Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bahramı

National Sovereignty and Children's Day

April 23rd

A couple of weeks ago (maybe even about a month ago) I started noticing banners around Istanbul. They were banners reminding people that April 23rd was Children's Day. I thought that it was pretty neat that Turkey had a day dedicated to children. In the US, I was pretty sure there was a Children's Day also, but if you asked me what day it was I wouldn't know. Also, it's not a day that is regarded highly enough to post a banner numerous places around town weeks in advance.

A few days before Children's Day, the children here were talking about the holiday. One girl had an assignment to find a poem about the day. When I asked how hard that would be she replied, "Oh, it's Children's Day. There are a lot of poems." In just a couple of clicks, she had her poem. I was surprised. I then learned that Children's Day was a school holiday, and the girls would not have school that day. While I have just been here 2 months, it was interesting to me that the first "holiday" I would experience would be Children's Day.

On Friday, April 23rd, I knew it was Children's Day, but it was a holiday that was in the back of my mind. I was concerned with traveling to another city for the weekend with the family. As soon as we left the garage I noticed the security office to our complex had a flag flying above it's windows. I didn't think it had always been there, but honestly I wasn't sure that it hadn't. As the 45 minute drive continued, I noticed more and more flags hanging from numerous buildings. Various sizes, including some that were probably the length of boats! I quickly realized that Children's Day was truly a national holiday.

(Dolmuş: Taxi van)

(Apartments flying the flag)

(I was quite surprised by these flags hanging from the tall buildings!)

(Entering Sariyer, a fishing town.)

I learned that Children's Day is more than just a day for children. As one person told me, "It's the day Atatürk gave us." Yet another example of the pride the Turkish have for their first president. On April 23rd, 1920, the Grand National Assembly met for the first time in Ankara to establish a plan for an independent country. In 1923, after gaining independence from the Ottoman Empire and the invasion of numerous other countries, Atatürk dedicated April 23rd as a day of National Sovereignty and Children, recognizing that children were the future of the country.

The government in Turkey has been trying for years to make Children's Day an international holiday. UNICEF has taken part, and now recognizes April 23rd as International Children's Day.