We apparently have a knack of celebrating Turkish holidays nearly everywhere but in Istanbul.
Guess that's because hubby has the time off from work so we decide to get out of the city.
In 2011, we celebrated the �ocuk Bayrami (by accident) in Edirne, Turkey. This year, we were about four hours east of Istanbul in this Ottoman-rich town called Safranbolu. This is one of many Turkish cities that's been high on my travel list and luckily is within a sort-of easy drive away from Istanbul.
Yesterday, April 23, marked an important holiday in the Turkish calendar called International Children's Day, a day that honors all children as the country�s future generation. This date also marks the anniversary of the inauguration of Turkey�s National Assembly, which took place on April 23, 1920, under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Turkey officially celebrated Grand National Assembly Day on April 23 and held a children�s week starting on that day, from 1923 to 1934. The Turkish government then combined the two events into National Sovereignty and Children�s Day, known as Ulusal Egemenlik ve �ocuk Bayrami, in 1935.
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| In the main square in Safranbolu, people displayed many Turkish flags outside. |
As you can see whenever there is a Turkish holiday, the Turks proudly display the Turkish flag in storefronts, on their homes and on large office buildings. Here are a few shots I took yesterday in Safranbolu before we headed back to Istanbul.
More posts on Safranbolu coming soon!
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| A local barbershop in Safranbolu. |
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| Many hotels like the G�k��oglu Konagi in the Baglar neighborhood of Safranbolu also displayed flags. |