National days
Holidays, state days and days of remembrance — the calendar of the Turkic world, month by month.
January
January 201990
Anniversary
Azerbaijan — 20 January, Day of National Mourning
On the night of 19–20 January 1990 Soviet troops entered Baku and more than a hundred civilians were killed. The day is marked every year at the Alley of Martyrs.
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February
February 261992
Anniversary
Khojaly Genocide Day
On the night of 25–26 February 1992 a mass killing of civilians took place in the town of Khojaly; according to official figures 613 people were killed.
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March
March 81944
Anniversary
Deportation of the Balkars — day of remembrance
On 8 March 1944 the entire Balkar people was deported from the Caucasus to Central Asia. They could return only in 1957.
Read more →March 21
Holiday
Nowruz
The festival of spring and nature's awakening. Celebrated across the Turkic world with bonfires, sprouted wheat and festive tables; on UNESCO's intangible heritage list since 2009.
March 311918
Anniversary
Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis
In March and April 1918 thousands of Azerbaijanis were killed in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba and other regions. The day of remembrance was established in 1998.
May
May 181944
Anniversary
Deportation of the Crimean Tatars — day of remembrance
On 18 May 1944 the entire Crimean Tatar people was deported from their homeland to Central Asia. Tens of thousands died on the way and in the first years.
Read more →May 281918
Holiday
Azerbaijan — Independence Day
On 28 May 1918 the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was proclaimed in Tiflis — the first democratic republic of the Muslim East.
Read more →May 291453
Historical event
Conquest of Constantinople
The army of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror took Constantinople, which became the Ottoman capital as Istanbul.
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June
June 151993
Holiday
Azerbaijan — National Salvation Day
In June 1993 the country faced the threat of civil conflict. On 15 June Heydar Aliyev was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council; the day is an official holiday.
June 261918
Holiday
Azerbaijan — Armed Forces Day
On 26 June 1918 the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic created its first national military unit, the Separate Azerbaijani Corps.
July
July 221875
Historical event
Azerbaijan — National Press Day
On 22 July 1875 Hasan bey Zardabi published Akinchi in Baku, the first newspaper in the Azerbaijani language.
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August
August 12001
Holiday
Day of the Azerbaijani Alphabet and Language
From 1 August 2001 all official writing in Azerbaijan switched to the Latin-based alphabet. The day celebrates the language and its script.
Read more →August 261071
Historical event
Battle of Manzikert
The Seljuk army under Sultan Alp Arslan defeated the Byzantine emperor Romanos IV Diogenes. The victory opened Anatolia to Turkish settlement.
Read more →August 311991
Holiday
Kyrgyzstan — Independence Day
On 31 August 1991 the Supreme Soviet of Kyrgyzstan adopted the declaration of state independence.
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September
September 11991
Holiday
Uzbekistan — Independence Day
Uzbekistan declared independence on 31 August 1991; the holiday is celebrated every year on 1 September.
Read more →September 151918
Historical event
Liberation of Baku (1918)
On 15 September 1918 the Caucasus Islamic Army under Nuri Pasha liberated Baku, which became the capital of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
Read more →September 181885
Holiday
Azerbaijan — National Music Day
Birthday of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, composer of the first opera in the Muslim East. National Music Day has been marked in his honour since 1995.
Read more →September 272020
Anniversary
Azerbaijan — Remembrance Day
The day honours the martyrs of the 44-day Patriotic War, which began on 27 September 2020.
Read more →September 271991
Holiday
Turkmenistan — Independence Day
Turkmenistan declared independence in 1991. Since 2018 Independence Day has been celebrated every year on 27 September.
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October
October 32009
Historical event
Founding of the Organization of Turkic States
On 3 October 2009 the Nakhchivan Agreement founded the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, renamed the Organization of Turkic States in 2021.
Read more →October 181991
Holiday
Azerbaijan — Independence Restoration Day
On 18 October 1991 the Constitutional Act on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted.
Read more →October 291923
Holiday
Republic Day of Türkiye
On 29 October 1923 the Grand National Assembly proclaimed the Republic, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was elected its first president.
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November
November 21943
Anniversary
Deportation of the Karachays — day of remembrance
On 2 November 1943 the entire Karachay people was deported from the Caucasus to Central Asia. They could return only in 1957.
Read more →November 82020
Holiday
Azerbaijan — Victory Day
On 8 November 2020 the city of Shusha was liberated — the decisive victory of the 44-day Patriotic War.
Read more →November 91918
Holiday
Azerbaijan — National Flag Day
On 9 November 1918 the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic adopted the blue, red and green flag with a crescent and eight-pointed star.
November 121995
Holiday
Azerbaijan — Constitution Day
On 12 November 1995 the first Constitution of independent Azerbaijan was adopted by referendum.
November 151944
Anniversary
Deportation of the Meskhetian Turks — day of remembrance
On 15 November 1944 the Meskhetian Turks were deported from their homeland in Georgia to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Read more →November 151983
Holiday
Founding of Northern Cyprus
On 15 November 1983 the Turkish Cypriots proclaimed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Read more →November 171988
Holiday
Azerbaijan — National Revival Day
On 17 November 1988 a mass national movement began in Baku's central square, today's Freedom Square.
December
December 151893
Historical event
Decipherment of the Orkhon inscriptions
Danish scholar Vilhelm Thomsen announced in Copenhagen that he had deciphered the Old Turkic (Orkhon) script, opening the oldest written monuments of Turkic.
December 161991
Holiday
Kazakhstan — Independence Day
On 16 December 1991 Kazakhstan declared its independence — the last of the Soviet republics to do so.
Read more →December 231994
Historical event
Autonomy of Gagauzia
Moldova's parliament passed the law on the special legal status of Gagauzia, giving the Gagauz an autonomy with its capital at Comrat.
Read more →December 311989
Holiday
World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day
On 31 December 1989 people in Nakhchivan tore down the border installations along the Araz, showing their wish to reunite with kin on the other side. It has been a holiday since 1991.
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