National Independence Day of Turkey and Children
This Turkish holiday is considered official, and in Northern Cyprus—meaning it's not only widely celebrated but also a public holiday.
History of National Sovereignty and Children's Day
On this day, April 23, 1920, the Grand National Assembly was established in Turkey — the country’s main legislative body. This date was chosen as National Sovereignty Day.
What does this have to do with children? Mustafa Kemal Atatürk did not have any biological children, but he had many adopted children. One of them was, by the way, Sabıha Gökçen, the first Turkish female pilot, after whom one of the airports in Istanbul is named. At the founding of the Grand National Assembly, Atatürk gave a speech dedicated to the children of the world as a symbol of the future. He also dedicated the holiday to children when declaring National Sovereignty Day.
How It Is Celebrated
In addition to the traditional concerts and theatrical performances in city squares, Turkey has an interesting tradition. On this day, officials, ministers, and other high-ranking government employees, including members of the Grand National Assembly, are replaced by children.
In Northern Cyprus, in recent years, the tradition of replacing government officials with children has been replaced by visits from children from different regions of the country to government offices. For example, in 2024, the delegation included 5 students from Nicosia, 3 from Famagusta, 2 students from schools in Kyrenia, Güzelyurt, and Iskele, and one student from Lefke.
It is noteworthy that the holiday in the TRNC begins almost a week before the 23rd. In 2025, as part of the celebrations of National Sovereignty and Children’s Protection Day, on April 22, 17 young “ministers” took their seats in the Council of Ministers!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the Republic Day of Turkey?
No, this holiday should not be confused with Republic Day, which is also celebrated on a large scale in Northern Cyprus. And it shouldn't be confused with the Republic Day of Northern Cyprus itself—these are all different holidays.
What other national holidays are there in Northern Cyprus?
In total, there are more than 10 national holidays in the TRNC, some of which, such as Eid al-Fitr, last for several days. We have compiled secular and religious events into an article aptly titled “National Holidays of Northern Cyprus.”
Follow ourInstagram and Telegram channels, learn everything useful about life on the island!
Author
Born and raised in Yekaterinburg, visited more than 40 countries, lived in the USA for some time, and in 2022, moved to Northern Cyprus. Education: Ural State University (now Ural Federal University), Faculty of Political Science and Sociology. Professional Experience: Since 2008, worked in the…
