Traditions and customs of the Meskhetian Turks. Traditions and customs of the Turks

Turkey is one of the Middle Eastern countries where traditions play a huge role in the life of this people to this day. They are present both in everyday life (cooking, cleaning) and in more important events of the Turks (wedding, birth of a child).

Family ties are of great importance in Turkey. In many Turkish families, the female sex and the younger male sex are unquestioningly subordinate to the father. In addition, only the father works in the family; the wife or daughters do not work. Regardless of status and occupation, Turkish youth are very respectful towards older people. Traveling around Turkey, you won’t be able to see young guys drinking alcohol or smoking in the presence of their father or elderly people. Also, if an elderly person enters the room, everyone must stand up, greet him and give him a seat. Not doing this is considered very bad form.

In Turkey, there are special relationships between relatives and neighbors. In any unpleasant situation, they will always come to the rescue, regardless of place of residence and distance. If one of the relatives is sick, then the Turks do not go to the house empty-handed (most often they take with them broths, medicines that are required for treatment, etc.). They come to wish recovery, chat and find out from the owner of the house what is required or something else.

As for holidays in Turkey, regardless of whether it is a religious holiday, a wedding or something else, each of them is celebrated on a grand scale. On religious holidays (Ramadan, Kurban Bayram) it is customary to congratulate relatives and friends and gather around a large table for a festive dinner.

The birth of a child is considered one of the most important events in the life of any Turk. After the child is born, the name has already been chosen, a prayer is read in his ear, at which time the name is repeated three times. Usually, this procedure is done before he is forty days old. After forty days have passed, the relatives of the husband and wife come to visit the newborn. Most often they give gold coins or gilded figurines (it all depends on the financial situation of the family). Grandparents buy gold for their baby in the form of a bracelet or earrings. When the baby’s first tooth appears, the mother cooks millet porridge and invites the neighbors to visit. Women come with a tray in their hands and immediately bring it to the baby from the threshold. Most often it contains a comb, scissors, a mirror, the Koran, a rosary, etc. According to tradition, the thing that the baby takes first will accompany him throughout his life. That is, having picked up scissors, most likely he will be a hairdresser or seamstress.

In Turkish culture, as well as in Islam, the rite of circumcision has its own particularly valuable meaning. The boy is told about this ritual from early childhood, thereby preparing him for such an important event in his life. On the day of circumcision, the boy is dressed in beautiful clothes and tied with a belt with a ribbon with an “evil eye.” After the ceremonial events, he is put into a car decorated with flowers and other decorations and driven around the city center. After this, the boy’s relatives come up to him, congratulate him on such an important event in his life and give him gold coins.

Although nowadays Turkey is increasingly looking like a secular state and strives to be modern, the Turks will never forget their customs and traditions. For them, this is the only thing that connects them with their ancestors who lived in the Ottoman Empire.

Traditions are the basis of the family and social life of every resident of Turkey. The family structure is based on the principles of patriarchy and eldership. The head of the house, the father, is unquestioningly subordinate to the wife and children. Brothers must obey the eldest of them, and sisters must obey the eldest and the brothers. All family members treat the mother, who raised and raised several children, with love and respect.

In Turkey, older people are held in special esteem. When they enter the room, the youth rise and make way for them. Also, smoking, drinking alcohol, or having obscene conversations in their presence is not allowed - this is considered a sign of disrespect. The family and neighborly relations of the residents of Turkey are also quite close. If one of them falls ill, the others are sure to check on him and provide support and assistance.

Türkiye is a country with rich religious traditions. Holidays are celebrated here on a grand scale; it is customary to congratulate all close and distant relatives and acquaintances on them. All actions take place in strict sequence, according to long-standing traditions. Any special event involves decorating with flower wreaths.

So, at the birth of a child, relatives give him gold coins and figurines, and his mother - gold jewelry. When choosing a name for a baby, a prayer is whispered into his ear, and then his name is repeated three times. Before the child reaches 40 days of age, he is bathed after being rubbed with salt. It is believed that this will relieve him of the unpleasant odor in the future. And on the fortieth day, women gather in the house and read prayers.

When the baby gets his first tooth, the mother calls all the neighbors and they try to guess his future profession. They lay out various things in front of the child (a book, a comb, the Koran, a mirror, a rosary...) and see what he picks up first. This is how they try to guess the baby’s character and what he will do in the future.

In Turkish culture, an important stage in the development of a man is the circumcision procedure. This event is celebrated with particular pomp. The boy is dressed in the most luxurious clothes and is surrounded by a ribbon with protection from the evil eye. Then, in a decorated car or cart, accompanied by a cortege of relatives, and accompanied by music, he is solemnly carried through the streets of the city. At the end of the holiday, gold coins are attached to the clothes of the young man.

Weddings are celebrated magnificently in Turkey. Civil marriages are not recognized either by the state or by the majority of the population. The wedding begins with traditional matchmaking and betrothal and contains many rituals, which is why it drags on for several days. The celebration is distinguished by its scale and beauty. This is how there is “Henna Night,” when the bride’s hands are decorated with various painted patterns. And the girl’s father ties a red ribbon over her snow-white dress, symbolizing her virginity. Relatives and friends give jewelry to the newlyweds at the ceremony. A Turkish wedding is not complete without traditional dances. In each region of the country they differ in choreography, costumes, and rhythm.

Islam permeates all spheres of life of the inhabitants of Turkey. Five times throughout the day the muezzin's call to prayer sounds from the mosque. Lent is observed especially strictly during Ramadan (the holy month). At this time, entertainment venues and cafes are empty. Before Friday prayers, men perform a ritual of ablution at sacred springs.

Islam in Turkey is based on the “5 pillars”: five daily prayers, fasting, hajj (religious pilgrimage to Mecca), faith in one Allah and a charitable mission. Most Turkish traditions are very ancient and date back to the Ottoman Empire. However, religion and the state exist separately in a given country.

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Turkish culture is so rich and multifaceted that it does not fit into the framework of any simple definition. Over thousands of years, the traditions of many peoples of Anatolia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and, of course, the ancient world merged into a unique fusion, which today is generally called Turkish, or Asia Minor culture. To this it should be added that the Turks themselves, who were not a single people until the beginning of the 20th century, brought with them from the depths of Central Asia many unique elements that organically fit into the modern life of the country.

Interestingly, the predecessor of the modern Turkish Republic, the Ottoman Empire, for many centuries served as a synonym for religious and cultural intolerance and aggressive foreign policy. But modern Turkey is considered one of the most religious and tolerant states in Asia, within which representatives of different peoples coexist quite peacefully, several centuries ago, and decades ago, they waged irreconcilable wars with each other. Even the ethnic composition of the population here has never been officially revealed - the vast majority of local residents consider themselves first Turks, and only then representatives of one or another ethnic group. Only the Kurds stand somewhat apart (here they are called “Dogulu” - “people of the East”), Circassians (the generalized name for all people from the Caucasus region - Meskhetian Turks, Abkhazians, Circassians, Balkars and others), Laz and Arabs (the latter here it is customary to include Syrians). As for the rest, many representatives of the peoples who inhabited this land before the arrival of the Oghuz Turks (Guzes, or Torks, as Russian chronicles call them), have long been Turkified and consider themselves representatives of the “titular nation”.

Family relationships and marriage

The Turkish tradition is characterized by a fairly early age of marriage. At the same time, it is believed that a man should not reduce his wife’s standard of living, which is why marriages between representatives of different social groups are quite rare. But unions within the same religious or ethnic group are very common, although interethnic marriages themselves are not unusual.

In 1926, the revolutionary Turkish government abolished the Islamic family code and adopted a slightly modified version of the Swiss civil code. The new family law requires and recognizes only civil marriage ceremonies, mandatory consent of both parties, contracting and monogamy. However, in traditional Turkish society, the choice of future spouses and the script for the wedding ceremony is still carried out only by the heads or councils of families, and the newlyweds themselves play a very minor role here. At the same time, compliance with all rituals is considered an extremely important element, as is the blessing of the marriage by the imam. Weddings here last many days and consist of several ceremonies, which usually involve all family members, and often the residents of the entire street or even the entire village.

In the Islamic tradition, the groom is obliged to pay a bride price, although recently this tradition is increasingly becoming a thing of the past - the amount of “kalym” is either reduced depending on the expenses incurred for the wedding or the general wealth of the family, or is simply transferred to the young for the development of their own family. At the same time, in patriarchal provincial communities, collecting money for a ransom can become a serious obstacle to marriage, therefore, while observing the procedure itself, they try to formalize it formally, at the level of an agreement between the parties.

Even though divorce is not considered a sin, its number is small. Divorced people, especially men with children (and this is not uncommon here), quickly remarry, usually with similarly divorced women. The modern code does not recognize the old rule about the husband's prerogative to have the right to oral and unilateral divorce and prescribes a judicial procedure for this process. Moreover, there can be only six reasons for divorce - adultery, threat to life, criminal or unethical lifestyle, flight from family, mental infirmity and... incompatibility. The obvious vagueness of these requirements is the reason for the rare recognition of claims - and divorce by mutual consent is not provided for by local law.

Family plays a dominant role in the life of any Turk. Members of the same clan or family usually live close to each other and provide literally daily contact, financial and emotional support. This explains the large and, importantly, prompt assistance to aging parents and the younger generation, as well as the strength of family ties, regardless of the place of residence of family members. As a result, Turks are almost unaware of the problem of abandoned elderly people and homelessness, and the problem of youth crime is relatively irrelevant. And even many villages, including those located in hard-to-reach places, are maintained to a fairly high degree of preservation - there are always a couple of elderly relatives who agree to support the “family nest”, in which various festive events are often held.

The Turks themselves quite clearly distinguish between the family as such (aile) and the household (hane), classifying in the first category only close relatives living together, and in the second - all members of the clan living together in a certain territory and leading a common household. The next important element is the male community (sulale), consisting of relatives through the male line or through a common ancestor. Such communities play a prominent role in the life of the old “noble families”, dating back to the times of the Ottoman Empire and tribal unions. They are practically unknown among most citizens, although they have great influence on the country's politics.

Traditionally, men and women play very different roles in the family. Typically, the Turkish family is characterized by "male dominance", respect for elders and female subordination. The father, or the oldest man in the clan, is considered the head of the entire family, and his instructions are usually not discussed. However, a man bears a very heavy burden - he ensures the well-being of the family (until recently, Turkish women had the right not to work outside the home at all), and represents his family to other relatives, and is even responsible for raising children, although this is simply not formally possible must. Interestingly, until the end of the 20th century, even visiting a store or market was a purely male responsibility!

But the role of women in the Turkish family, despite many myths, is quite simple. Formally, the wife is required to respect and completely obey her husband, run the household and raise children. But it is not without reason that the Turks say that “the honor of a man and a family depends on the way in which women behave and look after the home.” A woman, being largely limited by the walls of her own home, often manages all the internal affairs of the clan, and often to a much greater extent than is provided for by tradition. The mother is respected by the younger members of the family on a par with the head of the clan, but her relationship with the children is warm and informal. At the same time, legally, women have equal rights to private property and inheritance, as well as education and participation in public life, which many representatives of the fair sex enjoy using (in 1993-1995, the Prime Minister Turkey there was a woman - Tansu Chiller). Turkish women are considered one of the most emancipated in the Middle East, and although in terms of the general level of education they are still inferior to Israeli or Jordanian women, this gap is rapidly closing.

However, local women also pay tribute to centuries-old traditions - even in the most modern cities of the country, women’s dress is quite modest and closed, capes that partially or completely hide the face and body are not uncommon, and next to the very popular European costume you can often see traditional folk types of clothing that Turkish women wear them with a certain grace. In the provinces, women's costumes are much more modest and inconspicuous, and in general women do not want to leave their homes, although many of them work in the fields, shops or markets and are not going to hide from prying eyes - this is simply tradition. In some rural areas, clothing is still the “calling card” of a woman and allows us to determine both her origin and social status. It is interesting that traditional women's headscarves (usually called "basortyushu", although there are other pronunciations), which partially cover the face, are simply prohibited in government agencies and universities, but attempts are being made to abolish this “Atatürk innovation” constantly.

Children in Turkey are literally adored and pampered in every possible way. Here it is quite acceptable to ask childless couples when they plan to have children, and then literally discuss this “problem” for hours. Even in an ordinary conversation between men, for example, children will occupy a place no less important than football or prices in the markets. Sons are especially loved because they increase the status of the mother in the eyes of the husband and in-laws. Sons spend a lot of time with their mother until they are 10-12 years old, and then they seem to move into the “male circle”, and their upbringing is more entrusted to the men of the family. Daughters usually live with their mother until marriage. In general, the relationship between fathers and daughters here is quite formal, and their affection (often no less than for sons, by the way) is rarely demonstrated publicly. Although a daughter or son may argue or joke with their mother in public, they are respectful in the presence of their father and will never dare to contradict him in public.

Relationships between siblings in Turkey are easy and informal until the age of 13-14. Later, their statuses change noticeably - the older brother (agabey) takes on some of the rights and responsibilities of the parents in relation to the sister. The older sister (abla) also becomes like a second mother to her brother - the Turks rightly believe that this prepares girls for their future role as wives. In large families, grandparents also take on many of the responsibilities of raising children. This often leads to the fact that children feel that they are permissive and sometimes behave very arrogantly, but by and large this manifests itself no more often here than in any other corner of the planet.

Even very young children visit restaurants and cafes with their parents everywhere, and at any time of the day. Many establishments make sure to have high chairs and special tables, while including dishes for children of all ages on the menu. Most hotels have special play areas and clubs, and can also offer children's size beds and cots. True, in most cases they are suitable for short local children and are too small for Europeans, so it is better to order them in advance and agree on the required size. But child car seats are still poorly distributed, although most major tour operators and car rental companies are able to provide them upon special request.

Relationship

Relations between people of different generations and genders are also defined quite strictly by local etiquette. Unless they are close friends or relatives, it is customary to address elders with respect and politeness, especially in public. Elderly men must be addressed with the obligatory “bey” (“master”) after their name, and women must be addressed with “hanim” (“madam”). Even relatives of the opposite sex usually do not show signs of affection in public; during holidays, everyone is quickly distributed among groups depending on age and gender.

Friends or close relatives of the same sex are perfectly fine holding hands or greeting each other with kisses on the cheek or hugs - otherwise this is not permitted. When meeting, men shake hands in a completely European manner, but never shake hands with a woman unless she herself explicitly allows it. By the way, the last point is associated with numerous incidents with foreign tourists who are the first to extend their hand when meeting local residents, for whom this is a clear invitation to get to know each other better.

In a bus, dolmus or theater, if there is a choice of seats, women must always sit next to another woman, while a man cannot sit next to an unknown woman without her permission.

Etiquette

Formal etiquette is of great importance in Turkish culture, defining the most important forms of social interaction. Local tradition implies a precise oral form for virtually any occasion of addressing other people and attaches special importance to the correctness of these rituals.

Hospitality (misafirperverlik) remains one of the cornerstones of Turkish culture, especially in rural areas. Friends, relatives, and neighbors often visit each other. An invitation to visit is usually furnished with a rather elegant set of pretexts, and you need to have special tact in order to refuse without offending the hosts. Such offers usually do not have any hidden reasons - no gifts are expected from guests other than good company and an interesting conversation. If it is really impossible to accept the offer, it is recommended to refer to lack of time and busyness (in case of ignorance of the language, a simple pantomime with putting your hand to your chest, showing your watch and then waving your hand in the direction of movement is quite suitable) - Turks really value such arguments. Moreover, even short visits by local standards are unlikely to last less than two hours - in addition to the obligatory tea or coffee, the guest will in any case be offered, more than once, a “snack.” Usually the third refusal is considered final, but the rules of good manners oblige the hosts to at least somehow feed the guest, so there can be many options. Do not try to pay the bill if you are invited to a restaurant, or give money when visiting a private home - this is considered impolite. But photographs or a small gift sent later “on occasion” will be received sincerely and with joy.

The local tradition is to offer the guest the best, regardless of the family’s income. At the same time, despite the widespread misconception, the Turks are very tolerant of the guest’s ignorance of the peculiarities of their culture and are able to easily forgive “minor sins.” Traditionally, the meal takes place at a low table with guests seated directly on the floor - the feet are usually hidden under the table. The dishes are laid out on a large tray, which is placed either on this low table or even on the floor, and people sit around on cushions or mats and take the dishes from the tray onto their plates either with their hands or with a common spoon. In cities, however, ordinary European-style tables are widespread, as well as ordinary table settings with separate dishes and cutlery.

As elsewhere in Islamic countries, you can only take something from a common dish with your right hand. It is also considered uncivil to talk at the table without the permission of the owner of the house, to choose special pieces from a common dish, or to open your mouth wide - even if you need to use a toothpick, you should cover your mouth with your hand, as when playing the harmonica, for example.

Table etiquette

It should be noted that Turks never eat alone and do not snack on the go. They usually sit down at the table three times a day, preferring to do it with the whole family. Breakfast includes bread, cheese, olives and tea. Lunch, usually quite late, begins only after all family members have gathered. The lunch menu most often consists of three or more dishes, which are eaten sequentially, and each dish is served with salad or other greens. It is customary to invite guests, neighbors and friends to dinner, but in this case the time of the meal and the menu are chosen in advance. Despite Muslim prohibitions on alcohol, raki (anise liqueur), wine or beer (the latter is not considered an alcoholic drink at all in most parts of the country) is often served at dinner. In this case, a mandatory element of the meal will be meze - a variety of appetizers (fruits, vegetables, fish, cheese, smoked meats, sauces and fresh bread), usually served on small plates. The meze is followed by the main course, which is selected taking into account the assortment of appetizers - vegetable salads will be served with kebabs, rice or hummus will be served with fish or chicken, and flatbreads with meat, cheese and marinades will be served with soup.

Interestingly, drinking alcoholic beverages, even beer, in public places is considered indecent. And the sale of alcohol in public places in Turkey generally prohibited. And at the same time, in many stores alcohol is sold almost freely, only during Ramadan the shelves with it are closed or blocked.

Pork is not found in local cuisine at all, and besides it there are many other products that are not officially prohibited by Islamic norms, but are avoided for other reasons. For example, representatives of the Yuruk tribal group avoid all seafood except fish, members of the Alevi order do not eat rabbit meat, in the central regions of the country they do not eat snails, and so on. It is interesting that on the periphery of Turkey there are still clearly visible culinary elements of the peoples who inhabited these regions before the arrival of the Turks. Georgian chicken in satsivi sauce, Armenian lahmajun, or lagmajo (similar to pizza), is known as lahmacun and is considered a Turkish dish, the same applies to many Arabic and Greek dishes (meze, for example). At the same time, in rural areas, local residents eat very modestly - most of their diet consists of bread with onions, yogurt, olives, cheese and smoked meat ("pastirma").

Hospitality

It is not customary to stay up late at a party. It is not recommended to start a meal or tea party without the invitation of the owner of the house; even smoking in company without the explicit permission of an older man or the organizer of the meeting is considered impolite. Business meetings are usually preceded by tea and conversations unrelated to business; it is not customary to go directly to discussing the issue of interest. But music and songs can drag out the ceremony for a very long time - the Turks are very musical and love to play music at every opportunity. One 19th century English ambassador remarked that “the Turks will sing and dance whenever they can afford it.”

Much has changed in the country since then, but not the love of local residents for music.

Turkish houses are clearly divided into guest and private areas, and it is impolite to ask for a tour of the entire home. The soles of shoes are a priori considered dirty, and when entering any private house, as well as a mosque, it is customary to take off shoes and shoes. This is not accepted in public places - it is quite possible to wear street shoes. But in some offices, libraries or private shops the guest will be offered either replacement slippers or shoe covers. In crowded places, such as mosques or government organizations, shoes can be placed in bags and taken inside with you.

Turks use complex and varied body language and gestures, often not at all obvious to most foreigners. For example, a snap of the fingers indicates approval of something (a good football player, a top quality product, etc.), while a click of the tongue, contrary to popular belief, is a sharp denial of something (often this gesture is accompanied by a raised eyebrow). . A quick shake of the head from side to side means "I don't understand," while a single tilt of the head to the side may well mean "yes." And since there are many similar schemes, and each region of the country may have its own specific set, it is not recommended to abuse the gestures that are familiar to us - here they can have a completely different meaning.

Cloth

The attitude towards clothing in the country is quite free and contains noticeable elements of the Islamic tradition. A business suit, jacket and tie for men are widespread in business circles, and even on festive occasions, many Turks prefer it to national clothing, complementing it with a hat. But women approach the issue more creatively - in everyday life, the national costume still holds its position, especially in the provinces, and on holidays, Turkish women will prefer their colorful and very convenient dress in local conditions, complementing it with various accessories. And at the same time, both of them are quite conservative in clothing, trying to adhere to once and for all accepted general patterns.

For a tourist to visit Turkey you don’t have to take special care of the dress - here you can wear almost anything that suits the local hot and dry climate. However, when visiting religious places and provincial areas, you should dress as modestly as possible - shorts, short skirts and open dresses will cause sharp rejection almost everywhere outside the beach areas, and approaching mosques in this form can end in disaster.

When visiting mosques and temples, women are advised to choose clothing that covers their legs and body as much as possible, up to the head and wrists, and not to wear miniskirts or trousers. Men are strongly advised to avoid shorts and, in some cases, overalls. Women are allowed to enter the territory of all temples only with their heads covered(you can rent a scarf and a long skirt at the entrance). When visiting a mosque, shoes, of course, are also left at the entrance. It is better not to visit mosques during prayers.

Beachwear as such (including excessively revealing bikinis and shorts) should also be limited to the beach itself - they may simply not be allowed into a store or hotel in this form. Even just going outside in a swimsuit, outside the beach hotel itself, is strongly discouraged. N Udism is also not accepted, although some closed hotels practice this type of recreation, but only in carefully isolated areas. By and large, sunbathing

toplessness will not cause any special emotions on an ordinary beach, but it is still better to correlate your desires with the traditions of the local population. Even if hotel owners and staff are too polite to show their dissatisfaction with excessively free behavior, sharp reactions may follow from other guests. Often, in order to avoid problems, it is enough to simply consult with the staff about the traditions of a particular establishment and find out the places where “free recreation” is allowed - often they are specially designated and quite safe.

During the holy month of Ramadan (Ramadan), believers do not eat, drink or smoke from sunrise to sunset. In the evening, shops and restaurants are open until late, but you should avoid smoking and eating in the presence of those who are fasting. The end of Ramadan is celebrated noisily and colorfully for three days, so all places in restaurants and hotels, as well as tickets for transport and various performances must be reserved in advance.

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Ramadan, holy month (fasting). During this time, devout Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn until evening prayer. At this time, some restaurants are closed until sunset, and in conservative provincial cities it is considered bad form (even for a non-Muslim) to eat, drink and smoke in public until evening prayer (when the muezzin shouts the call to prayer from the minaret).

Major holidays have a religious basis:

Sheker Bayram (Eid al-Fitr), which ends the holy month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar) and Kurban Bayram, when sacrifices are made (in the twelfth month of the Muslim lunar calendar). The holiday lasts 4 days.

The circumcision of little boys is one of the most important family holidays, comparable only to first communion in Europe. In a luxurious uniform with a plume of feathers and a ribbon, the future “man” takes a horseback ride through the city or village before being circumcised.

Four major national holidays are accompanied by military parades and dances. On Independence Day (April 23) and Youth Day (May 19), almost all villages organize performances in which children in colorful national costumes perform folk dances.

Social holidays in Turkey:

Ataturk's Death Day (November 10) On this day, at 9:05 am, the whole country falls silent, passers-by stop for a minute (and you will have to do this too), sirens honk and cars honk. On the eve of this day, television and radio programs are full of facts and memories about the life of Ataturk.

Dancing

On the Mediterranean coast, the so-called zeybek dances, similar to Greek round dances, and oyun dances, for example, kilich kalkan oyunu (“dance with sabers and shields”) or kashik oyunlari (“dance with spoons”) are widespread. But the most famous is belly dancing, which originates from Egypt, and today is performed in hotels for tourists. The most common folk musical instruments are the large drum davul and zurna, which set the tone at weddings and the circumcision festival.

Traditions of Turkey

Islam in all its manifestations determines many areas of private and public life.

Islam attaches paramount importance to the ritual side: five daily prayers, fasting and hajj are among the basic principles, the “five pillars” of Islam. These include the main dogma of faith in one Allah and charitable alms - “zekyat”. But Turkey is an extraordinary country - nowhere in the Islamic world is there such secular legislation - religion in Turkey is separated from the state.

Only two regulations are now strictly observed - the ban on eating pork and the ritual of circumcision. Turks circumcise a boy most often at the age of 7-12 years. This is usually done in August or early September. Circumcision is preceded by cutting the head and testing knowledge of basic prayers. The boy is dressed in a beautiful suit with a ribbon over his shoulder, on which is written the Arabic saying “mashalla” - “God bless!”, put on a horse, camel or cart and taken solemnly to the sunnetchi - a specialist who performs the circumcision procedure.

Circumcision is a big family holiday. Parents and guests give gifts to the hero of the occasion. Among the Turks, a successor (“kivre”), an adult man similar to the godfather of Christians, always participates in the rite of circumcision.

Family ties are very important for Turks. In peasant, and in many urban families, a strict and clear hierarchy reigns: children and mother unquestioningly obey the head of the family - the father, younger brothers - the elder, and sisters - the older sister and all brothers. But the owner of the house is always a man. And no matter how great the power of the elder sister is, the youngest of the brothers has the right to give her orders.

True, an elderly mother with many children is surrounded by the respect and love of all family members. After the Kemalist revolution, polygamy was officially prohibited by law in Turkey. However, among the wealthy segments of the population it continues to persist. Moreover, polygamy is tolerated - if not encouraged - by the Muslim clergy, who honor the canons of the Prophet Muhammad more than the laws of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Kemal Ataturk.

In villages and provincial towns, they do not attach much importance to civil marriage. Here, the Muslim marriage performed by the imam has more weight. Only marriage with an imam sanctifies the creation of a family, believe fans of the tradition. But such a marriage is not recognized by the Turkish state; it is not legal. That is why Kemal Ataturk is respected in Turkey. After all, it was thanks to his reforms that huge changes occurred in the fate of Turkish women. In her rights she was equal to a man. Among Turkish women there are members of parliament, university professors, writers, journalists, judges, lawyers and doctors; Among them there are singers, ballerinas, and dramatic actresses. Although quite recently, at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. Turkish women could not even dream about all this - how many of their Russian sisters wept over the suffering of the unfortunate Feride from the Turkish hit film “Korolek - the Songbird” - and the situation in it is described as quite ordinary for that time.

The Turkish woman is still partially constrained by Islamic customs. In everyday life, in everyday life, she is bound by countless traditional rules of behavior: she is obliged to give way to a man, she has no right to overtake him.

National Turkish cuisine

One of the pleasures of visiting Turkey is the opportunity to try many interesting and unique national dishes. Here everyone chooses for themselves - some will prefer the variety and abundance of the buffet in all-inclusive hotels, while others are more interested in visiting a new restaurant every day, discovering the exotic local dishes.

The national cuisine of Turkey, as part of the culture, has absorbed the dishes of many peoples who lived in the country in ancient times. In essence and in origin it is “international”.

First, when the ancestors of modern Turks brought to these lands ideas about the traditional food of nomads, enriched by the experience of those peoples with whom they came into contact along the way, they came under the influence of the traditions of the local Armenian and Greek populations.

Later, during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, the court chefs of the Topkapi Palace introduced Turkish dishes to the Western world. Most products came from the Mediterranean region, Asia and Europe.

Nowadays, tourists in almost any restaurant in the country can try any dish from the variety that was presented to Turkey throughout the history of national cuisine. But, undoubtedly, each region has its own characteristics, knowledge of which can make tourists’ acquaintance with Turkish dishes interesting not only from a gastronomic, but also from a cultural point of view.

So for the eastern part of the country the most popular products are butter, yogurt, cheese, honey, and meat. People here love yogurt soup and cutlets, the mince of which is filled with aromatic herbs collected in the mountains. During the long winter months, locals love to drink tea with mountain herbs.

In central Anatolia, traditions from the time of the Seljuk conquest and Sultan Keykubad are preserved. Meat cooked in a special hearth dug in the ground - a tandoor - is the basis of local cuisine. The most popular dessert here is halva from Konya. On the Aegean coast, seafood and vegetable dishes reign. They drink tea with candied chestnuts and finish the meal with lots of fruit.

The Black Sea coast is a land of fishermen. More than forty dishes from the most popular fish, anchovy, can be prepared by local chefs, including dessert.

In the southeast of Anatolia, a favorite food is kebabs of various types, and a lot of spices are used in their preparation. The Marmara region is famous for the diversity of its cuisine and the sophistication of its dishes. Istanbul restaurants are famous for their dishes made from lamb. In cities that are located directly by the sea, you must try mussels. In fish restaurants and taverns, dolma and pilaf are prepared with mussels.

Dessert

It is worth trying the incredibly tasty Turkish fruits - peach and fig. In general, speaking about desserts, it is worth mentioning that the fruits grown on the coasts of the Marmara and Aegean Seas are an excellent dessert in themselves. These are not only sheftali peaches and figs, but also pears, cherries, and apricots. We can’t forget about berries - strawberries and grapes. Melons and watermelons, of course, also fall into the category of dessert dishes.

Every Turkish family certainly honors the traditions of Turkey, from small things (what to cook for breakfast) to such significant events as a wedding or the birth of a child. The traditions and customs of Turkey can be divided into several points, different from each other, but very important for the local residents.

Traditions and customs in the Family

People get married quite early in this country. Moreover, marriages are usually concluded between representatives of the same social group. In addition, marriages between the same ethnic or religious group are also common.

According to Turkish custom and law, a civil marriage ceremony is carried out with the consent of both parties to the conclusion of the contract. But the choice of future spouses is made by the heads of families, who also think through the wedding ceremony itself. Weddings are celebrated over several days and involve all family members.

At the same time, there are very few divorces in Turkey. There are six reasons for divorce in the country: threat to life, running away from family, adultery, unethical or criminal lifestyle, incompatibility and mental infirmity. But divorce by mutual consent of the parties is not provided for by law.

Women and men in Turkish families have different roles in the family. In the family, the man and the elder members of the family are revered, while the woman is subordinate. The head of the family is the father or the oldest man in the family; the decisions he makes are not discussed. At the same time, the man fully provides for the family.

Women take care of the house and children. They pay tribute to centuries-old traditions and wear closed and modest clothing, often capes that hide the body and face.

Turks love and pamper their children very much. Children have no right to argue with their father in public.

Division by social status

In Turkey, education and wealth have always been very important indicators of status. There has been a tradition for many years, thanks to which you can get into the upper stratum of society with at least a university education. In addition, representatives of the upper class - businessmen, high-level officials, successful doctors - certainly know at least one foreign language, are also familiar with world culture, and are involved in foreign political, business and cultural circles.

As for the middle class - owners of small firms, skilled students and workers, government employees - it gravitates towards Turkish culture. A third of the country's population are peasants, rural residents and farmers.

Many high-level Turks prefer Western clothing styles and gravitate towards European literature and music. However, all local residents speak their own language, now it is the Istanbul dialect of Turkish. Low-income residents dress in conservative Turkish clothing, but there is no social tension between different layers in Turkey.

Customs in etiquette

Turkish traditions imply a very precise form of addressing people for any occasion. Hospitality is very important among the Turks. Quite often, relatives, friends or neighbors visit each other. In addition to tea or coffee, the guest will certainly be fed.

Turkish traditions suggest that the guest will be offered the best that is in the house. The meal takes place at a low table, and guests sit on the floor on pillows or mats. In cities, however, there are mostly European tables and chairs. As in other Islamic countries, you can only take something from a common dish with your right hand.