Holidays

Turkey Public Holidays 2005

• Jan 1 New Year's Day
• Jan 20 Kurban Bayramy Eve
• Jan 21 Kurban Bayramy (Feast of Sacrifice) (4 days) Starts Previous Eve
• Apr 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day
• May 19 Atatürk Commemoration / Youth and Sports Day
• Aug 30 Victory Day
• Oct 29 Republic Day
• Nov 2 Ramazan Bayramy Eve
• Nov 3 Ramazan Bayramy (End of Ramadan) (3 days) Starts Previous Eve
  

These minor Islamic festivals are not public holidays, and they won't affect your travel plans much except to make your time in Turkey more interesting and enjoyable.

• ASURE GÜNÜ
  Asure Günü (AH-shoo-REH gew-new),the 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Muharrem, falls on February 18/19, 2005, and February 7/8, 2006.
• It's not a public holiday, but is celebrated as the date that: Adam repented his sin, the Prophet Abraham was born, Jonah emerged from the whale, Noah's ark rested on dry land, and the Islamic hero Hüseyin was martyred.
• It will also reputedly be the Day of Judgement—when that comes!
• Turks celebrate by enjoying a special sweet pudding called asure (AH-shoo-REH) made with cereals, raisins and nuts.
• MEVLID-I NEBI
  Mevlid-i Nebi (mehv-LEED ee NEH-bee), the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, is celebrated with mosque illuminations and special foods. It falls on 20/21 April 2005, and 9/10 April 2006.
• REGAIP KANDILI
  Regaip Kandili (reh-gah-YEEP kahn-dee-lee), the "Beginning of the Three Moons," is celebrated on 8/9 August 2005, and 28/29 July 2006, with mosque illuminations (pretty and photogenic).
• BERAT KANDILI
  Berat Kandili (beh-RAHT kahn-dee-lee), the "Day of Forgiveness," is celebrated on 18/19 September 2005, and 7/8 September 2006, lighting up the mosques.
• MIRAÇ KANDILI
  Miraç Kandili (mee-RATCH kahn-dee-lee) celebrates the Prophet Muhammed's ascent into heaven. It falls on 31 August/1 Sep 2005, and 20/21 August 2006.