Teachers' Day in Turkey (24 Nov): Traditions and Gift Ideas

Every year on 24 November, classrooms across Türkiye fill with flowers, hand-drawn cards and small thank-you gifts. Öğretmenler Günü, Teachers' Day, is one of the most heartfelt dates in the Turkish school calendar, and it is also one of the easiest occasions to join from abroad. Whether your child or grandchild goes to school in Türkiye, or you simply want to thank a teacher who shaped your own life, this guide explains what the day means, what is customary to give, and how to make sure your flowers reach the right classroom on the right day.

Why Türkiye celebrates teachers on 24 November

The date goes back to 1928. That autumn the young Republic adopted the new Turkish alphabet based on Latin letters, and adult literacy courses known as the Nation's Schools (Millet Mektepleri) were set up across the country to teach it. On 24 November 1928 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk accepted the title of Başöğretmen, "Head Teacher", of these schools. Photographs of him explaining the new letters at a blackboard are still among the best-known images of the period.

In 1981, the centenary of Atatürk's birth, 24 November was officially declared Teachers' Day. Since then it has been marked in schools every year with ceremonies, poems, songs and speeches. It is not a public holiday: schools are open, lessons usually continue, and the celebrations happen during the school day. In 2026, 24 November falls on a Tuesday.

For many Turks the day is personal. It is common to phone or message a favourite former teacher, even decades later, and social media fills with old class photos. If you grew up in Türkiye and now live abroad, a small bouquet to a teacher you still remember tends to be deeply appreciated.

What is customary on Teachers' Day

The tradition is about thanks, not value. Typical gestures include:

• a single flower or a small bouquet handed over by the pupil
• a handmade card or a drawing from the child
• a potted plant for the classroom or the teachers' room
• a book, or a small personal item such as a mug or a notebook
• a joint gift organised by the class parents' group (veli grubu), so that every family contributes a little

Flowers are by far the most common choice. Small mixed bouquets, roses, gerberas and potted orchids or succulents are all popular. There are no strict colour rules for teachers, although a large bunch of red roses reads as romantic in Türkiye and is better kept for partners. For the wider symbolism, see our guide to Turkish flower etiquette.

How much is appropriate? A note on public schools

Keep it modest, especially for state schools. Teachers in public schools are civil servants, and public-sector ethics rules in Türkiye restrict gifts to public officials. Over the years the Ministry of National Education and provincial education directorates have reminded schools that families should not feel obliged to give gifts and that expensive gifts are not appropriate. Interpretation varies from school to school, but in practice:

• symbolic gestures such as flowers, a card or a child's drawing are widely accepted and welcomed
• cash, gift cards, gold, jewellery or expensive electronics should be avoided
• if you are unsure, ask the class parents' group or the school what is usual this year

Private schools set their own policies, and most follow the same "small and symbolic" approach. A modest bouquet with a warm message is almost always the safest and most appreciated choice.

Timing your order for 24 November

Because Teachers' Day is a school day, the delivery needs to reach the school while the teacher is there. Many schools start at around 08:00 to 08:30 and finish in the afternoon, and some run separate morning and afternoon shifts. Ceremonies are often held in the morning.

• Order a few days ahead and choose 24 November as the delivery date. This gives the local florist time to plan the route around school hours.
• Same-day delivery is available for orders placed before 14:00 Türkiye time (UTC+3, which in November is 11:00 in London and 12:00 in Berlin). A same-day order may, however, reach the school after classes have finished, so for Teachers' Day we strongly recommend ordering in advance.
• Orders placed after 14:00 are delivered the next day.

You can also send flowers to a teacher's home, or to a former teacher at their new school. Use the location search on our delivery areas page to find the province, district and neighbourhood, whether the school is in Istanbul, Ankara or a village in a smaller province. The delivery fee depends on the district and is shown in your cart before you pay.

What to write in the delivery notes

School gates receive a lot of deliveries on 24 November. Clear notes make all the difference:

1. The full official name of the school. Many schools share a name (a city may have several called "Atatürk İlkokulu"), so the district and neighbourhood matter.
2. The teacher's full name, plus their subject or grade.
3. The class, for example 3-B, and the child's name if the gift is from a pupil.
4. A phone number in Türkiye, ideally a parent or relative, in case the florist needs to coordinate with the school.
5. Any preferred time, such as "before the morning ceremony".

Some schools do not let visitors past the gate. In that case the florist hands the flowers to school staff for the teacher, and you receive a photo of the delivery by email and WhatsApp.

Card message ideas in Turkish

Turkish speakers address teachers formally, using siz (the polite "you") rather than sen. Your card message can be up to 300 characters in English, Turkish, German or Russian, and we can add a Turkish translation free of charge and hand-write it on the card. Some ideas:

• "Sevgili öğretmenim, Öğretmenler Gününüz kutlu olsun!" Dear teacher, happy Teachers' Day!
• "Emekleriniz ve sabrınız için çok teşekkür ederiz." Thank you so much for your hard work and patience.
• "İyi ki varsınız, iyi ki öğretmenimsiniz." We are so glad you are here, and so glad you are my teacher.
• "Uzaklardan da olsa teşekkürlerimizi iletmek istedik. Öğretmenler Gününüz kutlu olsun." Even from far away, we wanted to send our thanks. Happy Teachers' Day.
• "Yıllar geçti ama öğrettikleriniz hep benimle. Saygı ve sevgilerimle." The years have passed, but what you taught me is still with me. With respect and affection.

Sign with the child's name followed by "ve ailesi" (and family). If you are writing to a former teacher, add the years you were in their class; it helps them place you.

A simple checklist

• Choose a modest bouquet or plant from our products.
• Set the delivery date to 24 November and order a few days ahead.
• Add the school name, district, teacher's full name and class in the notes.
• Write your message in Turkish, or write it in English and let us translate it.
• Look out for the delivery photo by email and WhatsApp.

If this is your first order to Türkiye, our step-by-step guide on how to send flowers to Turkey covers addresses, payment and timing, and our article on what it costs to send flowers to Turkey explains how delivery fees work. Questions about a specific school? Write to us on WhatsApp or at info@flowerturkiye.com.