This document summarizes national holidays celebrated in Turkey, including April 23rd's National Sovereignty and Children's Day. It describes how this holiday commemorates Turkey gaining independence and the founding of its republic. It is dedicated to children to emphasize they are the country's future. Schools hold week-long celebrations, and children symbolically govern the country for a day. The holiday also brings together 600 foreign children each year to promote international peace and understanding between cultures.

1. OVERCOMING XENOPHOBIA THROUGH A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF EUROPEAN CULTURE2010-2012“NATIONAL HOLIDAYS”GAZI PRIMARY SCHOOLTURKEY

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3. NATIONAL HOLIDAYS IN TURKEY23rd April: National Sovereignty and Children's Day19th May: Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports DayCommemoration of the beginning of national liberation movement initiated in 1919 byAtatürk’slanding in Samsun.Dedicated to the youth.30th August: VictoryDayCommemoration of the victory of TurkishIndependenceWar.Dedicatedto the armed forces.29th October: RepublicDayCommemoration of the proclamation of TurkishRepublic in 1923

4. 23rd April: National Sovereignty and Children's Day

5. BackgroundTheTurkishGrand National Assembly met in Ankara and laid down the foundations of TurkishRepublicon April 23, 1920, during Turkey’s War of Independence (1919-1923).Thefounder of TurkishRepublic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk proclaimed the parliament an important step toward building a new , independent, secular, and modern republic after the Ottoman Empire. Ataturk dedicated thisday to the children of the country to emphasize that they are the future of the new nation.

6. Every year, Turkey celebrate "Sovereignty and Children's Day" as a national holiday.The biggest ceremony takes place at the Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara.Ataturk loved children and he often said: "Children are a new beginning of tomorrow".FirstTurkishGrand National AssemblyBuilding

7. Every year, Turkey celebrate "Sovereignty and Children's Day" as a national holiday.The biggest ceremony takes place at the Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara.

8. Schools participate in week-long ceremonies marked by performances in all fields in stadiums.

10. Turkish schoolchildren take seats in the Parliament for the day and symbolically govern the country.

11. Children show their appreciation and celebrate their special day with their own parades, dance, music performances and all sorts of children's entertainment throughout the day

12. 23rd April: National Sovereignty and Children's Day

13. Every April 23, The state-run Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) organizes a very colorful and cheerful festival and600 children from different countries around the worldparticipate in thesefestivities.

14. The foreign children groups also participate in the special session of the Grand National Assembly. This results in a truly international Assembly where children pledge their commitment to international peace and brotherhood.

16. During their stay in Turkey, the foreign children are housed in Turkish homes and find an important opportunity to interact with the Turkish kids and learn about each other's countries and cultures.

19. In the 1980's, UNICEF recognized the Children's Holiday and it has since been celebrated more like an International Children's Day.

20. Ataturk loved children and he often said: "Children are a new beginning oftomorrow".

21. REMEMBER… THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN THE WORLD IS A SMILING CHILD…DO NOT FORGET IT