North Cyprus officially marks a number of religious holidays and national holidays: 

1st January           - New Year's Day
23rd April              - National Sovereignty and Children's Day
1st May                 - Labour Day
19th May              - Ataturk, Youth and Sport's Day
20th July              - Peace and Freedom Day
1st August            - Social Resistance Day
30th August         - Victory Day
29th October       - Turkish Republic Day
15th November   - TRNC Independence Day

The Şeker Bayram and Kurban Bayram holy days follow the Muslim lunar calendar and the dates differ from year to year.

January 1st - New Year's Day - Yılbaşı

Everywhere in the world celebrates New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve.  In North Cyprus the night is celebrated with big parties, drinking, singing and breath-taking fireworks displays to welcome the New Year.  Although it is not a religious holiday, you will see Christmas trees with lights in some houses and schools, and gifts are often exchanged.

April 23rd – Turkish National Sovereignty and Children's Day- Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı

Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus celebrate the day with formal ceremonies and folkloric performances.  April 23^rd was dedicated to Turkish children by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.  This special day emphasises the modernisation of the country and the fact that they represent the future of the Republic.  It was first celebrated in Turkey on April 23^rd 1920, during the War of Independence.

May 1st – Labour Day - İşçi ve Bahar Bayramı

Labour Day is also known as May Day, and it is marked in most countries around the world.  On this day, the labour union movement celebrates the economic and social achievements of workers.   In North Cyprus it's a public holiday.  All government offices and banks are close, but many private businesses do open.

May 19th - Commemoration of Atatürk & Youth & Sports Day - Atatürk'ü Anma, Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus commemorates Youth & Sports Day, as it shares many holidays with Turkey.

This is a national holiday to commemorate the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence on the 19th May 1919.  Atatürk himself proclaimed May 19th  to be, "Youth and Sports Day", and it also serves to honour the republic's founder.  Ceremonies and parades take place across Turkey and North Cyprus.  Youths sing the national anthem and recite poems.  Sporting events, cultural activities and folk dances commemorate Atatürk and his companions who led the national struggle in 1919.

July 20th - Peace and Freedom Day  - Barış ve Özgürlük Bayramı

July 20^th 1974 is a very important day in the history of Cyprus. On the 15th July 1974, a coup d'état took place in Nicosia when elements of armed forces rose against president, Archbishop Makarios and his government.  The coup was instigated by the military junta in Athens and was part of a long campaign to unite the island with Greece. On the 20th July 1974, Turkish troops intervened to provide a safe haven in the North of the island for Turkish Cypriots.  This was done as part of Turkey's duties as a guarantor power of the Cypriot Constitution.   Peace and Freedom Day there is a big military parade in Lefkosia, and there's a military flypast over Kyrenia Harbour.

August 1 - Social Resistance Day - Ulusal Direniş Bayramı

This marks the founding in 1958 of the Turkish Cypriot Organisation, the TMT.  The TMT was founded before Cypriot independence in 1958 in order to protect Turkish Cypriots from the Greek Cypriot terrorist group, EOKA.

August 30 – Victory Day - Zafer Bayram

Marks Turkey’s liberation from invading Greek troops in 1922.  The victory is seen as a turning point in the foundation of Turkey, and is celebrated as a public holiday.

October 29 - Turkish Republic Day - Cumhuriyet Bayramı

To mark the foundation of the post-Ottoman Republic of Turkey in 1923

November 15 - Republic Day of the T. R. N. C. - Cumhuriyet Bayramı 

Turkish Cypriots first proclaimed The Federated State of North Cyprus in 1975, a year after the split with the Greek Cypriots.  The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was established on 15 November 1983, by the Turkish Cypriot community under the leadership of Rauf Denktas, who became the state's first president.  Our independence is, however, is only recognised by Turkey.

Seker Bayram - End of Ramadan (Eid ul-Fitr)

Seker Bayram, which is also called the Sugar Festival, takes place at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and lasts for three days.  This religious feast is marked by families and friends exchanging sweets.   Older members of the family are also honoured by younger members kissing their hands.  Many Turkish Cypriots will make a special visit to a mosque.  The period is marked in the bigger towns by fun-fairs, featuring traditional food and craft markets.  Restaurants in North Cyprus may be closed or virtually empty on the 27th night of Ramadan, which is known as Kadir Gecesi, the night the Koran is said to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Feast of the Sacrifice - Kurban Bayramı  (Eid ul-Adha)

Kurban Bayram is a 4 day celebration about 2 months after Seker Bayram.  This feast commemorates the sacrifice of Ishmael by Abraham, which is the Koranic version of the Abraham-and-Isaac story.  In Turkey, the time is marked by the public sacrifice of sheep, goats or even camels, which are then prepared as food for the family and the poor. This custom, however, is less honoured in Cyprus but, the festival is still celebrated.  Turkish Cypriots are among the most relaxed Muslims in the world in terms of observance, but most make the effort to abstain from alcohol during the period.