Turkey is a country that sits between East and West, drawing elements from both to produce its own unique blend of culture and traditions. Turkey culture and traditions (Turkish: Türkiye Kültürü) combine a diverse and heterogeneous set of elements that have been derived from the various cultures of the Eastern European, Eastern Mediterranean, Caucasian, Middle East, and Central Asian traditions. Many of these traditions were initially brought together by the Ottoman Empire, a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state that spanned across Central Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Turkey was established with a series of reforms that aimed to modernize, westernize and secularize the country, while creating a new Turkish identity. However, Islam has still exerted a profound influence on the relations between the sexes, family life, and social values.
Historical Layers and Influences
Turkey is a country that has been shaped by various historical layers and influences, from ancient Anatolia to the Ottoman Empire to the modern Republic. Its geography, culture, economy, and politics reflect the diversity and complexity of its past and present. Some of the major historical events and periods that have influenced Turkey are:
The rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire, which spanned six centuries and controlled much of Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa at its peak. The Ottoman legacy can be seen in Turkey's architecture, art, cuisine, language, and religion.
The Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922), which followed the defeat and dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after World War I. The war resulted in the establishment of the Republic of Turkey under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who is widely regarded as the founder of modern Turkey and a national hero.
The transition from a one-party system to a multi-party democracy in the 1940s and 1950s, which opened up the political sphere to different ideologies and social movements. Turkey also became a member of NATO and a close ally of the United States during the Cold War.
The military coups and interventions in 1960, 1971, 1980, and 1997, disrupted the democratic process and caused political instability, human rights violations, and economic crises. The role of the military in Turkish politics has been a contentious issue for decades.
The Kurdish conflict, which began in the 1980s and continues to this day. The conflict involves the Kurdish minority's demands for cultural and political rights, as well as autonomy or independence, and the Turkish state's response with military operations and repression. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people.
Religions and Festivals
Turkey's official religion is Islam, which is followed by about 94% of the population, mostly Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. However, Turkey is also a secular state that respects the freedom of religion and belief of its citizens. Turkey has many religious festivals and holidays that reflect its Islamic heritage, as well as some cultural and national ones that celebrate its Turkish identity.
One of the most important religious festivals in Turkey is Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this month, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food, drink, and other worldly pleasures. They also perform extra prayers, read the Quran, and engage in charitable acts. Ramadan is a time of spiritual purification, self-discipline, and gratitude for God's blessings. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with Eid al-Fitr, which means "the festival of breaking the fast". On this day, Muslims attend a special prayer in the morning, exchange greetings and gifts, visit their relatives and friends, and enjoy festive meals.
Another major religious festival in Turkey is Eid al-Adha, which means "the festival of sacrifice". It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of obedience to God. God intervened and provided a ram instead of Ismail as a sacrifice. On this day, Muslims who can afford it slaughter an animal, usually a sheep or a goat, and distribute its meat to the poor, their relatives, and their friends. Eid al-Adha also coincides with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj), which is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Hospitable Culture
Turkey is a country with a rich and diverse culture, where hospitality is one of the most important values. According to Turkish tradition, guests are seen as a blessing from God, and they are treated with respect and generosity. Whether it is a friend, a family member, or a foreign visitor, Turks will always offer them tea, coffee, food, and a comfortable place to stay. They will also share their history, language, and customs with them, and expect them to show respect for their religion and elders. Turkey's hospitality is not only a social norm but also a way of expressing its identity and pride as a nation.
Culinary Delights and Drinks
Turkey is a country that offers a rich variety of culinary delights, influenced by its diverse geography, history, and culture. From the spicy kebabs and savory pastries of Anatolia to the fresh seafood and olive oil dishes of the Aegean, to the sweet baklava and nutty halva of Ottoman cuisine, there is something for every taste and preference in Turkey. Some of the most famous Turkish dishes include:
İskender kebab: Thin slices of grilled lamb or beef served over pita bread, topped with tomato sauce, melted butter, and yogurt.
Lahmacun: A thin-crust pizza topped with minced meat, onion, parsley, and spices, baked in a wood-fired oven.
Dolma: Grape leaves, peppers, zucchini, or eggplant stuffed with rice, pine nuts, currants, and herbs, cooked in olive oil or meat broth.
Menemen: A scrambled egg dish with tomatoes, peppers, onion, and spices, often eaten for breakfast with bread.
Kuru fasulye: White beans stewed with tomato paste, onion, garlic, and spices, served with rice or bulgur pilaf.
Baklava: A layered pastry made of thin sheets of phyllo dough, filled with chopped nuts, and soaked in sugar syrup or honey.
Künefe: A dessert made of shredded wheat pastry filled with cheese and soaked in sugar syrup, served hot with pistachios and clotted cream.
Turkey is a country with a rich and diverse culture, and this is reflected in its traditional drinks. One of the most popular Turkish drinks is tea, or çay, which is brewed in a double teapot and served in small glass cups. Tea is a sign of hospitality and friendship, and Turks drink it throughout the day.
Another famous Turkish drink is ayran, a refreshing yogurt drink that is made by mixing sour yogurt, water, and salt. Ayran is often paired with meat dishes, as it helps with digestion and hydration. A third Turkish drink that is worth trying is sherbet, a sweet and fruity drink that dates back to the Ottoman Empire. Sherbet is made from fruit juices, flowers, and herbs, and is served cold with water. Sherbet comes in many flavors, such as rose, lemon, orange, and mango, and is a delightful way to cool down on a hot day.
Turkish coffee is a strong and aromatic brew that is prepared by boiling finely ground coffee beans with water and sugar in a small pot called a cezve. The coffee is served in small cups, and the drinker should not stir or sip the coffee, but let it settle at the bottom of the cup. After finishing the coffee, the drinker should place the saucer on top of the cup, make a wish, and turn the cup upside down. Then, the cup is left to cool for a few minutes, and the fortune teller can start reading the symbols and images formed by the coffee grounds on the inner surface of the cup and the saucer. The fortune teller can interpret the meanings of these symbols based on their intuition, experience, and knowledge of the symbolism.
Music and Performing Arts
Turkey has a rich and diverse musical heritage that spans different regions, genres, and cultures. Turkish music and performing arts reflect the historical influences of various civilizations, such as the Seljuks, Mongols, Ottomans, Persians, Arabs, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. Some of the most popular forms of Turkish music and performing arts are:
Classical Turkish music: This is a refined and sophisticated style of music that developed in the Ottoman court and urban centers. It is based on a complex system of modes called makams, which define the melodic and harmonic structure of a composition. Classical Turkish music uses various instruments, such as the oud, kanun, ney, tanbur, kemençe, and percussion. It also features vocal forms, such as gazelle (improvised singing of poetry), şarkı (song), and aside (ode).
Folk music: This is a diverse and regional style of music that reflects the local traditions, customs, and identities of different ethnic groups in Turkey. Folk music uses various instruments, such as the bağlama (a long-necked lute), zurna (a double-reed oboe), davul (a large drum), kaval (a flute), and çifteli (a two-stringed lute). It also features vocal forms, such as türkü (folk song), ağıt (lament), mani (quatrain), and design (epic).
Pop music: This is a modern and popular style of music that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s with the influence of Western genres, such as rock, jazz, blues, and disco. Pop music incorporates elements of Turkish folk and classical music, as well as Arabic, Balkan, and Kurdish music. Pop music uses various instruments, such as the guitar, keyboard, synthesizer, drum machine, and saxophone. It also features vocal forms, such as pop songs, rap, and hip-hop.
Performing arts include theater, dance, opera, ballet, puppetry, and cinema. Some of the most famous examples of Turkish performing arts are:
Karagöz: This is a traditional shadow puppet theater that originated in the 14th century. It features two main characters: Karagöz (the black-eyed one), who represents the common people, and Hacivat (the learned one), who represents the elite. The puppets are made of leather and projected on a white screen. The stories are humorous and satirical, often commenting on social issues.
Mevlevi: This is a mystical dance ritual that belongs to the Sufi order of Mevleviyya, founded by the poet Rumi in the 13th century. It involves whirling in a circular motion while wearing white robes and tall hats. The dance symbolizes the journey of the soul toward God through love and devotion.
Ortaoyunu: This is a traditional folk theater that originated in the 16th century. It features a group of actors who perform improvised sketches on a circular stage. The actors wear colorful costumes and masks that represent different types of characters, such as the fool, the lover, the doctor, and the judge. The sketches are comical and often criticize the authorities.
Turkey also has many theaters, opera houses, ballet companies, and festivals that showcase local and international talent. The Zorlu Center Performing Arts Center in Istanbul is the largest venue of its kind in Turkey, hosting Broadway and West End musicals, classical concerts, ballets, and contemporary dance shows. Other notable performing arts venues in Turkey include the Atatürk Cultural Center in Istanbul, the State Opera and Ballet in Ankara, the Aspendos Festival in Antalya, and the International Music Festival in Izmir.
Arts and Crafts
One of the most prominent aspects of Turkish culture is its traditional arts and crafts, which include a variety of forms and techniques. Some of the most well-known Turkish arts and crafts are:
Carpet-making: Turkey is famous for its carpets, which are woven with intricate patterns and motifs that have symbolic meanings. Carpets are made from wool, cotton, silk, or synthetic fibers, and are dyed with natural or chemical colors. Carpets are used for decoration, insulation, prayer mats, or as gifts. Some of the most famous carpet-making centers are Hereke, Kayseri, Konya, Milas, and Uşak.
Tile-making: Turkey is also renowned for its tiles, which are ceramic pieces that are glazed and painted with geometric, floral, or figurative designs. Tiles are used to adorn walls, ceilings, fountains, mosques, and palaces. Tiles are made from clay, quartz, feldspar, and water, and are fired in kilns at high temperatures. Some of the most famous tile-making centers are İznik, Kütahya, and Çanakkale.
Embroidery: Turkey has a rich tradition of embroidery, which is the art of decorating fabrics with needle and thread. Embroidery is used to embellish clothing, accessories, household items, and trousseau. Embroidery is made with various tools and techniques, such as needles, crochet needles, shuttle, hairpins, silk cocoons, wool, candle stick, bead, and left-over cloth. Embroidery is seen in many provinces of Turkey, such as Kastamonu, Konya, Elazığ, Bursa, Bitlis, Gaziantep, İzmir, Ankara, Bolu, Kahramanmaraş, Aydın, İçel, Tokat and Kütahya.
Paper crafts: Turkey has a long history of paper crafts, which are made from paper or cardboard. Paper crafts include origami, quilling, collage, paper-mâché, and paper cutting. Paper crafts are used for decoration, education, or entertainment. Paper crafts are popular among children and adults alike. Some examples of paper crafts are paper lanterns, paper flowers, paper dolls, and paper turkeys. Paper turkeys are especially fun to make for Thanksgiving or fall season.
Language and Literature
Turkey is a country with a rich and diverse linguistic and literary heritage. The official language of Turkey is Turkish, a Turkic language that belongs to the Altaic language family. Turkish has a complex grammatical structure, an extensive vocabulary, and a distinctive phonology. Turkish is written in the Latin alphabet, but it was previously written in the Arabic and Ottoman scripts.
Turkey has also been influenced by other languages and cultures throughout its history, such as Persian, Arabic, Greek, French, and English. These influences have enriched the Turkish language and literature with various loanwords, idioms, and literary genres. Some of the most famous Turkish writers include Yunus Emre, Orhan Pamuk, Nazim Hikmet, Elif Shafak, and Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar. They have contributed to the development of Turkish poetry, novels, essays, and short stories, reflecting the social, political, and cultural aspects of Turkey.
Traditional Dress
The traditional clothing of Turkey varies from region to region, but it is generally influenced by the Ottoman period, which lasted from the 13th to the early 20th century. The Ottoman style of clothing is characterized by bright colors, flowing fabrics, embroidery, and sequins.
One of the most common items of traditional Turkish clothing is the salvar, which are baggy trousers that are gathered at the ankle. The salvar can be worn by both men and women, and they are often paired with a long-sleeved shirt, a vest or a jacket, and a headscarf or a hat. The salvar can be made of different materials, such as cotton, wool, or silk, and they can have different patterns and colors. The salvar is especially popular in eastern Turkey and among Kurdish people.
Another item of traditional Turkish clothing is the entari, which is a long robe that covers the body from the neck to the ankles. The entari can be worn by both men and women, but it is more common for women. The entari can be made of various fabrics, such as velvet, brocade, or silk, and it can have different designs and decorations, such as lace, buttons, or embroidery. The entari is often worn over a chemise (gömlek) and under a shawl (Yemeni) or a wrap (poncho).
Traditional Turkish clothing is not only worn for everyday life but also for special occasions, such as weddings, festivals, or ceremonies. Traditional Turkish clothing can express the identity, status, and taste of the wearer, as well as the history and culture of Turkey.
Evil Eye: The Nazar Boncugu
The Nazar Boncugu is a blue-eye-shaped amulet that is widely used in Turkey as protection against the evil eye. The evil eye is a malicious gaze that can cause misfortune, illness, or harm to the person who receives it. The Nazar Boncugu is believed to reflect or absorb negative energy and prevent it from reaching the wearer. The amulet is made of glass and has concentric circles of dark blue, white, light blue, and black, sometimes with a yellow or gold edge. The origin of the Nazar Boncugu can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece, where blue eyes were rare and considered to be a source of evil power. The Nazar Boncugu is a common souvenir and gift in Turkey, and it can be seen in homes, offices, shops, cars, and jewelry.
Conclusion
Turkey culture and traditions are a mesmerizing blend of historical influences, vibrant festivals, culinary delights, and warm hospitality. Its unique position at the crossroads of civilizations has led to a dynamic culture that continues to evolve while cherishing its rich heritage. As travelers and scholars delve into the intricacies of Turkish culture, they are bound to discover a captivating world of traditions that have left an indelible mark on humanity's cultural tapestry.
Watch more: All You Need to Know About the Turkish Culture and Traditions
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