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 24th and
25th are completely normal work days. No one celebrates. For the Turkish, December 31st 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 5th and 12th 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 4th 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 11th 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 3rd 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
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
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