'Turkish Language Day' celebrated in North Macedonia

Since 1993, December 21st has been observed as Turkish Language Day in North Macedonia, marking the inception of the first Turkish education in Skopje 78 years ago. This festival holds immense significance for fostering Turkish unity and stands as a day of tremendous enthusiasm for the Macedonian Turkish community.

Constituting approximately four percent of North Macedonia's population, the Turkish community's celebration of Turkish Language Day underscores their cultural identity. Notably, North Macedonia, a former region under Ottoman rule, gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and received international recognition in 1993. Among the six official languages in the country, Turkish holds a distinguished place.

Recognized as an official holiday, Turkish Language Day became a part of North Macedonia's 'Holidays Law' on February 15, 2007. This amendment granted minority groups in the country the right to celebrate their specific cultural occasions. Consequently, December 21st, which symbolizes the commencement of Turkish education using the Latin alphabet in Skopje in 1944, was designated as the national holiday for the Turkish community in North Macedonia. This year marks the 15th commemoration of 'Turkish Language Day', an occasion that has also achieved official holiday status

(From the source)

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 Source; Milletnews, Wed, 21 Dec 2022 10:30 GMT, the site was visited on Sunday, 13.08.2023 at 11.49 (https://www.milletnews.com/balkans/turkish-language-day-celebrated-in-north-macedonia)