23th April National Independence and Child Day

National holidays are the days we celebrate as a nation and which improves unity. We commemorate heroism of our ancestors. We understand importance of things they are entrusted.

Feasts, flag are hung on the balcony of the house. Classrooms are decorated. Ceremonies are performed.

TBMM(Grand National Assembly) was opened on 23th April 1920. Ataturk devoted this day to children. The week in 23th April is celebrated as children’s week. In this week some fests are organized.Children from all over the world come to Turkey. Children from different countries perform their folk dances, sings their own songs. We can the see the color of friendship and peace.

Ramadan Festival

National and religious days improve happiness. According to Islamic Rules, people whose religion is Muslim need to fast. Fasting takes a month. Fast is in Ramadan. Ramadan means happiness, visiting relative, paying one’s respect to older people,helping people  and improving religious feelings. Negative feelings are decreased in Ramadan.

Many Turks give away sweets and desserts during the festival, and children may watch free Turkish shadow plays, such as Karagöz and Hacivat, during the Ramadan Feast. Many people wake up early on the first day of the Ramadan Feast. They put on their best clothes, called bayramlık, which they often buy specifically for the occasion, and have a large breakfast. This symbolizes the end of the fasting period, which many Muslims observe during the preceding month of Ramadan. Children may go door-to-door, kissing hands of the grown-ups and receiving sweets and small amounts of money in return. People enjoy  the festival of sharing love  for three days .

Hidrellez

Hidrellez is the traditional early spring festival, celebrating the awakening of the nature, every year throughout Anatolia. It is believed that every wish you make tonight will be accepted, as tonight prophet Hizir comes to give help to those who need it.

Hidrellez is a very important day  especially for Romany people  and is celebrated all through the night with street parties. The streets bustle with Gypsy music bands and crowds dancing to the 9/8 rhythm. The tradition is to jump over a fire and make a wish. You can also write or draw your wish and bury it under a plant or tie it on a tree branch.People have the tradition to go by the river very early in the morning to take a ritual dip in the cold water.