NEW YEAR CELEBRATION IN TURKEY'S SOME CITIES

                                                                      İSTANBUL

                                                                         ANKARA

İZMİR

BURSA

NEVŞEHİR

ANTALYA 

BODRUM

ESKİŞEHİR

MARMARİS

ADANA

ERZURUM

BOLU

TOMBALA TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR GAME

 

• Sell Tambola Tickets at a fixed or mutually-agreed-upon price to everyone who wants to play.
• With the ticket(s), hand out a pen/pencil/toothpick to the players to strike the called Numbers/CUEs in their tickets.
• Decide the cash-prizes for the decided winning points. Winning points can be like:
• Early 5: the ticket with first five struck numbers
• First Row/Top Row: the ticket with all numbers struck in a top row first
• Second Row/Middle Row: the ticket with all numbers struck in a middle row first
• Third Row/Bottom Row: the ticket with all numbers struck in a bottom row first
• Corners: the ticket with all 4 corner numbers struck first (1st and last numbers of top and bottom rows)
• Corner with Star: the ticket with all 4 corner & centre-most numbers struck first (1st and last numbers of top and bottom rows along with a centre-most number of the middle row)
• Full House/First House: the ticket with all its numbers struck first
• Second House: the ticket with all its numbers struck second
  and so on…

• As we know by now that there are 90 numbers in Tambola Game and each ticket has 15 numbers. So, 6 tickets has 15*6 = 90 numbers. In all these 6 tickets, each number from 1-90 occurs once only so covering all 90 numbers. Therefore, when a CUE is called, it will be present in one and only one ticket from the set of 6 tickets.
• There are 3 rows and 9 columns in every Tambola Ticket
• There are a total of 90 (1-90) numbers in Tambola
• There are 3 rows and 9 columns in every Tambola Ticket
• Every ticket has exactly 15 numbers
• Every row contains 5 numbers
• A column may have 1, 2 or 3 numbers. There should be at least 1 number in every column
• A Ticket cannot have the same number more than once
• Column 1 on any ticket has numbers between 1-9
• Column 2 on any ticket has numbers between 10-19
• Column 3 on any ticket has numbers between 20-29
• Column 4 on any ticket has numbers between 30-39
• Column 5 on any ticket has numbers between 40-49
• Column 6 on any ticket has numbers between 50-59
• Column 7 on any ticket has numbers between 60-69
• Column 8 on any ticket has numbers between 70-79
• Column 9 on any ticket has numbers between 80-90

Some popular phrases to use while calling out Numbers

1 – First on the board, no. 1; lone ranger no. 1; Buttered scone; Top of the house no. 1
2 – Kaala dhan (number “do”); one little duck no. 2
3 – Happy family; goodness me no. 3
4 – Hum doh humare “do”; 2+2=4; Murgi chor
5 – Punjab mail no. 5, Come for a drive at no. 5
6 – Bottom heavy, In a fix no. 6; supper sixer
7 – Lucky no. seven, Colours of the rainbow, days in a week; saat sur
8 – Big fat lady/major no. 8
9 – Doctor’s time no. 9
10 – A big fat hen no. 10; uncle Ben
11 – Beautiful legs; sexy legs
12 – One dozen
13 – Unlucky for some no. 13, Baker’s Dozen no. 13
14 – Valentine’s Day; Tender chick, age is 14
15 – Yet to be kissed, age is 15
16 – Never been kissed, Sweet sixteen
17 – Not so sweet, often been kissed, Dancing Queen
18 – Now you can vote, marriageable age no. 18
19 – Goodbye teens at no. 19

20_  Blind 20; one score
21 – Watch your son at 21, Women’s age never crosses 21; President’s salute
22 – Two little ducks; All twos no. 22
23 – You and me is 23
24 – Two dozen
25 – Wish to have a wife at 25, Silver Jubilee (25)
26 – Republic Day
27 – Gateway to heaven no. 27
28 – Not so late at 28; Duck and its mate
29 – In your prime, Gin and lime 29
30 – Women get flirty at 30; Flirty thirty
31 – Flavours at Baskin Robins
32 – 32, Mouth’s Full
33 – Lovely lips, All the 3s, Knocking knees 33
34 – Dil mange more at 34
35 – Flirty wife 35
36 – Perfect vital stats 36, standard size 36, three dozen
37 – Mixed luck
38 – Oversize
39 – Watch your waistline
40 – Naughty 40
41 – Life begins at 41
43 – Down on your knees 43
44 – Chor & chor, All the fours
45 – Halfway there
46 – Up to tricks at 46
47 – Year of Independence
49 – Rise and shine at 49
50 – Half a century, Golden Jubilee (50)
51 – Charity begins at 51
52 – Weeks in a year; Pack of cards
53 – Pack with a joker
54 – Time for more
55 – Nagging wife, All the fives
56 – Pick up sticks
60 – Diamond Jubilee (60)
66 – Clickety Click
69 – Ulta Pulta, Any way round
72 – Lucky couple, lucky two
74 – Lucky chor 74
77 – Hum “saat” “saat” (Hindi) hain, luck-a-luck, double hockey sticks, two little crutches
78 – Lucky “seth” (Hindi) 78
79 – One more time, lucky nine
82 – Last of the two 82; Fat lady with a duck
83 – India won Cricket World Cup
84 – Last of the chors
87 – Last of luck, fat lady with a crutch
88 – Two fat ladies
89 – Nearly there; All but one
90 – Top of the house, no. 90!

BETÜL TOPAY AYAN/TOROS ANATOLIAN HIGH SCHOOL-ANTALYA/TURKEY

TURKISH NEW YEAR TRADITIONS

    In Turkey,  we celebrate Christmas. It’s just that it’s not on the 25th December, but on the 31st .Actually, we just celebrate new year. 
    New Years day is the only public holiday in Turkey which is not a religious holiday or national celebration. 

    As in many other places in the world that Turkey, on the evening of New Year’s Eve celebrations are organized in a variety of entertainment .“Yeni yılınız kutlu olsun” this is how  you say “merry christmas “in Turkish.  

    People in Turkey who celebrate Christmas do same things as other people who celebrate Christmas. Well-attended celebrations in metropolitan cities, squares, fireworks, parades, concerts. Starting mid-December, streets and stores are decorated in a similar fashion Western countries do for Christmas. You’ll find plenty of Christmas trees, (street) lights.If the people prefer to celebrate  outdoors Several thousand people meet at central meeting point in order to dance to the music of the New Year’s Concert and to see the big fireworks. Turkish people do not celebrate Christmas as such, however they are beginning to put up Christmas trees and lights etc. This is only due to a trend, and does not mean a religious inclination.

   You can  buy Christmas trees in every major supermarket and decorate them with luminous ornaments at home; the streets, shops and houses are festively decorated and the loudspeakers in the shopping. You will find Turkey's for sale in the supermarket along with many tasty treats and drinks on offer.You can also get New Year packs which which contain,snacks,drinks and various other bits and pieces.Many buy presents for friends and loved ones.

   Despite all that, however December 24^th and 25^th are completely normal work days. No one celebrates. For the Turkish, December 31^st is the “Great Day”. On this day they celebrate “Yıl-başı”, the “head of the year”.Mant Turkish people celebrate the New Year's coming with new year events and those that stay at home play games and watch new year  programmes on TV and of course with an abundance of food and Turkish tea.Generally large family dinners are organized.Turkey is the favourite main dish of that night.



'Tombala' is known as a Christmas game in Turkey and that bingo game is played among family members in most of the houses that night.

  The idea of Christmas for the Turkish is not a throughly alien one;Santa Claus(Father Christmas) was born in Turkey and it is called Noel Baba in Turkish.A historic temple where his home was still exists today and is open for visits. 

   The Byzantine church was originally used as a house of worship for Orthodox Christians between the 5^th and 12^th centuries, and is most notable for being the church where Saint Nicholas of Myra was a consecrated bishop. Who exactly was St. Nicholas of Myra? He was an Eastern Orthodox bishop born in nearby Patara in the 4^th century, but is more commonly known as Santa Claus.

    The grey-stone building sits in a depression which is several meters deep, and is surrounded by well-tended gardens and several modern-day statues portraying the many faces of St. Nicholas – including his roles as priest and bishop, St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus. Faded frescoes depicting various religious scenes and the story of St. Nicholas' life cover the interior walls. Marble columns and vaulted ceilings give the space an open and airy feeling, and intricate mosaic tiles (dating to the 11^th century) line the floor. There are several sarcophagi in the church, including one believed to have been the Saint's tomb.

   The present day building is not the original church on the site. It is believed that the building we see today was built on the foundation of another church (built in the 3^rd century BC) after St. Nicholas died (December 6, 343) to protect his tomb and honour his memory.It is in Demre,Antalya(my hometown) and drawn significant attention from archaeologists, historians, religious experts and the curious public.
 

    Actually, Turkey has no Christmas tradition.Turkish people do some of their traditions when they start a new year as well.Here are a few of these traditions.
 

  💥Wearing red is one of the traditions,I am not sure the origin but I know that in Italy and Mexico it is also a tradition.Almost everything and every dress becomes red in Christmas days. The meaning of this is to bring luck for the coming year.
  💥Another is to open your house door or shop door at the bells and sprinkle salt on the doorstep, this is said to bring peace and abundance to your home and business.
  💥Opening the tap and letting the water run is another tradition said to bring abundance to  home.
  💥Going for a short walk is said to bring travel into your life.
  💥Milli Piyango means  New Year lottery.On New Year’s Eve the big lottery draw takes place.Many people buy a lottery ticket in the hope of entering the New Year as Millionaires!!
 

     Whatever the traditions or superstitions New Year is a time for family and friends to gather and bring in the New Year and join in each others wishes and dream for the following year.

   💖 HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR ALL OF YOU 💖

May the new year 2021 brings health(death of corona) and good luck !🎀💌🐞
Best regards...

Betül Topay AYAN

Nazlı ŞAHİN New Year in Turkey

Karakuş tatlısı
 Aslında yeni yıl Anadolu'da eski Türkler"de fe farkı şekillerde kutlanırdı.Mesela bütün bir yıl bereketli geçsin diye yılbaşı gecesi evin duvarlarına kuru fasülye koyarlarmış.

   Günümüzde ülkemizde yeni yılın gelişi farklı şekillerde kutlanıyor.Bizler yıl başı gecesi hep birlikte bir arada olmayı seçeriz.

    Akşam en güzel yemekler ve tatlılar yapılır. Birlikte yenir.Ben mesela çocukken hatırladığım annemin hey yıl başında yaptığı karakuş tatlısıydı.

     Her evde farklı tatlılar yapılır,mesela kadayıf tatlısı da tercih edilen bir tatlıdır.

In fact, the New Year was celebrated in different ways by the old Turks in Anatolia. For example, they used to put dried beans on the walls of the house on New Year's Eve so that the whole year would be prosperous.

   Today, the arrival of the new year is celebrated in different ways in our country. We choose to be together on the night of the new year.

    Different desserts are made in every house. For example, kadayif dessert is a preferred dessert.

Ayşegül Gürsoy Oflas / Yaglidere Anatolian High School-Gİresun,Turkey

New Year's Eve in Turkey

The New Year’s Eve traditions in this country include a family dinner, a national lottery drawing and a countdown to midnight. New Year’s Eve falls on December 31 in the Gregorian calendar.

New Year's Eve is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. Although many workers get half a day off. Administration buildings, schools and post offices may be closed in the in the afternoon of December 31.

What Do People Do?

Many people in Turkey start celebrating New Year’s Eve with a large family dinner. Variety shows on television begin in late afternoon and continue until early morning of the next day. Many people play games while waiting for the clock to strike midnight. State TV channels announce the winning numbers of a New Year’s national lottery just before midnight. Many people in Turkey try to buy a New Year’s lottery ticket because it promises a large sum of money to the winner. Many people also congratulate each other, toast to a New Year and exchange small gifts at midnight between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Some people go to city centers late on December 31 to watch the traditional fireworks. New Year’s Eve ends with a countdown to announce the arrival of a new year, and celebrations continue until the morning of January 1.

TURKISH PEOPLE ALSO EXCHANGE GIFTS

 RUMEYSE ÖZKAN, SOMUNCUBABA IMAM HATIP SECINDARY SCHOOL, BURSA, TURKEY

In Turkey, people (especially family members and friends) write their names on a piece of paper, then draw lots for a name. The rule is that you cannot tell whose name you have and you will not be able to know who is going to give your present for New Year. It is kept as a secret until the 1st January. I think that is a nice tradition as it reinforces the friendship and love.There is also a version of the Christmas lottery: everyone gets a gift. gifts are numbered. then each person draws a number, hence a gift. In this version, you cannot discriminate as you do not know who will receive your gift, you will receive your gift regardless of the person you love or dislike.

 Lenuta Ilie-Seminarul Teologic Ortodox,,Sf. Ioan Gura de Aur'' Husi

                      Winter holidays in Romania

St Nicholas, 6th of December. Winter holidays begin with it and it’s celebrated in many European countries. This important holiday honors the generosity and kindness of St. Nicholas. He is called Mos Nicolae in Romanian. Children and adults receive presents in their shoes. St. Nicholas arrives at night, placing the presents only in the shoes of those people who behaved well. The naughty ones receive a twig that reminds them that they are punished for misbehavior. The twigs are sold in gold, silver or decorated versions, but people often opt for a simple small tree branch instead of buying these fancy twigs. The presents are not as big as the Christmas ones, the most common gifts being sweets and fruits.

It is commonly known that snow on this day means that St. Nicholas shakes his beard for the winter to kick off. On December 5th in the evening, shoes (generally boots) are wiped, polished and left in front of the door or on a windowsill. People whose names are Nicholas and its derivatives celebrate their name days on this occasion, the ceremony being similar to the birthday one. It is said that St. Nicholas helps people who are ill or suffer.

 Christmas, celebrated on the 25th-26th of December, is the most important holiday in Romania. Christians celebrate Lord Jesus’ birth with merriness and love. The Advent season begins on the 14th of November and ends on the first day of Christmas. During these 7 weeks, Orthodox people fast, meaning that they don’t eat food which comes from animal sources, such as meat, dairy products and eggs. There are a couple of days though when they can make an exception and eat fish.  

On Christmas Eve (24th December), family members gather around the Christmas tree which is decorated on this evening or earlier in December. Children go caroling from door to door in their neighborhood and they receive sweets or money as a reward. They also sing Christmas carols at home. Even adults or groups of people go caroling on Christmas Eve. In some regions, dances are performed along with singing.

On the night before Christmas, it is believed that Santa Claus arrives on its sleigh drawn by reindeers and leaves gifts in every house near the Christmas tree. Those who have been naughty throughout the year, don’t receive anything. Friends and relatives buy more or less significant presents for each other, for example gadgets, toys, clothes, money, holidays, accessories, home decorations, sweets and so on. Children write letters for Santa well in advance, in which they ask for things and make wishes. It’s the perfect occasion for family members to reunite and spend wonderful moments together. On the 25th of December, people check out their Christmas gifts and go to church. Some people prefer to open their presents on Christmas Eve.

Presentation made by Anca A.

Romanian New Year customs

 Liliana Tacu-Seminarul Teologic Ortodox,,Sf. Ioan Gura de Aur'' Husi

 

                            Romanian New Year Customs

In Romania, besides the New Year’s Day, we also celebrate a saint called in our mother tongue Sfântul Vasile. Of course, like in every country, Romanians celebrate New Year with parties held in clubs or outdoors. 

In Romania, the night between December 31st and January 1st is called Revelion or The Night of Saint Vasile (Noaptea lui Sfântul Vasile). It is said that on The Night of Saint Vasile, the heaven opens 3 times for several moments.

New Year’s Day Caroling

On the New Year’s Day, children go on a form of caroling called here Sorcova. The children go with Sorcova usually to acquitances, friends and families wishing them long life, health and prosperity. The Sorcova is usually made out of branches cut from fruit trees (like apple trees, pear trees, plum trees or cherry trees) or out of branches from rose bushes which are put in a vessel with water to bloom on the night of Saint Andrew’s Day (November 30th) or on Old Saint Nick’s Day (December 6th). Also the Sorcova can be made out of branches decorated with colorful wool, tinsel and a some basil branches at the top. In Bucovina region, the Sorcova has a bell attached to it.

For us Romanians, the Sorcova is a symbol of Spring nature. When the children recite the lyrics of the Sorcova they softly and rhythmically touch the doors and the windows with the Sorcova if they are caroling outside, or they touch the host if the children are invited inside. After the caroling is finished, the Sorcova is kept as a holy object hanged on the Eastern wall, near the icons or in another clean place from the house.

Superstitions on New Year’s Day

Like on any other main holiday, Romanians have a set of superstitions regarding the New Year’s Day. And I am going to list you them here:

* On the night if the New Year’s Day, Romanians make a lot of noise in order to chase the evil spirits. Some even go further and hold a piece of garlic in their pocket to protect them from evil spirits.

* On the last day of the year and also on the first day of the year it is not ok to spend money or throw out the garbage (or anything else out of the house), because along with it we also throw away the good luck from the house.

* When the new year starts, people are not supposed to be in debt, otherwise they will be in debt for the whole year.

* The first person who visits our house on the first day of the year will influence the rest of our year. It is said that people with blond hair or ginger hair bring bad luck, while the brunettes are bringing good luck. Also, if the first person to enter the house is a man, it will bring good luck, but if the first person to enter the house is a woman, then it will bring bad luck.

* On the New Year’s Eve, the unmarried girls put in a vessel with water a basil thread, an apple tree branch and a coin. In the morning, the girls will dream about the man they will get married with.

* At midnight, the house’s door must be opened to let the old year get out and let the new year come in.

* Old people say that at midnight, the moment between the years, people should wear something new or something red (or any other bright color) to attract positive energies.

* On the night of the New Year, people are not aloud to sleep and the ones who can’t be awake will be sleepy for the entire year. :))

* On the New Year’s Eve you should have some wheat grains in your pockets to be protected from hunger the whole year. It is also recommended to have money in your pockets so that the New Year won’t caught you poor.

* Romanians eat fish on the night between the years so they can enter the New Year smoothly and calmly. Eating poultry on New Year’s Day in Romania brings bad luck. That’s because the birds grub the earth and spread it away which means that they spread the prosperity and good luck from the house.

* On the night between the years and on January 1st, no one should cry. If someone cries on New Year’s Day, the whole year will be full of sad events.

* On the day of Saint Vasile, it is said that you should drink a lot of wine because the quantity of wine drank on that day measures the redness in the cheeks. So if you drink a lot of wine, you will have red cheeks.  This customs comes from the fact that Saint Vasile is the Bacchus of the Christians and is portraited sitting on a barrel of wine.

* The weather on the New Year’s Day dictates the way the whole year will be: if the weather is fine on that day, then the whole year will be good, otherwise is bad.

* If on New Year’s Day are freezing temperatures (about -20ºC) and if you see on the snow a lot of sparkling stars, this means that it will be a prosper year and it will also be full of weddings.

* If on the New Year’s Day is snowing, the new year will be prosper and if it the sky is clear and there are freezing temperatures, people will be healthy the whole year.

So, this is all about the Romanian customs and superstitions on New Year’s Day. 

Presentation made by Adnana and Petru