https://padlet.com/dilek_sivaz/g1mc2nrpgoff National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Turkey Solemn ceremonies and children’s festivals take place throughout Turkey on National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, held on April 23 each year. Children take seats in the Turkish Parliament and symbolically govern the country for one day. What Do People Do? Many people in Turkey commemorate the first gathering of the Grand National Assembly (the Turkish Parliament), which took place on April 23, 1920, by attending local ceremonies or laying wreaths at monuments of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. The biggest ceremony takes place at the Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara. Because Ataturk dedicated the Turkish Republic to children, Turkish schoolchildren take seats in the Parliament for the day and symbolically govern the country. They elect a president who then addresses the country on national television. Children’s festivals take place throughout the country. The state-run Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) brings children, aged eight to 14, from different countries around the world to Turkey. These children stay with Turkish families for a week and participate in children’s festivals, which culminate is a gala-performance on April 23. en-us 2017-06-15 12:51:21 UTC 2017-06-19 02:06:58 UTC hello@padlet.com burak_ulu_50 https://padlet.com/dilek_sivaz/g1mc2nrpgoff/wish/176797247 2017-06-19 02:06:58 UTC https://padlet.com/dilek_sivaz/g1mc2nrpgoff/wish/176797247