The bayram celebrations continued today with festivities in Baris Park, Kyrenia. Pupils of the Necat British College put on performances to a large audience in the park. The crowd were entertained by all kinds of dancers including ballerinas, pirates and little folk dancers, all in wonderful custom-made costumes. Visitors to the park also enjoyed the many stalls selling traditional food, ice creams and toys.
This was just one of the events taking place as part of the National Sovereignty and Children’s Holiday (Ulusal Egemenlik ve Cocuk Bayrami). On 23rd April 1920 Mustafa Kemal Ataturk formed the first Turkish parliament (the Grand National Assembly of Turkey). To commemorate the event he decreed that this day should be celebrated as “Children’s Day” as the new democracy was a gift to the next generation (children) of Turkey.
