Turkish Republic Day: Celebrating 29 October

Turkish Republic Day, Cumhuriyet Bayram?, falls on 29 October and marks the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. It is the country's most important national holiday, and in Turkey the red crescent-and-star flag hangs from almost every balcony, shopfront and public building. In the UK, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot communities mark the day with receptions, school events and decorated restaurants.

29 October 1923

After the end of the Ottoman Empire and the War of Independence, the Grand National Assembly in Ankara proclaimed the Republic on 29 October 1923. On the same day it elected Mustafa Kemal, later given the surname Atatürk, as the first President. Ankara had been confirmed as the new capital a fortnight earlier.

The anniversary is a public holiday in Turkey, with official celebrations usually starting from the afternoon of 28 October. The centenary in 2023 was marked on an especially large scale.

How Turkey celebrates

• Ceremonies at An?tkabir, Atatürk's mausoleum in Ankara, where state officials lay wreaths.
• School celebrations, with poems, songs and children carrying small paper or cloth flags.
• Fener alay?, evening torch and lantern processions through town centres.
• Fireworks and concerts, with the Bosphorus bridges in Istanbul often lit in red and white.
• Flags everywhere: giant flags draped down the faces of buildings, and Atatürk portrait banners alongside them.

Turkey has several other national days, including National Sovereignty and Children's Day on 23 April, 19 May (Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day) and Victory Day on 30 August. One date is very different in tone: on 10 November, the anniversary of Atatürk's death in 1938, the country stops for a minute's silence at 9.05am and flags fly at half-mast. If you run a business with Turkish customers, avoid celebratory displays on that day.

Republic Day in Britain

The UK's Turkish-speaking population includes people from Turkey and a long-established Turkish Cypriot community, with particularly large numbers in north London boroughs such as Haringey, Enfield and Hackney. The Turkish Embassy in London traditionally holds a Republic Day reception, and community centres, associations and Turkish supplementary schools often hold their own events. Restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets along streets such as Green Lanes are frequently decorated with flags around 29 October. Details vary from year to year, so contact local organisations for times.

The Turkish flag: Ay Y?ld?z

The flag is known as Ay Y?ld?z (moon-star) or Al Bayrak (the red flag): a red field with a white crescent and a white five-pointed star. Its geometry is fixed by the Turkish Flag Law, first passed in 1936 and replaced in 1983, which sets the proportions at 2:3 and specifies the exact size and position of the crescent and star.

The crescent sits towards the hoist (the pole side), opening towards the fly, with the star set in front of its open side. If the star is nearer the pole than the crescent, the flag is back to front.

Respect for the flag is taken seriously in Turkey. Under Turkish flag rules a torn, faded or damaged flag should not be flown, and a flag should never touch the ground. If yours is looking tired after a year outside, replace it before 29 October; our guide to how long a flag lasts explains what to look for.

It is sometimes confused with the flag of Tunisia, which also has a red field with a crescent and star, but Tunisia's are red, set inside a white disc in the centre.

Decorating ideas for 29 October

Late October weather in Britain is often wet and windy, so think about what will be outdoors:

• Shopfront or restaurant: Turkey bunting inside the window stays bright and dry; outdoor bunting is best taken in overnight.
• Flagpole or wall bracket: a 5ft x 3ft printed flag for the week, or a Turkey DuraFlag for longer outdoor use.
• Reception or school assembly: Turkey table flags for the top table, and 9in x 6in hand flags for children's performances.

Flying it beside the Union Flag? Use the same size of flag on poles of equal height, and see our guide to flag order of precedence for the arrangement.

Frequently asked questions

What does Cumhuriyet Bayram? mean?

Republic Holiday. It celebrates the proclamation of the Republic on 29 October 1923.

What are the official proportions of the Turkish flag?

2:3, with the crescent and star positions set precisely by the Turkish Flag Law.

Why are Turkish flags at half-mast on 10 November?

10 November is the anniversary of Atatürk's death in 1938. It is a day of remembrance, not celebration.

Is the Turkish flag the same as the Ottoman flag?

It is very similar and grew out of late Ottoman flags, but the modern design and proportions were standardised by the Republic.

Getting ready for Republic Day? Browse our Turkey flags or the full world flags range, and see our national days calendar for other dates through the year.