Turkish Culture and Traditions

One thing you will soon realize when visiting Turkey is part of the Turkish culture involves being very sociable. Turkish people love to meet new friends and think nothing of spending half the day talking to a complete stranger while putting the world to rights. People who come  from countries that are reserved may be in awe of the friendly nature shown to everyone. With this in mind, I have put together a guide on Turkish culture and social … [Read more...]

Despite my love for Turkey, one aspect of living in the country that I absolutely hate is learning how to speak Turkish. Do I need to know it? Well, not really. Many expats live in Turkey without speaking the language but I believe that life is a lot easier when you know the lingo. So anyone who wants to be bilingual goes through three stages when learning a language. Beginner Intermediate Advanced I can speak, read and … [Read more...]

When I first came to Turkey, the constant barrage of all things new and in some cases frankly odd, fascinated me. Little Turkish quirks displayed by my newfound friends and learning about daily aspects of life in the country like how to catch the bus, banking systems, and social greetings, made me feel like I had been given a new lease of life. Learning about the culture and traditions was for most parts a fascinating journey into … [Read more...]

Ramadan is a religious period of time that tests the strength, determination and goodwill of Muslim men and women all over the land. Mortal souls that follow the religion of Islam  put themselves through the ultimate endurance test by abstaining from food, drink and intimate contact during the hours of daylight. The rays of the hot sun beat down on their tired bodies making their brows drip fiercely with sweat as they try to go about the mundane … [Read more...]

Turkey has advanced tremendously over the last 15 years and this has caused intense discussion in some circles as to whether modern and urban development is killing culture and traditions. The arguments and discussions are nothing new for me, because I heard the equivalent while growing up in the UK, so I tend not to comment. The positive kickback to these concerns is many people from the older generations are making a concentrated effort to … [Read more...]

Nuray Aykin is a Turkish woman who was blessed with a forward-thinking attitude for her generation. Her conception was not planned but a miracle or divine intervention, encouraged her parents to return from the abortion surgery and instead pour their hearts into giving their daughter the best life they could. Born in a small village, she later spent time studying at a university in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, before moving to America to … [Read more...]

Turks have some quirky mannerisms that are not instantly noticeable to holiday-makers. Certain rituals happen daily and unless you are aware of them or ask questions, these rituals can go unnoticed. One of them is terms of endearment. Turks use them all the time depending on your relationship with them or your social status. Sometimes though, translation can cause confusion For example, two male Turkish friends with a close bond will often … [Read more...]

A few months ago, Lisa Morrow, an experienced travel writer living in Istanbul, contacted me. She had just released a book about Turkish Culture and asked if she could send a copy, for a published review. I said yes and a week later, received a 162-page book via cargo. Since I am a fast reader, I would easily finish a book of that size within a few days. Her book is not a travel guide but a collection of essays about her experiences as a foreign … [Read more...]

Four years ago I developed a love for Turkish carpets and rugs. We are not talking about your mass produced machine carpets or rugs here. Traditional Turkish carpets and rugs are all handmade and just like the Cubans are famous for their cigars, the Turks are famous for their carpets and rugs. Therefore it was no surprise to my friends, that when we were out and about for the day, I dragged them into a Turkish carpet and rug shop.  It was the … [Read more...]

This week had led to a flurry of activity in markets all over Turkey. Cattle farmers are busy as communities gear themselves up for a four day festival that will start on Sunday called Kurban Bayram. The cattle farmers will experience their busiest week of the year as all over the country, goats, sheep and cows are sold in order to be sacrificed according to Islamic rules and traditions. Kurban Bayram in Turkey (Update: For 2014, I will not … [Read more...]

I believe that speaking the language of a country you are traveling to,  is not that important. Nine times out of ten, you can normally find someone who speaks English. If you can not, then a guide book, drawings and a game of Charades will normally get the point across. We also manage to learn a couple of words along the way but, unless you intend on staying in the country for ever, then is there a reason for trying to learn the whole … [Read more...]

Ramadan in Turkey can be daunting to any traveler or tourist who has not been to Turkey during this holy month. They may be apprehensive about how it will affect their plans. Otherwise known as the Muslim fasting month, Ramadan involves abstaining from all food and drink during the hours of daylight. You may also hear it referred to as Ramazan and how it will affect your traveling plans will purely depend on where you are. Day to Day During … [Read more...]

I was once asked to describe Turkish people and I had no hesitation in my answer; Turks are patriotic. The most obvious sign of their patriotism is the display of the Turkish flag, a red background with a white moon and star. Teenage boys about to depart for compulsory military service will often, drape the flag over a car before riding around town, beeping the car horn loudly. They are proud to be embarking on training and survival techniques, … [Read more...]

You can call me naive but up until last week, I did not know about ear cropping of dogs. I left the Black sea region of Turkey thinking it was an age-old tradition specific to that area. However, research on the internet revealed it is a worldwide issue and one that preyed on my mind deeply. What prompted my interest in the subject? A dog called Karabas I met him in the mountainous and remote region of Maçahel. He is a big dog, not over … [Read more...]

It is not often that I get the chance to see  and take pictures of the rich and famous stars of Turkey however last night, I was treated to front row seats at a concert by Hande Yener and had a fantastic opportunity to snap the photos included in this post.  Hande Yener  is a woman with status who oozes talent and captivates everyone that crosses her path. Who is Hande Yener? She is a famous Turkish Pop singer that is often compared to … [Read more...]

There is a Turkish tea house in every town, city and village. It is part of all the establishments that go into making up a community. However  it is important not to confuse a Turkish tea house, with a tea garden, but how do you spot the difference? Well, a Turkish tea house has no women in it. It is a male dominated environment that has been around for centuries .  Many years ago, I made the mistake of thinking that the unwritten rule of men … [Read more...]

Have you ever put someone on a high pedestal because of their position in society? Have you ever assumed, they would not be interested in your presence or your point of view, because you really have nothing in common? I have. For years, I considered imams to be totally out of my comfort zone. I had no wish to speak to them out of pure fear; they would see right through me and recognize my weaknesses and bad habits. I did not want to be backed … [Read more...]

I spend a lot of time in British company where inevitably, the main topic of discussion turns to what we think of the Turks.  On the last such occasion, I was beginning to get bored of this repetitive conversation and my mind started to wonder to the opposite end of the spectrum.  What do the Turks really think of us Brits? Are we obnoxious? Are we two sandwiches short of a picnic?  Are we friendly, happy-go-lucky people who spread joy everywhere … [Read more...]

For a number of years, there has been an underlying fear in the culturally orientated people of Turkey. They fear that the age-old tradition of handmade Turkish carpets is on the decline because of the mass availability of machine made carpets, which are half the price. Carpets weavers associations decided to pool resources, increase contacts and educate people about the process of making Turkish carpets. I personally do not buy into the fear … [Read more...]

I love watching people and wondering about their life. Where are they coming from and where are they going to? What pain have they experienced and what happiness have they known?  I am also always reminded of a Turkish woman I met called  Hatica. Her life could not be any more different than mine. I am tied to the internet and all that revolves around it while she is a home-maker, mother and grandmother. She takes her role seriously and gets a … [Read more...]

The Turkish bath experience usually appears on every list recommending things to do while in Turkey. It is not one of my favorite activities but because this is a travel blog, it needs mentioning. A lot of 5 star hotels in Turkey have a Turkish bath included in the spa section of their hotel. On the whole, these are often not the traditional version because they are aimed more at nervous tourists, who don't like to stray too far out of their … [Read more...]

The amazing Sufi poet called Rumi once said that “Love cannot be described. It must be tasted”. He said these words over 700 years ago, yet people still spend time and energy searching for the perfect definition of love. Better questions to ask would be… Do you believe that simple sentences or actions can evoke overwhelming emotions? Do you believe that a greater understanding of other cultures and beliefs is a necessity? Do you believe that … [Read more...]

I have seen many sights during my time in Turkey but none of them has ever matched the experience I had last Sunday. Seven of us hired a driver and set off to the village of Kizilcayiki to watch the traditional show of camel wrestling. From the moment, we got out of the van I realized that we were the only foreigners in a crowd of possibly 1000 Turkish village people. My first instinct was to stand in the parade along with the camels as it … [Read more...]

When I married my Turkish Romeo, I never knew that I had gained automatic entry to the Elite Club of Turkish Housewives.  This is a group of women who have the task of multi-skilling borne into them from birth. No problem is unsolvable and no task is too big. The pure existence and happiness of their families is all down to the Elite Turkish housewives who steer the ship through troubled times and provide a shoulder to cry on during the hard … [Read more...]