Holidays and Festivals in Turkey

HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS

In Turkey, these are of three kinds: national secular, national religious, and local. Since religious holidays are dependent on the lunar calendar, the day they fall on varies from year to year. Local festivals are often dependent upon the harvest, the weather, or the moon, and as such it is difficult to predict exact dates. For specific dates of a given festival, contact the town’s tourist office. If you anticipate traveling in a town or region during festival time, check ahead on accommodations, since hotels and pensions in many towns can fill up quickly. For more specific information about the holidays, see the appropriate city section.

Turkey’s religious holidays, festivals, and traditions are sometimes overwhelming for travelers. Ramadan, which occurs during a different one-month period every year, is a time of fasting for observant Muslims (The Five Pillars of Islam). Though tourists are not expected to comply with the holiday, it is important to remember that this is, the holiest month of the year for many Turks, and that respect for their customs is imperative. If you’re in Turkey during Ramadan, be aware that many restaurants are closed. In those that are open, the clientele will he largely foreign. It is advisable that you not drink, eat, or smoke cigarettes on the street until sunset. Oruç tutmak (fasting) is a test of faith, and it is considered disrespectful to tempt the faithful in this way. At sundown, Ramazan pidesi, a special, dense flatbread, is used to break the daily fast. The three day festival of Şeker Bayramı (Sugar Holiday) occurs at the end of Ramadan and is celebrated with family gatherings, the giving of sweets to children, and general festivity. Kurban Bayramı (Sacrifice Holiday) usually occurs a few months after Ramadan and involves the large scale slaughter of sheep, which are purchased on street corners by those families who can afford to do so, killed, and then distributed to the poor.

Holidays and Festivals in Turkey