National Sovereignty and Children's Day is one of the official holidays and celebrated in the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It was presented to the children of the world by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the great leader and founder of modern Turkey.
During the independence war of Turkey that started in 1919, Mustafa Kemal ATATURK, the great leader of modern Turkey and his friends decided to open the First Grand National Assembly. Representing the will of the Turkish people, the “First Grand National Assembly” was opened on that date and the sovereignty of the Turkish nation was declared.
On 23 April 1924, Atatürk decided to celebrate 23 April as a holiday. Five years later, on 23 April 1929, he decided that this holiday should be given to the children as a present and April 23 was first celebrated as Children's Day in 1929.
For the first time in 1979, this national holiday was celebrated with the participation of children from six other countries and adopted an international dimension.
Today, children more than 40 countries attend these celebrations in Turkey every year as guests of Turkish children.
Turkey is the first and only country in the world that has given a holiday to world’s children and shares this special day with the whole world.
Today (23 April 2019) this holiday is being celebrated allover Turkey as well as in Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus.
