Examine individual changes

'{{short description|Public holiday in Turkey}} {{Infobox holiday |holiday_name = National Sovereignty and Children's Day |type = National |image = 23 April 2011 festival.jpg |caption = Events at schools take place across Turkey on Children's Day. |official_name = {{native name|tr|Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı}} |nickname = The Twenty-third of April |observedby = {{flag|Turkey}}<br />{{flag|Northern Cyprus}} |significance = The day in 1920 that the [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey]] was founded |date = 23 April |scheduling = same day each year |duration = 1 day |frequency = annual |celebrations = [[Concert]]s, [[parade]]s, events at schools, cultural programmes }} '''National Sovereignty and Children's Day''' ({{lang-tr|Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı}}) is a [[Public holidays in Turkey|public holiday]] in [[Turkey]] commemorating the foundation of the [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey]], on 23 April 1920. It is also observed by [[Northern Cyprus]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/ekonomi/2019da-14u-resmi-119-gun-tatil-var-h56202.html |title=2019'da 14'ü resmi, 119 gün tatil var |trans-title=119 days off, including 14 days of public holidays, in 2019 |work=Kıbrıs Gazetesi |language=Turkish |date=December 17, 2018 |accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref> ==Background== 23 April is the day that the [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey]] was founded in 1920. The national council denounced the government of the Ottoman Sultan [[Mehmed VI]] and announced a temporary constitution.<ref name="britannica1">{{Cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Turkey/History#ref44426 |title=The Fundamental Law and abolition of the sultanate |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref> During the [[Turkish War of Independence|War of Independence]], [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey|Grand National Assembly]] met in [[Ankara]] and laid down the foundations of a new, independent, secular and modern republic from the ashes of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. Following the defeat of the [[Allies of World War I|Allied invasion forces]] on September 9, 1922 and the signing of the [[Treaty of Lausanne]] on July 24, 1923, the Turkish Government started the task of establishing the institutions of a state.<ref name="britannica1"/> 23 April was declared "National Sovereignty Day" on May 2, 1921.<ref name="celepi"/> Since 1927, the holiday has also been celebrated as a [[children's day]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1219478 |title=Dünden Bugüne 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı Etkinlikleri |trans-title=April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day Events from Past to Today |journal=Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi |language=Turkish |first1=Meryam |last1=Akoğlan Kozak |first2=Dilek |last2=Mutlu |volume=22 |issue=TBMM'nin 100. Yılı ve Millî İrade Özel Sayısı |page=19 |date=November 2020 |accessdate=April 23, 2021}}</ref> Thus, Turkey became the first country to officially declare children's day a national holiday.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tc-america.org/issues-information/turkish-history/national-sovereignty-and-childrens-day-678.htm |title=National Sovereignty and Children's Day |publisher=[[Turkish Coalition of America]] |accessdate=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125140656/https://tc-america.org/issues-information/turkish-history/national-sovereignty-and-childrens-day-678.htm |archive-date=November 25, 2020}}</ref> In 1981, the holiday was officially named "National Sovereignty and Children's Day."<ref name="celepi">{{cite journal |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1240510 |title=Toplumsal Anımsamanın Millî Bayramlar ile Gerçekleşmesi: 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı Örneği |trans-title=Social Remembrance with National Holidays: The Case of April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day |journal=Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi |language=Turkish |first=Mehmet Surur |last=Çelepi |volume=22 |issue=TBMM'nin 100. Yılı ve Millî İrade Özel Sayısı |page=38 |date=November 2020 |accessdate=April 23, 2021}}</ref> ==Customs== Every year, the children in Turkey celebrate National Sovereignty and Children's Day as a national holiday. Similar to other April events, Children's Day celebrations often take place outdoors.<ref name="sozcu"/> Schools participate in week-long ceremonies marked by performances in all fields in large stadiums watched by the entire nation.<ref name="sozcu">{{cite news |url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2019/gundem/23-nisan-ulusal-egemenlik-ve-cocuk-bayrami-tum-yurtta-coskuyla-kutlandi-4532142/ |newspaper=[[Sözcü]] |title=23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı tüm yurtta coşkuyla kutlandı |trans-title=April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day was celebrated throughout the country |date=April 23, 2019 |language=Turkish |accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref> Students decorate their classrooms with flags, balloons and handmade ornaments.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.academia.edu/19827286 |title=Celebrating National Holidays in Turkey: History and Memory |journal=New Perspectives on Turkey |first=Arzu |last=Öztürkmen |volume=25 |date=Fall 2001 |page=67|doi=10.1017/S0896634600003605 |s2cid=148457583 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2016/egitim/23-nisan-coskusunun-merkezinde-de-sinirsizlar-vardi-1202882/ |newspaper=Sözcü |title=23 Nisan coşkusunun merkezinde de Sınırsızlar vardı! |trans-title=Sınırsızlar was at the center of the celebrations of April 23! |date=April 26, 2016 |language=Turkish |accessdate=April 27, 2021}}</ref> [[Anıtkabir]] is visited by children and politicians every year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tr.euronews.com/2019/04/23/23-nisan-ulusal-egemenlik-ve-cocuk-bayrami-tbmm-99-yasinda |title=23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı: TBMM 99 yaşında |trans-title=April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day: TBMM is 99 years old |publisher=[[Euronews]] |language=Turkish |date=April 23, 2019 |accessdate=April 23, 2021}}</ref> Among the activities on this day, the children send their representatives to replace state officials and high ranking civil servants in their offices. The [[President of Turkey|President]], the cabinet ministers, provincial governors, and mayors all turn over their positions to children's representatives in a purely [[ceremonial]] exercise.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haberler.com/buyuksehirde-23-nisan-da-koltuk-degisimi-11977567-haberi/ |publisher=Haberler.com |title=Büyükşehirde 23 Nisan'da Koltuk Değişimi |trans-title=Change of Seat in the Metropolitan Municipality on April 23 |date=April 23, 2019 |language=Turkish |accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref> On this day, children also replace the parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly and hold a ceremonial special session to discuss matters concerning children's issues.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haberturk.com/gundem/haber/1069217-95-yildir-ayni-heyecan |newspaper=[[Habertürk]] |title=95 yıldır aynı heyecan |trans-title=The same excitement for 95 years |date=April 23, 2015 |language=Turkish |accessdate=April 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-celebrates-sovereignty-day-childrens-day-on-april-23.aspx?pageID=238&nID=81447&NewsCatID=341 |newspaper=[[Hürriyet Daily News]] |title=Turkey celebrates Sovereignty Day, Children's Day on April 23 |date=April 22, 2015 |accessdate=April 23, 2015}}</ref> After [[UNESCO]] proclaimed 1979 as the [[International Year of the Child]], the [[Turkish Radio and Television Corporation]] (TRT) organized the first [[TRT International April 23 Children's Festival]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/trt-de-23-nisan-39015491 |title=TRT'de 23 Nisan |trans-title=April 23 on TRT |work=Hürriyet |language=Turkish |date=April 23, 1998 |accessdate=April 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423124611/https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/trt-de-23-nisan-39015491 |archive-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> Five countries participated in this first holiday. Over the years, this number grew steadily, resulting in children from about 50 countries coming to Turkey in an official ceremony every year to participate in the festival. During the time, children stay with Turkish families and interact with the Turkish children and learn about each other's countries and cultures.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haberler.com/festival-icin-gelen-yabanci-ogrencileri-evlerinde-11979553-haberi/ |title=Festival İçin Gelen Yabancı Öğrencileri Evlerinde Ağırladılar |trans-title=Foreign Students Coming for the Festival were Hosted at Homes |publisher=Haberler.com |date=April 23, 2019 |language=Turkish |accessdate=April 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/yasam/dunya-cocuklari-turk-misafirperverligiyle-tanisiyor/801200 |agency=[[Anadolu Agency]] |title=Dünya çocukları Türk misafirperverliğiyle tanışıyor |trans-title=Children of the world meet Turkish hospitality |first=Behçet |last=Alkan |date=April 20, 2017 |language=Turkish |accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref> The foreign children groups also participate in the ceremonial session of the Grand National Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2019/gundem/tbmmde-23-nisan-ozel-oturumu-4533549/ |newspaper=Sözcü |title=TBMM'de 23 Nisan özel oturumu |trans-title=April 23 special session at TBMM |first=Zeynep |last=Gürcanlı |date=April 23, 2019 |language=Turkish |accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref> ==Celebration gallery== <gallery widths="223" heights="200"> File:Ataturk-23-4-1929-celebrations.jpg|[[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] (mid) in [[Ankara]] on the "Day of National Sovereignty", present-day the "National Sovereignty and Children's Day" (1929) File:Murat Boz Antalya2008.jpg|[[Murat Boz]] performing on stage as part of the [[TRT International April 23 Children's Festival]] (2008) File:Children'sDay07.JPG|Children from [[North Macedonia]] performing folk dance on the street in Istanbul (2014) </gallery> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|National Sovereignty and Children's Day}} * https://www.matekostum.com.tr/yoresel-kiyafetler/ (Traditional clothing examples that are used in 23'rd April ceremonies in Turkey.) {{Public holidays in Turkey}} [[Category:Public holidays in Turkey]] [[Category:April observances]] [[Category:Children's Day]] [[Category:Spring (season) events in Turkey]]'