Victory Day in Turkey, also known as Turkish Armed Forces Day (Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri Günü), is a public holiday that commemorates the decisive victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar on August 30, 1922. This battle was the last one in the Greco-Turkish War, and its outcome marked the end of Greek presence in Anatolia. Victory Day has been celebrated as an official holiday since 1926 and was first observed on August 30, 1923.
The main purpose of Victory Day is to honor the Turkish Armed Forces and their achievements. The holiday is celebrated across Turkey and in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The main official celebration takes place at Anıtkabir in Ankara, where the President of Turkey leads officials in laying wreaths and delivers a speech. The unofficial main celebration among citizens usually occurs in Izmir, a city associated with Atatürk and his accomplishments.
On Victory Day, the general population has a day off, and schools and most businesses are closed. The holiday is an opportunity for the Turkish people to reflect on their history, pay tribute to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, and honor those who fought and sacrificed their lives for the countrys independence, sovereignty, secularism, and democracy.
