If you are planning a trip to Turkey and want to not only lie on the beach and enjoy all inclusive, then there is one interesting idea. You can explore all the holidays in Turkey, find the most interesting one for yourself and book a tour for the right dates. This will help you fully feel the flavor and traditions of the country and turn the trip into a real adventure. You don’t have to go far, here you will learn about the most interesting Turkish holidays and their features.
Features of Turkish holidays
Despite the fact that Islam prevails in Turkey, it is still a secular country, so both religious and state dates are celebrated here. Almost every one of them is tied to a specific day according to the Gregorian calendar. On average, there are about sixteen public holidays or bayrams per year. And it’s always weekends in Turkey, government agencies and people mostly don’t work. National celebrations mark important stages of the Kemalist revolution and highlight significant domestic political events in the country. These celebrations do not have traditional customs, which makes them dynamic and diverse.
Confessional bayrams, on the contrary, represent multinational actions reflecting the key moments of the evolution of Islam. All of them are connected with the chronology of the Birth of Christ and have deep historical roots, which allows travelers to experience the multilayered Turkish culture. To find out what holiday is in Turkey today, you need to use the lunar calendar. If this task seems difficult to you, then you can simply apply an online search on the Internet.
Civil holidays
The Turkish Republic has a rich history and an equally rich cultural heritage. Therefore, the national and state holidays of Turkey reflect the history, national identity and values of the people. Each of them has its own unique meaning.
- The New Year also falls on the first day of January, just like ours. On this day, the Turkish people pay tribute to Ataturk, the founder and first leader of the Turkish Republic, who introduced the principle of separation of religion from politics. The Gregorian calendar was introduced as a symbol of this transition.
- Children’s Day is dedicated to young citizens of the country and is considered a weekend. Every year on April 23, bright events with contests and concerts take place in the cities, and families gather together and relax in nature. The peculiarity of the day is that children can try themselves in the roles of deputies, mayors and even the president.
- The Turks celebrate Mothers’ Day every second Sunday in May. On this day, children give bouquets and gifts to their mothers.
- Republic Day is an important holiday in honor of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic. At the end of October, on the 23rd, flags turn red in the streets, parades take place and fireworks soar into the sky.
- Memorial Day of the first President of Turkey. Every year on November 10 at 9:05 a.m., Turks stop their business in a minute of silence, commemorating the legendary Mustafa Ataturk. A military demonstration is taking place in Ankara at the Anytkabir mausoleum complex.
The last two are the most important national holidays in Turkey, which provide an opportunity to honor history, national culture and achievements.
Religious holidays
Turkey is a country with a centuries-old history in which religious events occupy a special place in social formation. Each of them is filled with special traditions and meaning.
- Navruz or the celebration of spring is considered a time of awakening of nature. It is customary to forget debts and grudges. People do the cleaning and decorate the houses with floral arrangements.
- Ramadan is the most revered religious holiday in Turkey. Muslims keep a fast during this period and strive to get closer to Allah. They eat and drink only after sunset.
- Eid al-Adha men celebrate by going to mosques, and their wives are engaged in treats for the festive table. The culmination of Bayram is considered to be the presentation of a sacrificial lamb to the table, part of the meat of which is given to the poor.
- Ramadan is the most revered religious holiday in Turkey. Muslims keep a fast during this period and strive to get closer to Allah. They eat and drink only after sunset.
Such important moments are a time of communication and strengthening ties with spiritual traditions that unite people in their faith and culture.
Mass celebrations
The Turkish people like to organize festivals. Most likely, this is due to the people’s love of communication and creativity. A striking example is the procession of flowers in Antalya, where guests enjoy incredible floral ikibans. It is also worth noting the electronic music festival in Istanbul, where international DJs perform. Equally interesting is the ceramics fair in Cappadocia, where craftsmen demonstrate ancient pottery techniques. The balloon festival is also held here.
This is only a small part of what holidays there are in Turkey. Choose the most exciting ones for yourself and, without wasting time, go on an adventure.
