National Sovereignty

On April 23 Turkey celebrates its National Sovereignty and Children's Day. This date honors the foundation of Turkish National Assembly in 1920 as a result of the Turkish Independence War. Children's Day started to be celebrated 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.

Among the traditional activities on this day, children from all around Turkey gather in the Turkish capital city of Ankara where they symbolically replace the members of the Grand National Assembly for one day in order to emphasize the importance of the children in society. They elect a president and a prime minister and who symbolically govern Turkey. Also, since 1986 children come to Turkey to represent their country of origin to other children of all around the world with their artistic performances. This event is organized by the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation. The children are housed in Turkish homes where they can meet with Turkish children and exchange cultural knowledge.