23th,April National Childrens Day.
April 23 is the “National Sovereignty and Children’s Day” (tr:23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı) in Turkey.
The date commemorates the opening of Turkish National Assembly in 1920 during the Turkish Independence War. The designation of Children’s Day came in 1929 upon the recommendation of the Institution of Children’s Protection. Since 1986 the Turkish government organizes an international children’s festival on April 23.
On April 23 of every year, children in Turkey celebrate this “Sovereignty and Children’s Day” as a national holiday, and is celebrated by citizens throughout the country during ceremonies preceding the day.
Among the activities on this day, children from all around Turkey gather in the capital city, Ankara, and they replace the selected members of the Grand National Assembly. They have an elected president and prime minister and they govern Turkey for one day in order to emphasize the importance of the children in the society. In many places governmental agencies leave the authority to children symbolically for the day.
Traditionally since 1986, children come to Turkey to represent their country of origin to children of the world with artistic performances. They’re housed in Turkish homes and can meet with Turkish children. This event is organized by the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation. The groups of foreign children also participate in the special session held at the Grand National Assembly.
Turkish people hope these children will remember the day for their lives and will contribute to a bond with other cultures. The internationalization is thus aimed toward Turkey’s principle of, “peace at home, peace in the world”, and “Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the people”.