 August 2014). "1923'ten günümüze Cumhurbaşkanı seçimleri" (in Turkish). Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Ulusal Bayram ve Genel Tatiller Hakkında Kanun" (PDF) (in Turkish). mevzuat.gov.tr. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  6. ^ "29 Ekim Cumhuriyet Bayramı KKTC'de de kutlanıyor..." Kıbrıs Postası (in Turkish). 29 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Yüz binler Ata'ya koştu". Milliyet (in Turkish). 30 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Türkiye uyumadı! Cumhuriyet Bayramı gece de kutlandı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 29 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Cumhuriyet Bayramı kutlamaları dünden itibaren başladı". Sözcü (in Turkish). 28 October 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Cumhuriyet Bayramı kutlamalarının bu yılki adresi yine İstanbul Boğazı". Cumhuriyet (in Turkish). 27 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Büyükşehir'den Cumhuriyet Bayramı kutlaması". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 28 October 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  12. ^ "İzmir'de 29 Ekim Cumhuriyet Bayramı coşkuyla kutlandı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 29 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  13. ^ Agencies, Daily Sabah with (29 October 2023). "Turkish navy conducts its largest parade to honor republic's 100 years". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Republic's Tenth Anniversary Speech". www.columbia.edu. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  15. ^ Uluğ, NUTKU. ATATÜRK'ÜN ONUNCU YIL SÖYLEVİNİN FELSEFİ ÖNEMİ. Muğla Üniversitesi.
  16. ^ "10. Yıl Nutku". www.ktb.gov.tr. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Onuncu Yıl Nutku". Atatürk Ansiklopedisi (in Turkish). 3 March 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
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