“Hayat Bayram Olsa” is mainly about world peace (translated as "if life were a holiday"). It is a hopeful and idealistic song which imagines a world filled with peace, unity, love and joy. The lyrics are like a wish that life could be as cheerful and harmonious as a never-ending holiday where people are kind to one another and all conflicts and differences are set aside.

It is iconic in Turkey because its lyrics speak to universal values like peace, making it relevant across generations and political climates. Also, it is often associated with national holidays and children's choirs, especially during our National Sovereignty and Children's Day. This has made it a nostalgic anthem for many. Especially, during politically turbulent times in Turkey in the 70s, this song served as a kind of vision of what people wished their reality would be.

This song is special to me because of its hopeful nature. Even if life around me was not always peaceful or fair, this song painted a picture of the world as I wish it could be: full of kindness, honesty and people who truly saw and cared for one another. In a way, it speaks to the part of me that still holds on to hope, even after everything.

My name is Dilara Koç. I am a researcher coming from Turkey and started my PhD at the University of Twente a year ago. With a background in biology, I approach the world with curiosity and desire to understand life on both a scientific and human level.