Turkey hosts a variety of public and cultural holidays annually, but some dates can shift around when it is a different calendar year. Lets take a look at the Turkish holiday dates set for 2024.
During the month of January we have Camel wrestling season. The competitions will be taking place in various arenas around Turkey where the Camels will be dressed in colourful accessories and will endure slight neck wrestling, but of course nothing that would be harmful or dangerous to the animals. The annual event kicks off every third Sunday in January.
February is a month where we say goodbye to winter and look ahead to the spring. The annual Badem Cicegi Festival aka Almond Blossom Festival is held every year in the small town of Datca in the southwest in honour of the blossom blooming on the almond trees. The festival takes place from the 15th till the 18th February and enjoys live music, dancing, walking trails and stalls.
The holy month of Ramadan will be taking place from 11th March till the 9th April this year followed by Ramazan Bayrami from the 10th till the 12th April to celebrate the breaking of the fast where loved ones get together to enjoy sweet treats and traditional desserts after their month long fast.
The National Sovereignty and Children’s Day will be held this year on the 23rd April. Throughout some Turkish towns and cities will be plenty of activities and events for children as well as performances.
There are a number of holidays happening during the month of May. There is Labor and Solidarity Day. A number of businesses will stay open but most schools, post offices and state buildings will close for this holiday.
Folk holiday Hidirellez is also being celebrated in May. This exciting event will be taking place in Edrine. Much like a carnival there will be dancing, bonfire jumping and music performances. Istanbul’s Ahirkapi will be hosting a similar celebration but on a much smaller scale. The celebration of Hidirellez will take place on 5th May till the next day.
Another public holiday to note down in May is the Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day. This holiday is celebrated with parades and will be held on May 19th.
The Feast of Sacrifice is happening this June and is the longest holiday in Turkey and Islam. This is a four day festival in which a sacrificed sheep or cow is slaughtered and their meat is given to the poor.
July will see the Oil Wrestling competition take place at the Sarayici Er Meydani in Edirne.
Another national holiday will be held in August, that being Victory Day, a day that commemorates the Turkish victory against Greek forces in the Battle of Dumlupnar that took place in 1922. The day is celebrated with many people attending military parades, which are held in most major cities. Locals and shops will also usually decorate their homes and business with Turkish flags and images of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, there are also a number of ceremonies held throughout the day to honour and commemorate Atatürk. Victory Day falls on August 30th.
Republic Day is a celebration that marks the creation of the Turkish Republic, during the day many people attend performances at local stadiums that could be anything from theatre performances, poetry readings and even Turkish dances. In the evening Turkish cities hold a procession with flags, musical bands and even firework displays after dark. This is an official national holiday in Turkey so many businesses will be closed along with post offices, schools and administrative buildings. Republic Day falls on October 29th.
Source: turkeysforlife.com
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