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 the 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 of the elderly. Traveling in Turkey, you will not be able to see how young guys drink alcohol or smoke in the presence of their father or elderly people. Also, if an elderly person enters the room, everyone is obliged to stand up, greet him and give him a seat. Not doing so is considered very bad manners.
In Turkey, there are special relationships between relatives and neighbors. In any unpleasant situation, they will always come to the rescue, regardless of the place of residence and distance. If one of the relatives falls ill, 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 ask the owner of the house if it is required whether something else.
As for the holidays in Turkey, regardless of whether it is a religious holiday, or a wedding or something else, each of them is celebrated on a grand scale. On religious holidays (Ramadan, Eid al-Adha) it is customary to congratulate relatives and friends, to gather at 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 is already chosen, a prayer is read in his ear, at this time the name is repeated three times. Usually, this procedure is done before the execution of his forty days. After forty days have passed, 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 the baby gold in the form of a bracelet or earrings. When the baby has the first tooth, the mother cooks millet porridge and invites her neighbors to visit. Women come with a tray in their hands and immediately bring it to the baby from the doorway. On it most often lie a comb, scissors, a mirror, the Koran, a rosary, and so on. According to tradition, the thing that the baby will take first, and will accompany him all his life. That is, picking up scissors, most likely, he will be a hairdresser or a seamstress.
In Turkish culture, as well as in Islam, the rite of circumcision has its own especially 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, tied with a belt with a ribbon with an “eye from the evil eye”. After the ceremonial events, he is put in a car decorated with flowers and other decorations and driven through the city center. After that, the boy's relatives come up to him, congratulate him on such an important event in his life and give him gold coins.
Although at the present time, Turkey is more and more 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 subject to the wife and children without question. Brothers must obey the eldest of them, and sisters - the eldest and brothers. With love and respect, all family members treat the mother, who raised and raised several children.
In Turkey, the elderly are held in high esteem. When they enter the room, the youth rises and makes room for them. Also, in their presence, it is not allowed to smoke, drink alcohol, conduct obscene conversations - this is considered a manifestation of disrespect. Family and neighborly relations of the inhabitants of Turkey are also quite close. In the event of illness of one of them, the rest necessarily visit him, provide support and assistance.
Turkey is a country with rich religious traditions. Holidays are celebrated here on a large scale, it is customary to congratulate all near and distant relatives and acquaintances with them. All actions take place in strict sequence, according to old traditions. Any solemn event involves decorating with floral wreaths.
So, at the birth of a child, relatives give him gold coins and figurines, and his mother - jewelry made of gold. When choosing a name for the baby, a prayer is whispered in his ear, and then his name is repeated three times. Before the child reaches 40 days of age, he is bathed, previously rubbed with salt. It is believed that this will save him from an unpleasant smell in the future. And on the fortieth day, women gather in the house and read prayers.
When the baby has the first tooth, the mother calls all the neighbors, and they try to guess his future profession. Various things are laid out in front of the child (a book, a comb, the Koran, a mirror, a rosary ...) and they look at what he will pick up first. So they try to guess the character of the baby and what he will do in the future.
In Turkish culture, an important stage in the formation of a man is the circumcision procedure. This event is celebrated especially pompously. The boy is dressed in the most luxurious clothes and girded with a ribbon with protection from the evil eye. Then, on a decorated car, or wagon, accompanied by a cortege of relatives, to the music, he is solemnly transported through the streets of the city. At the end of the holiday, gold coins are attached to the clothes of a young man.
Magnificently celebrate a wedding 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, and therefore drags on for several days. The celebration is distinguished by its scale and beauty. This is how the "Henna Night" exists, 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 present jewelry to the newlyweds at the ceremony. A Turkish wedding is not complete without traditional dances. In every region of the country they differ in choreography, costumes, rhythm.
Islam permeates all spheres of life of the inhabitants of Turkey. Five times during the day, the call of the muezzin from the mosque to prayer sounds. Lent is especially strictly observed during Ramadan (the holy month). At this time, entertainment venues and cafes are empty. Before Friday prayers, men perform the rite of ablution at sacred springs.
Islam in Turkey is based on the “5 pillars”: five times prayer, fasting, hajj (religious pilgrimage to Mecca), faith in one Allah and a charitable mission. Most of the Turkish traditions are very ancient and reach back to the times of the Ottoman Empire. However, religion and the state in this country exist separately.
Are you planning to visit Turkey? It is possible to choose tours to Turkey from Odessa on the website www.ally.com.ua/tours/turkey/ , various options for tours by cost, the resort of Turkey to which you will go and other parameters will help you choose the most suitable option for you.
Turkish culture is so rich and multifaceted that it does not fit into the framework of some simple definition. For 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 have merged into a unique alloy, which today is generally called Turkish, or Asia Minor culture. It should be added to this 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 religiously tolerant and tolerant states of Asia, within which representatives of different peoples coexist quite peacefully, for several centuries, and what’s there - 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 Turks first, and only then representatives of one or another ethnic group. Only the Kurds stand apart (they are called here "dogulu" - "people in the east"), the Circassians (the generalized name for all immigrants from the Caucasus region - Meskhetian Turks, Abkhazians, Adygs, Balkars and others), Laz and Arabs (to the latter here it is customary to refer to the Syrians). Otherwise, 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 rather early age of marriage. At the same time, it is believed that a man should not reduce his wife's standard of living, so marriages between representatives of different social groups are quite rare. On the other hand, unions within the same religious or ethnic group are very common, although interethnic marriages in themselves are not something 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 only requires and recognizes civil marriage ceremonies, binding consent from both parties, contracting, and monogamy. However, in traditional Turkish society, the choice of future spouses and the scenario of the marriage 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, the observance of all rituals is considered an extremely important element, as is the blessing of the marriage by the imam. Weddings here last for many days and consist of several ceremonies, which usually involve all family members, and often residents of the entire street or even the entire village.
In the Islamic tradition, the groom is obliged to pay a ransom for the bride, although recently this tradition is becoming more and more a thing of the past - the amount of "kalym" either decreases 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, if the procedure itself is followed, they try to formalize it formally, at the level of an agreement between the parties.
Even though divorces are not considered a sin, their number is small. Those who are divorced, especially men with children (and this is not uncommon here), quickly remarry, usually with the same divorced women. The modern code does not recognize the old rule of the husband's prerogative for the right of oral and unilateral divorce and prescribes the judicial procedure for this process. Moreover, there can be only six reasons for divorce - adultery, a threat to life, a criminal or unethical lifestyle, flight from the family, mental weakness and ... incompatibility. The apparent vagueness of these requirements is the reason for the rare recognition of claims - and divorce by mutual agreement is not provided for by local law.
The 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, the Turks almost do not know the problem of abandoned old people and homelessness, the problem of youth crime is relatively irrelevant. And even many villages, including those located in hard-to-reach places, are maintained in a fairly high degree of safety - there will always be a couple of elderly relatives who are willing 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), referring to the first category only close relatives living together, and to the second - all members of the clan living together in some territory and leading a common household. The next important element is the male community (sulale), consisting of relatives in the male line or a common ancestor. Such communities play a prominent role in the life of the old "noble families" dating back to the days of the Ottoman Empire and tribal unions. They are practically unknown among most of the townspeople, although they have a great influence on the politics of the country.
Traditionally, men and women play very different roles in the family. Usually the Turkish family is characterized by "male dominance", respect for elders and female subordination. The father or the oldest male in the family is considered the head of the whole 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 before other relatives, and even bears responsibility for raising children, although formally it is simply not possible to do this. must. Interestingly, until the end of the 20th century, even going to a store or market was a purely male duty!
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, housekeeping and raising children. But it is not for nothing 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 house." A woman, being largely limited by the walls of her own dwelling, often manages all the internal affairs of the clan, and often to a much greater extent than is prescribed 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 of the fair sex enjoy using (in 1993-1995, Prime Minister Turkey there was a woman - Tansu Chiller). Turkish women are considered among the most emancipated in the Middle East, and although they still lose to Israelis or Jordanians in terms of overall education, 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 rather modest and closed, capes are not uncommon, partially or completely hiding the face and body, and next to a very popular European costume, you can often see traditional folk types of clothing that Turkish women wear with a certain elegance. In the provinces, women's costume is much more modest and nondescript, and in general, women do not tend to leave their homes, although many of them work in the field, shops or markets and are not going to hide from someone else's eyes - it's just a tradition. In some rural areas, clothing is still the “calling card” of a woman and allows you to determine both her origin and social status. Interestingly, traditional women's headscarves (usually called "Basortyusu", although there are other pronunciations) that partially cover the face are simply prohibited in government offices and universities, but attempts to cancel this "Ataturk innovation" are constantly being made.
Children in Turkey are literally adored and pampered in every possible way. It is quite acceptable here to ask childless couples when they plan to have children, and then literally spend hours discussing this "problem". Even in an ordinary conversation between men, for example, children will occupy a place no less important than football or market prices. Sons are especially loved because they increase the status of the mother in the eyes of the husband and relatives from the spouse. Sons up to 10-12 years old spend a lot of time with their mother, and then, as it were, they move into the "male circle", and their upbringing is already more trusted by the men of the family. Daughters usually live with their mother until marriage. In general, the relationship between fathers and daughters is rather formal here, 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 never dare to contradict him in public.
Relationships between brothers and sisters in Turkey are easy and informal until the age of 13-14. Later, their status changes noticeably - the older brother (agabey) takes on some of the rights and obligations of parents in relation to his sister. The older sister (abla) also becomes, in relation to her brother, like a second mother - the Turks rightly believe that this prepares the girls for their future role as a wife. In large families, grandparents also take on a lot of care for the upbringing of children. This often leads to the fact that children feel their permissiveness and sometimes behave very arrogantly, but by and large this manifests itself no more often than in any other corner of the planet.
Even very young children visit restaurants and cafes everywhere with their parents, and at any time of the day. Many establishments make sure to keep 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 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 with the agreement of the required size. But child car seats are still not very common, although most major tour operators and car rental companies are able to provide them upon request.
Relationship
Relations between persons of different generations and genders are also determined by local etiquette quite strictly. Unless they are close friends or relatives, it is customary to address elders with respect and courtesy, especially in public. Older men should be addressed with the obligatory "bey" ("master") after the name, a woman - "khanym" ("mistress"). Even relatives of the opposite sex in public usually do not show signs of affection; on holidays, everyone is quickly distributed among companies depending on age and gender.
Friends or close relatives of the same sex may well hold hands or greet each other with kisses on the cheek or hugs - otherwise this is not allowed. At a meeting, men shake hands in a completely European way, but they never shake hands with a woman unless she herself explicitly allows it. By the way, numerous incidents are connected with the last moment with foreign tourists, who are the first to reach out when meeting local residents, for whom this is a clear invitation to get to know each other better.
On a bus, dolmush 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 unfamiliar 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 an exact oral form for virtually any occasion of addressing other people and emphasizes 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 one must 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 a 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, the simplest pantomime with putting the hand to the chest, showing the clock and then waving the hand in the direction of movement is quite suitable) - the Turks really appreciate 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 is considered the final refusal, but the rules of good manners oblige the hosts to 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 away if you visit a private house - this is considered impolite. But the photographs sent later or a small present "on occasion" will be received sincerely and with joy.
In the local tradition - to offer the guest all the best, regardless of the wealth of the family. 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 is held at a low table with guests seated directly on the floor - while it is customary to hide the feet under the table. Dishes are laid out on a large tray, which is placed either on this low table or even on the floor, and people are seated around on cushions or mats and take dishes from the tray to their plates either with their hands or with a common spoon. In cities, however, ordinary European-style tables are widespread, as well as the usual serving with individual dishes and cutlery.
As elsewhere in Islamic countries, you can only take anything from a common dish with your right hand. It is also considered uncivilized 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 it is necessary to use a toothpick, you should cover your mouth with your hand in the same way as when playing the harmonica, for example.
Table etiquette
It should be noted that the 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. Dinner, usually quite late, begins only after the gathering of all family members. The lunch menu most often consists of three or more courses, which are eaten in sequence, and each dish is served with a 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 tincture), wine or beer are often served at dinner (the latter is not considered an alcoholic drink at all in most parts of the country). In this case, meze will serve as an obligatory element of the meal - a variety of snacks (fruits, vegetables, fish, cheese, smoked meats, sauces and fresh bread), usually served on small plates. The meze is already followed by the main course, which is selected taking into account the assortment of appetizers - vegetable salads will be served with kebab, rice or hummus with fish or chicken, tortillas with meat, cheese and marinades 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 in Ramadan the shelves with it are closed or blocked.
Pork is not found in the local cuisine at all, and in addition to it, there are many other products that are not officially prohibited by Islamic norms, but are avoided for other reasons. For example, members 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. Interestingly, on the periphery of Turkey, well-marked culinary elements of the peoples who inhabited these lands before the arrival of the Turks are still preserved. Georgian chicken in satsivi sauce, Armenian lahmacun, or lagmajo (analogue of 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
Staying up late is not accepted. It is not recommended to start a meal or a tea party without the invitation of the owner of the house, even smoking in a 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 non-business conversations; 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 both sing and dance whenever they can afford it." Much has changed in the country since then, but not the love of the locals for music.
Turkish houses are clearly divided into guest and private areas, and asking for a tour of the entire dwelling is impolite. The soles of shoes are a priori considered dirty, and at the entrance to any private house, as well as to a mosque, it is customary to take off shoes and shoes. In public places, this is not accepted - it is quite possible to walk in street shoes. But in some offices, libraries or private shops, the guest will be offered either interchangeable slippers or shoe covers. In crowded places, like mosques or government offices, you can put shoes in bags and take them inside with you.
Sign language
Turks use a complex and varied body language and gestures, often completely invisible 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 a surprised eyebrow raise is added to this gesture) . A quick side to side shake of the head means "I don't understand," while a single tilt of the head to the side could very well mean "yes." And since there are many such schemes, and each region of the country may have its own specific set, it is not recommended to abuse the gestures familiar to us - here they can have a completely different meaning.
Cloth
The attitude to clothing in the country is quite free and carries noticeable elements of the Islamic tradition. A business suit, jacket and tie for men are widespread in business circles, and on festive occasions, many Turks prefer it to national clothes, complementing it with a hat. But women approach the issue more creatively - in everyday life, the national costume still holds its positions, especially in the provinces, and for the holiday, Turkish women will prefer their colorful and very comfortable dress in local conditions, complementing it with various accessories. And at the same time, both of them are quite conservative in clothes, trying to adhere to once and for all accepted general schemes.
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 places of worship and provincial areas, one should dress as modestly as possible - shorts, short skirts and open dresses will cause a sharp rejection almost everywhere outside the beach areas, and approaching mosques in this form can end in failure.
When visiting mosques and temples, women are advised to choose clothes that cover 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 a covered head(you can rent a scarf and a long skirt at the entrance). Shoes when visiting the mosque, of course, are also left at the entrance. It is better not to visit mosques during prayers.
Beachwear as such (including overly open bikinis and shorts) should also be limited directly to the beach - they may simply not be allowed into a store or hotel in this form. Even just going outside in a bathing suit outside the actual beach hotel is strongly discouraged. H udism is also not accepted, although some closed hotels practice this type of recreation, but only in carefully isolated areas. Basically, fire
topless will not cause any special emotions on an ordinary beach, but it is better to correlate your desires with the traditions of the local population. Even if the owners and hotel staff are too polite to show their dissatisfaction with excessively free behavior, harsh reactions may follow from other guests. Often, in order to avoid problems, it is enough just to consult with the staff about the traditions of a particular institution and find out the places where "free rest" is allowed - often they are specially allocated 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 refrain from smoking and eating in the presence of those who are fasting. The end of Ramadan is noisily and colorfully celebrated for three days, so all places in restaurants and hotels, as well as tickets for transport and various performances, must be reserved in advance.
The service is currently unavailable
Turkey is a country with a rich culture, which was imprinted, on the one hand, by Islam, and on the other, by the ancient traditions of nomads. Despite the widespread modernization and cultivation of the Western way of life, traditions are strictly observed.Ramadan, holy month (fasting). At this time, devout Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn until evening prayers. 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 front of everyone until evening prayer (when the muezzin shouted the call to prayer from the minaret).
Major holidays have a religious basis:
Sheker Bayram (Uraza Bayram), 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 continues for 4 days.
The circumcision of little boys is one of the most important family holidays, comparable only to the first communion in Europe. In a luxurious uniform with a plume of feathers and a ribbon, the future “man” before circumcision makes a horseback ride through the city or village.
Four major national holidays are accompanied by military parades and dances. On Independence Day (April 23) and Youth Day (May 19), performances are organized in almost all villages, where children in colorful national costumes perform folk dances.
Secular holidays in Turkey:
Atatürk Death Day (November 10) On this day, at 9:05 am, the whole country freezes in silence, passers-by stop for a minute (and you will have to do this too), sirens honk and cars honk. In anticipation of this day, television and radio programs are full of facts and memories of the life of Ataturk.
Dancing
On the Mediterranean coast, the so-called zeybek dances, similar to Greek round dances, and oyun dances are widespread, for example, kilich kalkan oyunu (“dance with sabers and shields”) or kashik oyunlary (“dance with spoons”). But the most famous is the belly dance, which comes from Egypt, and today is performed in hotels for tourists. The most common folk musical instruments are the big drum davul and zurna, which set the tone at weddings and circumcision festivals.
Turkish traditions
Islam in all its manifestations determines many spheres of private and public life.
Islam attaches paramount importance to the ritual side: five times prayer, fasting and hajj are among the basic principles, the "five pillars" of Islam. They include the main dogma of faith in one Allah and charitable alms - "zekat". But Turkey is an extraordinary country - nowhere in the Islamic world is there such secular legislation - religion in Turkey is separated from the state.
Now only two prescriptions are strictly observed - the ban on eating pork and the rite 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 a haircut of the head, a test of knowledge of the basic prayers. The boy is dressed in a beautiful suit with a ribbon over his shoulder, on which the Arabic saying "mashalla" is written - "God save!"
Circumcision is a big family holiday. Parents and guests give gifts to the hero of the occasion. Among the Turks, a successor (“kivre”) necessarily participates in the rite of circumcision - an adult man, similar to the godfather among Christians.
Family ties are very important for the Turks. In peasant families, and in many urban families, a strict and clear hierarchy reigns: children and mother implicitly obey the head of the family - the father, younger brothers - the eldest, and sisters - the elder 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 respect and love of all family members. After the Kemalist revolution, polygamy in Turkey was officially prohibited by law. However, among the wealthy segments of the population, it continues to persist. Moreover, polygamy is allowed - if not encouraged - by the Muslim clergy, who honor the canons of the Prophet Muhammad more than the laws of the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Atatürk.
In villages and provincial towns, civil marriage is not given much importance. Here, the Muslim marriage performed by the imam has more weight. Only marriage with an imam sanctifies the creation of a family, according to 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 great changes took place in the fate of the Turkish woman. In her rights, she was equal to a man. Among the Turkish women there are deputies of parliament, and university professors, writers, journalists, judges, lawyers and doctors; among them are singers, ballerinas, dramatic actresses. Although not so long ago, at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. Turkish women could not even dream of all this - how many of their Russian sisters sobbed over the suffering of the unfortunate Feride from the Turkish hit film "Korolek - a singing bird" - and the situation in it is described as quite ordinary for that time.
In part, the Turkish woman is still bound by Islamic customs. In everyday life, in everyday life, she is bound by countless traditional rules of behavior: she must 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 taste many interesting and unique national dishes. Here everyone chooses for themselves - someone will prefer the variety and abundance of the buffet in hotels on an all-inclusive basis, and someone is 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 on the territory of the country in antiquity. In essence and in origin it is "international".
At first, when the ancestors of modern Turks brought to this region the ideas of the traditional food of nomads, enriched by the experience of those peoples they came into contact with along the way, they fell under the influence of the traditions of the local Armenian and Greek population.
Later, during the reign of the Ottoman Empire, the court chefs of the Topkapı Palace introduced Turkish dishes to the Western world. Most of the products were delivered 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 by the entire history of national cuisine. But, of course, each of the regions has its own characteristics, the knowledge of which can make the acquaintance of tourists 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, meat. People here like yoghurt soup and meatballs, minced with fragrant herbs collected in the mountains. During the long winter months, the 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 - tandoor - is the basis of local cuisine. The most popular dessert here is Konya halva. On the coast of the Aegean Sea, seafood and vegetable dishes reign. Tea is drunk with candied chestnuts and completes the meal with many fruits.
The Black Sea coast is the land of fishermen. More than forty dishes from the most popular anchovy fish 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 Sea of Marmara region is famous for the variety of its cuisine and the sophistication of its dishes. Istanbul restaurants are famous for their lamb dishes. In cities that are located directly by the sea, you should definitely try mussels. In fish restaurants and taverns with mussels, dolma and pilaf are prepared.
Dessert
It is worth trying unusually delicious Turkish fruits - peach and fig. In general, speaking of desserts, it is worth mentioning that 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, apricots. We must not forget about the berries - strawberries and grapes. Melons and watermelons, of course, also belong to the category of dessert dishes.
In every Turkish family, the traditions of Turkey are certainly honored, starting from the little things (what to cook for breakfast) and ending with 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 locals.
Traditions and customs in the family
Marriage in this country is entered quite early. Moreover, marriages are concluded, as a rule, 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 held with the consent of both parties with the conclusion of a contract. But the choice of future spouses is carried out by the heads of families, who also think over the marriage ceremony itself. Weddings are celebrated for several days, all family members participate in them.
At the same time, there are very few divorces in Turkey. There are six reasons for divorce in the country: a threat to life, flight from the family, adultery, an unethical or criminal lifestyle, incompatibility and mental infirmity. But divorce by mutual agreement 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, the senior members of the family, are revered, while the woman obeys. The head of the family is the father or the oldest man in the family, the decisions that 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 clothes, often capes that hide the body and face.
The Turks love and spoil their children very much. Children have no right to argue with their father in public.
Division by social status
Education and wealth have always been very important indicators of status in Turkey. It has 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, and are also familiar with world culture, involved in foreign political, business and cultural circles.
As for the middle class - owners of small businesses, skilled students and workers, civil servants - it gravitates towards Turkish culture. A third of the country's population are peasants, rural residents and farmers.
Many high-level Turks prefer Western style of dress, gravitate toward European literature and music. However, all locals speak their own language, now it is the Istanbul dialect of Turkish. Low-income residents dress in conservative Turkish clothes, but there is no social tension between different strata in Turkey.
Customs in etiquette
The traditions of Turkey 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.
The traditions of Turkey suggest that the guest will be offered all 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, mostly European tables and chairs. As in other Islamic countries, you can only take something from a common dish with your right hand.
