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Turkey Republic Day2029 Countdown
Monday, October 29, 2029
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About Turkey Republic Day
Turkey Republic Day, known in Turkish as Cumhuriyet Bayramı, commemorates October 29, 1923, the day the Grand National Assembly officially proclaimed the Republic of Türkiye. After the Ottoman Empire collapsed following World War I, a war of independence left the new nation searching for its shape, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led the movement that replaced centuries of sultanate rule with a modern republic.
The holiday is one of the country's most important national days. Government offices, schools, and most businesses close, and preparations often begin days in advance with flags and bunting appearing on balconies and along boulevards. At midday, official ceremonies take place in Ankara, and in the evening cities erupt in concerts, torchlight processions, and fireworks over the Bosphorus.
Beyond the festivities, the day carries a reflective tone. Turks remember the founding generation's reforms, including the alphabet change, women's suffrage, and the principle of secularism, while students recite speeches about the republic's ideals. For visitors, it is a striking time to see the country draped in red and white.
History of Turkey Republic Day
On October 29, 1923, the Turkish Grand National Assembly voted to declare Turkey a republic and elected Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as its first president. The proclamation followed the abolition of the Ottoman sultanate in November 1922 and the end of the war of independence that had secured the country's borders. The first Republic Day was celebrated the next year, and October 29 became a formal national holiday in 1925. Atatürk used the republic's early years to push sweeping reforms: the caliphate was abolished, a new civil code introduced, and the Latin alphabet adopted in 1928. In 1935 the National Assembly elevated the day to the country's foremost national festival, and it has remained a cornerstone of Turkish civic identity ever since, marked by official ceremonies at Anıtkabir, Atatürk's mausoleum in Ankara.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- When is Turkey Republic Day?
- Turkey Republic Day falls every year on October 29, marking the proclamation of the republic in 1923.
- Is Turkey Republic Day a public holiday?
- Yes. It is a national public holiday in Türkiye, so government offices, schools, and most businesses close, and public transport follows a holiday schedule.
- How do people celebrate Turkey Republic Day?
- People celebrate with flag decorations, official ceremonies, torchlight processions, concerts, and fireworks. Schools hold assemblies where students recite speeches honoring the republic's founding.
- What does Cumhuriyet Bayramı mean?
- It is the Turkish name for Republic Day, literally the Festival of the Republic, and it is the most widely used name for the holiday within the country.