Zafer Bayramı (Victory Day)
Turkey annually celebrates Victory Day on August 30, commemorating the Turkish victory over Greek forces in the Battle of Dumlupınar (August 26-30, 1922). The outcome of the battle, which took place in Kütahya province in western Turkey, determined the overall outcome of the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923).
Although foreign forces left the country for good in the autumn of 1922, Turkish people accept August 30 as the date of the Turkish troops’ overall victory. Victory Day was first celebrated in only a few cities in Turkey – such as Ankara, Izmir and Afyonkarahisar – on August 30, 1923. It became a national holiday in 1935.
What Do People Do?
Many people in Turkey celebrate Victory Day by attending military parades, which take place in many big cities throughout the country.
Residents and shop owners decorate their windows with Turkish flags and images of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
State officials attend a ceremony at Atatürk’s Mausoleum in Ankara.
All promotions in the Turkish Armed Forces take place on this day, and military schools hold annual graduation ceremonies on August 30.
Banks, the Post Office (PTT) and Government Offices will be closed for the day.
Zafer Bayramı Kutlu Olsun
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