Customs, Traditions and Holidays in Turkey

Vacationers in numerous Turkish resorts may not even be aware of what life goes on outside of fashionable hotels. For those who are interested, it will be interesting to observe a life built on ancient traditions. and Turkey are located nearby, but there is very little in common, although you can still find something similar. As well as in Russia, the customs of this country were formed on a mixture of different ethnic groups, religions and customs. Here, many things still remind of the way of life of the ancient nomads, on which large strokes of Islamic culture are superimposed.

Muslims make up more than 80% of the local population, and this is felt literally in everything. Religiosity comes through both in the manner of communication and in the features of the Turks. Local traditions are also mixed with Islam and are rooted in the history of the Ottoman Empire. This applies, for example, to deliberate politeness in communication. Today, Turkey is considered a secular state, but the tradition of polite treatment and courtesy is in the blood of the locals. Here you should not be surprised that compliments can pour on you from all sides, it is better to keep in mind that it would be nice to reciprocate such attention.

Foreigners, as a rule, are interested in wedding ceremonies, usually magnificent and very symbolic. First, it is supposed to send matchmakers, then to announce the betrothal. Wedding celebrations usually start on Thursday and can last for several days. Many traditions have survived to this day solely for their beauty and originality. So, in the "Henna Night" the bride's hands are painted with intricate patterns. An interesting tradition is the "belt of virginity", when the bride's father ties a scarlet ribbon over a snow-white dress.

Traditions are especially honored in rural areas, but even in megacities the rite of circumcision is strictly observed. It is also not customary to eat pork here, but the family hierarchy is strictly observed. The head of the family is always a man, but a woman always enjoys the respect of her relatives, and according to the law, a man and a woman have equal rights.

The most popular traditional holidays in Turkey are still Ramadan, Sheker-i Eid al-Adha These are major national holidays. There are a lot of people on the streets these days, music is playing. In addition to these holidays, Turkey celebrates many local and family holidays that reflect the customs and traditions of this people.

Hospitality is highly valued in Turkey. Friends and relatives often visit here. An invitation is always accompanied by many respectful pretexts, so it is very difficult to refuse a visit without offending the host. By the way, a reason for an invitation to visit is sometimes not needed at all, only a good mood and an interesting company are expected from guests. By the way, if you really don’t have time for a visit, then it is recommended to refuse, since even the shortest of them will last at least two hours, since they are not limited to just a cup of coffee or tea when receiving guests. In no case do not try to pay off the bill if you were invited to a restaurant or pay money to the owner of the house - this is terribly unpolite. But your photos that you send after the visit or small gifts "on the occasion" will surely please your Turkish acquaintances.

Cultural and household traditions and the customs of Turkey are very diverse, because this multinational country was formed on the basis of the powerful Ottoman Empire, which existed for more than 600 years and subjugated the peoples of parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Only on July 24, 1923, when the aggressive empire collapsed, did the formation of Turkey as a state begin, in which, in fact, there was no Turkish nation as such.

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The national composition of the population, inherited from the empire, had representatives of many peoples: Kurds, Circassians, Arabs, Meskhetians, Syrians, Laz, Balkars, Circassians. Each of them sought to preserve their religious, cultural and household traditions. And although now their descendants consider themselves Turks, they continue to keep their national canons, from which the extraordinary variety of Turkish customs arose.

The popular novel by the Turkish writer Gyuntekin “Korolek – a singing bird”, written by him in 1922, became widely known in our country in the late 80s of the last century, as well as the film of the same name based on it. The work about love reflects all layers of Turkish society, the social inequality of the very rich and the very poor; downtroddenness and oppression of Turkish women and, of course, folk traditions.

Now everything has changed since the writing of the novel: there is no striking social contrast in society; Basically, many seek to get a good education, master foreign languages, get the prestigious profession of a doctor, lawyer, economist, journalist. The rural population is becoming more civilized and wealthy, thanks to modern communications and connections. But as before, everyone is united by traditions and customs developed by ancestors and revered by modern descendants.

wedding customs

Marriage is given great paramount importance here, so the traditions and customs of the wedding are sacredly honored. Here it is customary to marry and get married at a fairly early age, while striving to observe the principle of social equality: a low-income man should not marry a girl from a wealthy family, so as not to infringe on her requests and worsen her financial situation in the future.

Although there are exceptions: not all modern young businessmen and politicians choose a financially secure life partner. The most common family unions are within religious and ethnic groups, but inter-ethnic ones are not prohibited by law.

The family code here is based on the Swiss civil code, which provides for the mutual consent of the newlyweds, the conclusion of a marriage contract and the principle of monogamy.

wedding ceremony rituals

Family discussion is held after the decision of the guy and the girl to marry, when each of them consults with members of his family, discussing all the details of the upcoming celebration.
Visit of close relatives of the groom to the bride's family to obtain consent to marriage.

Engagement, which consists in presenting the bride with gold jewelry: rings, earrings, bracelets after cutting the red thread connecting the rings of the bride and groom into 2 parts.

wedding preparations

Henna night is a kind of bachelorette party held two days before the wedding, in which only women participate. The traditional dress of the bride on this night should be a purple velvet dress, she (the bride) is seated in the center of the room, a plate of henna diluted with water is placed, where a lighted candle is placed. Those present, performing ritual songs, dance around the bride, and she sobs with her mother as a sign of sadness from the imminent separation from her parental home.

wedding ceremony

The wedding ceremony, where 200-300 guests are invited, begins with wild fun, accompanied by bravura music and graceful dances. Before the end of the celebration, it is the turn of presenting gifts according to the kinship hierarchy: first, the closest give, then the farthest, and so on in descending order.

The wedding night

"Gerdek" - the first wedding night - is a very important and responsible stage, when the virgin purity of the bride is checked, which is still of great importance in Turkey. Until now, in the morning, the bride must demonstrate to everyone on the sheet the traces of the loss of innocence. With mutual desire, young people can deceive the vigilance of relatives if they already had intimacy before the wedding.

Traditions of etiquette

hospitality rules

Turkish hospitality is akin to Caucasian, the Turks willingly invite guests to their place, using a special set of phrases and sentences that emphasize the desire of the hosts to see the guests at home. The guests who have come, traditionally placed on the floor on spread out pillows and mats, are supposed to be offered the best and most delicious. Meals are served on a beautiful capacious tray, which is placed on a low table. But now in most city houses the feast is held according to European standards: at a large table served with a full set of eating utensils.

Table etiquette

It must be remembered that pieces from a common dish should be taken only with the right hand, you can talk at the table with the permission of the owner. It is considered indecent to quickly and greedily absorb food, to be away for a long time, to smoke without permission; participation in dances and performance of songs is welcomed. The houses of the Turks are divided into guest and host halves, so guests can only enter their own half, taking off their shoes before entering.

It is not customary in Turkish families to eat alone; they strictly ensure that everyone living in the same house is present at the table during meals. Turks eat a lot of greens and vegetable salads, which are served with every meal; they can drink aniseed tincture or beer at dinner, which are not considered alcoholic beverages among them, although they are strictly forbidden to drink in public places. Pork is never used in cooking, either in home or in catering.

Common gestures

Residents of Turkey use specific gestures, sometimes understandable only to them: snapping fingers means approval; click of the tongue - on the contrary, disapproval or denial. Misunderstanding is expressed by a quick shake of the head from side to side or a surprised raise of the eyebrows. The consent sign is indicated by tilting the head to one side. When communicating with Turks, foreigners need to be more careful with their gestures, as they can be perceived by them in a completely different way.

Wearing traditions

Conservative residents of Turkey, both men and women, prefer to wear traditional clothes especially in rural areas. A mandatory attribute of national Turkish clothing are harem pants, in which representatives of both sexes go. Men's clothes are sewn from denser fabrics, and women's clothes are made from thin transparent fabrics, with decorations in the form of intricate patterns.

Over the trousers, women put on long dresses and robes made of satin, brocade, taffeta, muslin, and men wear long shirts tucked into trousers. Until now, many men wear a traditional headdress - a fez - a low cap made of red wool intertwined with blue, black or blue cord with a tassel.

Women wear bright, beautiful scarves on top. Now most business men wear European suits, shirts and ties. Young urban women are more committed to traditional dresses, complementing them with modern accessories and shoes, while older women strictly follow the customs of national attire.

Turks are intolerant of foreign tourists who appear off the beach in too revealing clothes: short shorts, low-cut tops or blouses. When going to a public place, you need to dress modestly, choosing a dress or skirt below the knees and with a small neckline; preferably with a hat or slicked back hair. Visiting mosques and temples requires tourists to be very careful: men should not appear there in shorts, women should wear a long dress that covers their arms and legs; and cover your head with a scarf or scarf.

Customs associated with the birth of children

All close relatives, coming to congratulate the family on the birth of a child, should give the mother gold and silver jewelry and coins. The choice of a name is also discussed by the family clan, the approved name is pronounced aloud three times, one of the grandmothers reads a prayer in the ear of the newborn in a whisper. On the fortieth day of a newborn's life, prayers are also read for his health; before bathing, the child's body is rubbed with salt so that a bad smell does not come from him in the future.

Great importance is attached to the appearance of the first tooth in children: different objects are laid out in front of the baby and, according to what the child takes first, they make an assumption of who he (she) will become.

An important stage in the development of a boy is the rite of circumcision, for which he is prepared with early years. This is a magnificent celebration when a boy, dressed like a king, is driven in a smartly decorated car, accompanied by a cortege to musical accompaniment. The boy is given gold coins as a sign that he has become a man that day and should have money.

In each Turkish family the traditions of Turkey are certainly honored, starting from the little things (what to cook for breakfast) and ending with such significant events as a wedding or the birth of a child. The traditions and customs of Turkey can be divided into several points, different from each other, but very important for the locals.

Traditions and customs in the family

Marriage in this country is entered quite early. Moreover, marriages are concluded, as a rule, between representatives of the same social group. In addition, marriages between the same ethnic or religious group are also common.

According to Turkish custom and law, a civil marriage ceremony is held with the consent of both parties with the conclusion of a contract. But the choice of future spouses is carried out by the heads of families, who also think over the marriage ceremony itself. Weddings are celebrated for several days, all family members participate in them.

At the same time, there are very few divorces in Turkey. There are six reasons for divorce in the country: a threat to life, flight from the family, adultery, an unethical or criminal lifestyle, incompatibility, and mental infirmity. But divorce by mutual agreement of the parties is not provided for by law.

Women and men in Turkish families have different roles in the family. In the family, the man, the senior members of the family, are revered, while the woman obeys. The head of the family is the father or the oldest man in the family, the decisions that he makes are not discussed. At the same time, the man fully provides for the family.

Women take care of the house and children. They pay tribute to centuries-old traditions and wear closed and modest clothes, often capes that hide the body and face.

The Turks love and spoil their children very much. Children have no right to argue with their father in public.

Division by social status

Education and wealth have always been very important indicators of status in Turkey. It has a tradition for many years, thanks to which you can get into the upper stratum of society with at least a university education. In addition, representatives of the upper class - businessmen, high-level officials, successful doctors - certainly know at least one foreign language, and are also familiar with world culture, involved in foreign political, business and cultural circles.

As for the middle class - owners of small businesses, skilled students and workers, civil servants - it gravitates towards Turkish culture. A third of the country's population are peasants, rural residents and farmers.

Many high-level Turks prefer Western style of dress, gravitate toward European literature and music. However, all locals speak their own language, now it is the Istanbul dialect of Turkish. Low-income residents dress in conservative Turkish clothes, but there is no social tension between different strata in Turkey.

Customs in etiquette

The traditions of Turkey imply a very precise form of addressing people for any occasion. Hospitality is very important among the Turks. Quite often relatives, friends or neighbors visit each other. In addition to tea or coffee, the guest will certainly be fed.

The traditions of Turkey suggest that the guest will be offered all the best that is in the house. The meal takes place at a low table, and guests sit on the floor on pillows or mats. In cities, however, mostly European tables and chairs. As in other Islamic countries, you can only take something from a common dish with your right hand.

Culture and customs in Turkey have evolved over thousands of years from traditions different religions and peoples from the Turkic states to the modern Turkish Republic. Parts of each of them intertwined into a single whole, which provided the basis for the creative searches of artists, poets, musicians - both ancient and modern. Culture in Turkey is not often an object of study for Russians and other foreign tourists, but already on the first visit to this country it immediately becomes clear that it has deep roots and is quite peculiar. Vacationers are attracted and amazed by the sincere hospitality of the Turks, which, however, sometimes seems intrusive. It is customary for local residents to honor family ties, so they often visit each other, help young family members and support the older generation. Etiquette plays a big role, so the features of Turkish culture are politeness and punctuality. At the same time, the inhabitants of Turkey lead a measured lifestyle and do not like to rush. Culture in Turkey largely consists of religious customs, hence the roots of manners of communication, greetings and warm wishes at meetings. However, in large and especially resort towns, society is already secular in a European way. Culture in Turkey is closely connected with family relations and traditions. critical role in the life of the Turks plays the family. It is customary to get married here quite early. At the same time, the future husband cannot reduce the wealth and well-being of his wife, so marriages are rarely made among representatives of different social strata. And no matter what European trends modernity brings, the people honor and preserve the traditions and customs of their ancestors - this is what culture in Turkey consists of.

99% of the population profess Islam, so religious norms and rules affect almost all areas of life. Prayers (namaz) are performed 5 times a day at a certain time, the onset of this time is announced by muezzins from the minarets of mosques. Before entering the mosque, a ritual washing of the face, hands and feet is carried out, shoes are necessarily removed at the threshold. (!) Mosques are almost always open, so tourists can visit them at any time. But it is better not to do this during prayer (within 20 minutes after the call of the muezzin), as well as on Friday (holy day), especially in the morning. It is forbidden to enter the mosque in sloppy clothes, in shorts, mini-skirts, T-shirts. A woman must be in a skirt and with a covered head. While inside the temple, silence must be observed. Turks attach great importance to etiquette, therefore they are distinguished by politeness and courtesy, they will readily help a stranger. Like any Eastern people, they do not like to rush, they are not very punctual, they do not start a conversation (even a business one!) Without general introductory phrases. They treat people who know their traditions very respectfully, and especially those who can say a couple of phrases in Turkish. They are ready to render any service to such a person. (!) At resorts in hotels, restaurants and shops, you can speak English, German, French or Russian - waiters, hotel employees and sellers, as a rule, understand these languages. Because Islam forbids the depiction of a person, locals are reluctant to allow themselves to be photographed, especially if they are not asked for permission. But in most cases, a friendly look, gesture, or question is enough to get permission to shoot.

If you are invited to visit Turkey, it will not be superfluous to take care of gifts for the hosts in advance and even, perhaps, prepare a national souvenir of your country for them. Unshoe. It is customary to remove shoes at the entrance to Turkish housing, without entering the house. This is ancient custom, which is still observed in most cases. Although in large cities in rich houses, whose owners are increasingly adopting a Western way of life, this tradition may not be observed. But if you come to visit a Turkish family living in a small town, or just local residents with conservative views, then you must take off your shoes when entering the house. Usually Turks wear slippers at home. Almost every Turkish home has a special pair of "guest" slippers that are offered only to visitors, but if you don't like the idea of ​​putting on someone else's slippers, then bring your own to change into them. Such an act will be quite normal - it will not be perceived as something extraordinary or disrespectful towards the owners. Greeting Turks greet each other with a kiss on both cheeks. Kissing in Turkish culture is special meaning, and for Europeans, the culture of these kisses is not always clear. In Turkey, it is customary to pay respect to elders by kissing their hand and bringing it to your forehead. But a foreigner does not have to do this. Just saying hello is enough.

In some conservative families, younger members of the family are not allowed to smoke in the presence of older ones. It is also not customary to sit cross-legged in the presence of elders or even sit cross-legged - this is considered disrespectful, although this is sometimes allowed in more progressive Turkish families today. Kissing the hands of women (as is customary, for example, in France) is not accepted in Turkey. At the table. Visiting the Turks Special attention should be given to their behavior at the table. Any meal in Turkey is a special ritual, so an invited guest in a Turkish house will definitely be seated at a table laden with numerous dishes of national Turkish cuisine. The Turks are generally very hospitable and friendly, but sometimes it is because of their hospitality that they can be not only persistent, but even intrusive, offering you some specific dish at the table. Do not disappoint them: if you are offered different dishes, it is best to try them all, even if you are not hungry. If you refuse, then you will not avoid questions: "Do you not like it? Does it taste bad? Do you not like it?" etc. Refusing to try a dish can even offend the hosts. It is best to thank them with a smile and try everything that is offered to you, and only when you are already, in fact, full, you can refuse the supplement. At the same time, it is not necessary to eat everything that was put on your plate, to the last piece - if you have already eaten enough, then you will be forgiven for what was left unfinished. If you come to visit a Turkish house, remember: even with a great desire to please the owners, you should not lose your dignity and change your own habits and outlook on life in general - keep your uniqueness.

In Turkey, it is customary for men to greet each other with kisses. This, of course, looks a bit unusual for Europeans, but even being in Turkey for a short time, you start to get used to the fact that in Turkish culture, men are very distant from women and at the same time greet each other quite touchingly. Kisses as a greeting can only be used by people of the same sex. Friends or close relatives of the same sex may well hold hands or greet each other with kisses on the cheek or hugs - otherwise this is not allowed. At a meeting, men shake hands in a completely European way, but they never shake hands with a woman unless she herself clearly accepts this. By the way, numerous incidents are connected with the last moment with foreign tourists, who are the first to extend their hand when meeting a local resident, for whom this is a clear invitation to get to know each other better. Of course, over time, Turkish society changes, and today old habits are increasingly giving way to new behaviors. The Turkish people perceive and cultivate more and more common European norms of behavior, more and more often you can see men and women greeting each other with kisses on both cheeks.

In Turkey, it is customary to pay respect to elders by kissing their hand and bringing it to your forehead. Kissing the hands of older family members is mandatory on Bairam (religious holidays). Usually on this holiday, all relatives gather in the house of the oldest family members for a special festive breakfast, lunch or dinner. The younger ones with reverence and respect kiss the back of the hand of the oldest. Often such a kiss is accompanied by applying the kissed palm to the forehead of the kisser. The elders in return give the younger gifts - sweets or pocket money. If a foreign woman married a Turk, and they came together to visit his Turkish relatives, then they expect her wife to kiss the hands of the elders after her husband. To some, this may seem like a relic of old traditions, but someone understands and accepts such trifles. In any case, when marrying a representative of another nation, culture, one should be prepared for previously unusual things.

Turkey celebrates both public and religious holidays. Among the public holidays, the most significant are: New Year- 1st of January; National Independence Day and Children's Day - April 23; Youth and Sports Day - May 19; Day of victory over the Greek army - August 30; Day of the proclamation of the Republic - October 29; Memorial Day of Ataturk, the first president of the Republic of Turkey - November 10. On this day in the morning at 9:05 the whole country freezes for a minute in silence, passers-by stop, sirens honk, cars honk. Religious holidays are celebrated according to the lunar calendar, so their date changes every year. The most significant of them: Ramadan is a holy month during which all Muslims of the world do not eat or drink from dawn until evening prayers. At this time, some restaurants are closed until sunset; kurban-bairam (holiday of sacrifice) the main religious holiday of the year and sheker-bayram (holiday of sweets, marks the end of the Ramadan fast). They are celebrated within 3-4 days, and banks can be closed for a whole week, hotels and transport are overcrowded.

Kurban - Bayram (holiday of sacrifice) the main religious holiday of the year and Sheker Bayram (holiday of sweets, marks the end of Ramadan). They are celebrated within 3-4 days, and banks can be closed for a whole week, hotels and transport are overcrowded.

Modern culture Turkey is so multifaceted that it is difficult to fit it into any framework of a separate definition. The customs in Turkey, which have been formed over the centuries, have been influenced by the culture of various countries. Customs and customs in Turkey are strict and interesting in their own way, for example, despite the equal rights of men and women, in some rural provinces women are still limited in their rights. The Turks have a very strict attitude towards open clothing for women. Another very interesting tradition is the circumcision of a boy at the age of 7-12 years. This family celebration followed by a whole ceremony. Interesting and original customs in Turkey

Turkish cuisine is striking in its diversity. Since ancient times, making a difficult and long journey to Asia Minor, the Turkic nomadic tribes borrowed recipes and methods of cooking from different regions of Central Asia and even Siberia (in particular, Western Altai). Today, Turkish cuisine is considered one of the most colorful in the world. It combines Greek, Circassian, Arabic cuisine and the ancient traditions of the Turkic peoples. Hence the abundance and diversity. The main meat products are veal with lamb, which are cooked with spices and olive oil. The dishes are greasy, but amazingly tasty. One of the most common and famous meat dishes is kebab. Moreover, the Turks have several of its varieties. In addition to meat, rice and vegetables play an important role. Turkish cuisine is special not only in the number of dishes, but also in the variations of their preparation. It depends on the region or even on a single family and its traditions. Mostly residents like to eat outdoors. There is a belief that open cafes were adopted by Europeans from the Turks during the wars. Turkish cuisine reveals its taste features not in a hotel or inn restaurant, as here the menu adapts to European tastes, but in small private cafes. Many of them even have a menu in Russian, which makes it easier for our tourists to choose. Kebab

Turkish culture is so rich and multifaceted that it does not fit into the framework of some simple definition. For thousands of years, the traditions of many peoples of Anatolia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and, of course, the ancient world have merged into a unique alloy, which today is generally called Turkish, or Asia Minor culture. It should be added to this that the Turks themselves, who were not a single people until the beginning of the 20th century, brought with them from the depths of Central Asia many unique elements that organically fit into the modern life of the country.

Interestingly, the predecessor of the modern Turkish Republic, the Ottoman Empire, for many centuries served as a synonym for religious and cultural intolerance and aggressive foreign policy. But modern Turkey is considered one of the most religiously tolerant and tolerant states of Asia, within which representatives of different nations coexist quite peacefully, for several centuries, and what’s there - decades ago, waged irreconcilable wars with each other. Even the ethnic composition of the population here has never been officially revealed - the vast majority of local residents consider themselves Turks first, and only then representatives of one or another ethnic group. Only the Kurds stand apart (they are called here "dogulu" - "people in the east"), the Circassians (the generalized name for all immigrants from the Caucasus region - Meskhetian Turks, Abkhazians, Adygs, Balkars and others), Laz and Arabs (to the latter here it is customary to refer to the Syrians). Otherwise, many representatives of the peoples who inhabited this land before the arrival of the Oghuz Turks (Guzes, or Torks, as Russian chronicles call them), have long been Turkified and consider themselves representatives of the "titular nation".

social division

Traditional for the country can be considered the social stratification of the population according to the same criteria as many centuries ago. Wealth and education have always been considered the most important indicators of status here. Moreover, if everything is more or less clear with the first - the Turks differ little from other peoples of the region in terms of their views on the role of money in the life of society, then the second parameter is much more interesting. University education for a Turk is the minimum threshold for access to the upper strata of society, regardless of his actual wealth, and this tradition has been going on for many centuries. Previously, the upper strata of society were represented by the military and bureaucratic elite of the Ottoman Empire, now the "focus of power" has clearly shifted towards successful doctors, businessmen and politicians, as well as officials high level. At the same time, the "westernization" of the urban "upper class" is clearly visible, most of whose representatives know at least one foreign language perfectly, are well acquainted with world culture and have close contact with foreign business, cultural and political circles.

But the city middle class, which is commonly referred to as the majority of civil servants, owners of small businesses, skilled workers and students, is noticeably gravitating towards Turkish culture, although the level of education is often no less. This dualism, combined with the rapid growth of the population migrating to cities from the provinces, leads to the formation of a very multifaceted and mobile society, which is the hallmark of any Turkish city.

Approximately 30% of the country's population are rural residents, farmers and peasants. The development of communication and transport has led to a gradual blurring of the boundaries between the countryside and cities, and the level of education of rural residents is quite high for Asia (in 1995, up to 83% of the inhabitants of the province were considered literate). At the same time, the income level here is low, which leads to constant migration to the cities (often seasonal). At the same time, young villagers simply cannot count on a high income in the city without further education, which determines the clearly visible craving for knowledge among young Turks. Interestingly, some rural areas in the east of the country are still under the complete control of large landowners, clan heads and religious leaders.

Most high-income Turks prefer Western clothing, keep a close eye on the latest fashion, try to live in their own apartments and have a car and an expensive phone as indispensable attributes of prosperity and success. Also clearly visible craving for European literature and music, theatrical and artistic life. And what is interesting - a lot of attention is paid to their own language - all segments of the local society tend to speak the Istanbul dialect of the Turkish language and pay considerable attention to the issues of their possession (this is patriotic), although many are fluent in 2-3 other languages ​​\u200b\u200band dialects. At the same time, low-income sections of society clearly gravitate towards conservative clothing, Turkish and Middle Eastern music, use many local dialects, and often find it difficult to understand each other. Interestingly, unlike many other countries with an equally clear property division of the population, this practically does not cause social tension.

Family relationships and marriage

For Turkish tradition quite characteristic early age marriage. At the same time, it is believed that a man should not reduce his wife's standard of living, so marriages between representatives of different social groups are quite rare. On the other hand, unions within the same religious or ethnic group are very common, although interethnic marriages in themselves are not something unusual.

In 1926, the revolutionary Turkish government abolished the Islamic family code and adopted a slightly modified version of the Swiss civil code. New law about the family requires and recognizes only civil marriage ceremonies, the obligatory consent of both parties, the conclusion of a contract and monogamy. However, in traditional Turkish society, the choice of future spouses and the scenario of the marriage ceremony is still carried out only by the heads or councils of families, and the newlyweds themselves play a very minor role here. At the same time, the observance of all rituals is considered an extremely important element, as is the blessing of the marriage by the imam. Weddings here last many days and consist of several ceremonies, in which all family members are usually involved, and often residents of the entire street or even the entire village.

In the Islamic tradition, the groom is obliged to pay a ransom for the bride, although recently this tradition is becoming more and more a thing of the past - the amount of "kalym" either decreases depending on the expenses incurred for the wedding or the general wealth of the family, or is simply transferred to the young for the development of their own family. At the same time, in patriarchal provincial communities, collecting money for a ransom can become a serious obstacle to marriage, therefore, subject to the procedure itself, they try to formalize it, at the level of an agreement between the parties.

Even though divorces are not considered a sin, their number is small. Those who are divorced, especially men with children (and this is not uncommon here), quickly remarry, usually with the same divorced women. The modern code does not recognize the old rule of the husband's prerogative for the right of oral and unilateral divorce and prescribes the judicial procedure for this process. Moreover, there can be only six reasons for divorce - adultery, a threat to life, a criminal or unethical lifestyle, flight from the family, mental weakness and ... incompatibility. The apparent vagueness of these requirements is the reason for the rare recognition of claims - and divorce by mutual agreement is not provided for by local law.

The family plays a dominant role in the life of any Turk. Members of the same clan or family usually live close to each other and provide literally daily contact, financial and emotional support. This explains the large and, importantly, prompt assistance to aging parents and the younger generation, as well as the strength family ties regardless of where the family members live. As a result, the Turks almost do not know the problem of abandoned old people and homelessness, the problem of youth crime is relatively irrelevant. And even many villages, including those located in hard-to-reach places, are maintained in a fairly high degree of safety - there will always be a couple of elderly relatives who are willing to support the "family nest", in which various festive events are often held.

The Turks themselves quite clearly distinguish between the family as such (aile) and the household (hane), referring to the first category only close relatives living together, and to the second - all members of the clan living together in some territory and leading a common household. The next important element is the male community (sulale), consisting of relatives in the male line or a common ancestor. Such communities play a prominent role in the life of the old "noble families" dating back to the days of the Ottoman Empire and tribal unions. They are practically unknown among most of the townspeople, although they have a great influence on the politics of the country.

Traditionally, men and women play very different roles in the family. Usually the Turkish family is characterized by "male dominance", respect for elders and female subordination. The father or the oldest male in the family is considered the head of the whole family, and his instructions are usually not discussed. However, a man bears a very heavy burden - he ensures the well-being of the family (until recently, Turkish women had the right not to work outside the home at all), and represents his family before other relatives, and even bears responsibility for raising children, although formally it is simply not possible to do this. must. Interestingly, until the end of the 20th century, even going to a store or market was a purely male duty!

But the role of women in the Turkish family, despite many myths, is quite simple. Formally, the wife is required to respect and completely obey her husband, housekeeping and raising children. But it is not for nothing that the Turks say that "the honor of a man and a family depends on the way in which women behave and look after the house." A woman, being largely limited by the walls of her own dwelling, often manages all the internal affairs of the clan, and often to a much greater extent than is prescribed by tradition. The mother is respected by the younger members of the family on a par with the head of the clan, but her relationship with the children is warm and informal. At the same time, legally women have equal rights to private property and inheritance, as well as education and participation in public life, than many of the fair sex are happy to use (in 1993-1995, the Prime Minister of Turkey was a woman - Tansu Chiller). Turkish women are considered among the most emancipated in the Middle East, and although they still lose to Israelis or Jordanians in terms of overall education, this gap is rapidly closing.

However, local women pay tribute to centuries-old traditions - even in the most modern cities countries, women's dress is rather modest and closed, capes are not uncommon, partially or completely hiding the face and body, and next to a very popular European costume, you can often see traditional folk views clothes that Turkish women wear with a certain grace. In the provinces, women's costume is much more modest and nondescript, and in general, women do not tend to leave their homes, although many of them work in the field, shops or markets and are not going to hide from someone else's eyes - it's just a tradition. In some rural areas, clothing is still the “calling card” of a woman and allows you to determine both her origin and social status. Interestingly, traditional women's headscarves (usually called "Basortyusu", although there are other pronunciations) that partially cover the face are simply prohibited in government offices and universities, but attempts to cancel this "Ataturk innovation" are constantly being made.

Children in Turkey are literally adored and pampered in every possible way. It is quite acceptable here to ask childless couples when they plan to have children, and then literally spend hours discussing this "problem". Even in an ordinary conversation between men, for example, children will occupy a place no less important than football or market prices. Sons are especially loved because they increase the status of the mother in the eyes of the husband and relatives from the spouse. Sons up to 10-12 years old spend a lot of time with their mother, and then, as it were, they move into the "male circle", and their upbringing is already more trusted by the men of the family. Daughters usually live with their mother until marriage. In general, the relationship between fathers and daughters is rather formal here, and their affection (often no less than for sons, by the way) is rarely demonstrated publicly. Although a daughter or son may argue or joke with their mother in public, they are respectful in the presence of their father and never dare to contradict him in public.

Relationships between brothers and sisters in Turkey are easy and informal until the age of 13-14. Later, their status changes noticeably - the older brother (agabey) takes on some of the rights and obligations of parents in relation to his sister. The older sister (abla) also becomes, in relation to her brother, like a second mother - the Turks rightly believe that this prepares the girls for their future role as a wife. In large families, grandparents also take on a lot of care for the upbringing of children. This often leads to the fact that children feel their permissiveness and sometimes behave very arrogantly, but by and large this manifests itself no more often than in any other corner of the planet.

Even very young children visit restaurants and cafes everywhere with their parents, and at any time of the day. Many establishments make sure to keep high chairs and special tables, while including dishes for children of all ages on the menu. Most hotels have special play areas and clubs, and can also offer children's beds and cots. True, in most cases they are suitable for short local children and are too small for Europeans, so it is better to order them in advance with the agreement of the required size. But child car seats are still not very common, although most major tour operators and car rental companies are able to provide them upon request.

Relations

Relations between persons of different generations and genders are also determined by local etiquette quite strictly. Unless they are close friends or relatives, it is customary to address elders with respect and courtesy, especially in public. Older men should be addressed with the obligatory "bey" ("master") after the name, a woman - "khanym" ("mistress"). Even relatives of the opposite sex in public usually do not show signs of affection; on holidays, everyone is quickly distributed among companies depending on age and gender.

Friends or close relatives of the same sex may well hold hands or greet each other with kisses on the cheek or hugs - otherwise this is not allowed. At a meeting, men shake hands in a completely European way, but they never shake hands with a woman unless she herself explicitly allows it. By the way, numerous incidents are connected with the last moment with foreign tourists, who are the first to reach out when meeting local residents, for whom this is a clear invitation to get to know each other better.

On a bus, dolmush or theater, if there is a choice of seats, women must always sit next to another woman, while a man cannot sit next to an unfamiliar woman without her permission.

Etiquette

Formal etiquette ranks in Turkish culture great value, defining the most important forms of social interaction. Local tradition implies an exact oral form for virtually any occasion of addressing other people and emphasizes the correctness of these rituals.

Hospitality (misafirperverlik) remains one of the cornerstones of Turkish culture, especially in rural areas. Friends, relatives, and neighbors often visit each other. An invitation to visit is usually furnished with a rather elegant set of pretexts, and one must have special tact in order to refuse without offending the hosts. Such offers usually do not have any hidden reasons - no gifts are expected from guests other than a good company and an interesting conversation. If it is really impossible to accept the offer, it is recommended to refer to the lack of time and busyness (in case of ignorance of the language, the simplest pantomime with putting the hand to the chest, showing the clock and then waving the hand in the direction of movement is quite suitable) - the Turks really appreciate such arguments. Moreover, even short visits by local standards are unlikely to last less than two hours - in addition to the obligatory tea or coffee, the guest will in any case be offered, more than once, a "snack". Usually the third is considered the final refusal, but the rules of good manners oblige the hosts to somehow feed the guest, so there can be many options. Do not try to pay the bill if you are invited to a restaurant, or give away money if you visit a private house - this is considered impolite. But the photographs sent later or a small present "on occasion" will be received sincerely and with joy.

In the local tradition - to offer the guest all the best, regardless of the wealth of the family. At the same time, despite the widespread misconception, the Turks are very tolerant of the guest's ignorance of the peculiarities of their culture and are able to easily forgive "minor sins". Traditionally, the meal is held at a low table with guests seated directly on the floor - while it is customary to hide the feet under the table. Dishes are laid out on a large tray, which is placed either on this low table, or even on the floor, and people are seated around on cushions or mats and take dishes from the tray to their plates either with their hands or with a common spoon. In cities, however, ordinary European-style tables are widespread, as well as the usual serving with individual dishes and cutlery.

As elsewhere in Islamic countries, you can only take anything from a common dish with your right hand. It is also considered uncivilized to talk at the table without the permission of the owner of the house, to choose special pieces from a common dish, or to open your mouth wide - even if you need to use a toothpick, you should cover your mouth with your hand in the same way as when playing the harmonica, for example.

Table etiquette

It should be noted that the Turks never eat alone and do not snack on the go. They usually sit down at the table three times a day, preferring to do it with the whole family. Breakfast includes bread, cheese, olives and tea. Dinner, usually quite late, begins only after the gathering of all family members. The lunch menu most often consists of three or more courses, which are eaten in sequence, and each dish is served with a salad or other greens. It is customary to invite guests, neighbors and friends to dinner, but in this case, the time of the meal and the menu are chosen in advance. Despite Muslim prohibitions on alcohol, raki (anise tincture), wine or beer are often served at dinner (the latter is not considered an alcoholic drink at all in most parts of the country). In this case, meze will serve as an obligatory element of the meal - a variety of snacks (fruits, vegetables, fish, cheese, smoked meats, sauces and fresh bread), usually served on small plates. The meze is already followed by the main course, which is selected taking into account the assortment of appetizers - vegetable salads will be served with kebabs, rice or hummus with fish or chicken, tortillas with meat, cheese and marinades with soup.

Interestingly, drinking alcoholic beverages, even beer, in public places is considered indecent. And the sale of alcohol in public places in Turkey is generally prohibited. And at the same time, in many stores alcohol is sold almost freely, only in Ramadan the shelves with it are closed or blocked.

Pork is not found in the local cuisine at all, and in addition to it, there are many other products that are not officially prohibited by Islamic norms, but are avoided for other reasons. For example, members of the Yuruk tribal group avoid all seafood except fish, members of the Alevi order do not eat rabbit meat, in the central regions of the country they do not eat snails, and so on. Interestingly, on the periphery of Turkey, well-marked culinary elements of the peoples who inhabited these lands before the arrival of the Turks are still preserved. Georgian chicken in satsivi sauce, Armenian lahmacun, or lagmajo (analogue of pizza), is known as lahmacun and is considered a Turkish dish, the same applies to many Arabic and Greek dishes (meze, for example). At the same time, in rural areas, local residents eat very modestly - most of their diet consists of bread with onions, yogurt, olives, cheese and smoked meat ("pastirma").

Hospitality

Staying up late is not accepted. It is not recommended to start a meal or a tea party without the invitation of the owner of the house, even smoking in a company without the explicit permission of an older man or the organizer of the meeting is considered impolite. Business meetings are usually preceded by tea and non-business conversations; it is not customary to go directly to discussing the issue of interest. But music and songs can drag out the ceremony for a very long time - the Turks are very musical and love to play music at every opportunity. One 19th century English ambassador remarked that "the Turks will both sing and dance whenever they can afford it." Much has changed in the country since then, but not the love of the locals for music.

Turkish houses are clearly divided into guest and private areas, and asking for a tour of the entire dwelling is impolite. The soles of shoes are a priori considered dirty, and at the entrance to any private house, as well as to a mosque, it is customary to take off shoes and shoes. In public places, this is not accepted - it is quite possible to walk in street shoes. But in some offices, libraries or private shops, the guest will be offered either interchangeable slippers or shoe covers. In crowded places, like mosques or government offices, you can put shoes in bags and take them inside with you.

Sign language

Turks use a complex and varied body language and gestures, often completely invisible to most foreigners. For example, a snap of the fingers indicates approval of something (a good football player, a top quality product, etc.), while a click of the tongue, contrary to popular belief, is a sharp denial of something (often a surprised eyebrow raise is added to this gesture) . A quick side to side shake of the head means "I don't understand," while a single tilt of the head to the side could very well mean "yes." And since there are many such schemes, and each region of the country may have its own specific set, it is not recommended to abuse the gestures familiar to us - here they can have a completely different meaning.

clothing

The attitude to clothing in the country is quite free and carries noticeable elements of the Islamic tradition. A business suit, jacket and tie for men are widespread in business circles, and on festive occasions, many Turks prefer it to national clothes, complementing it with a hat. But women approach the issue more creatively - in everyday life, the national costume still holds its positions, especially in the provinces, and for the holiday, Turkish women will prefer their colorful and very comfortable dress in local conditions, complementing it with various accessories. And at the same time, both of them are quite conservative in clothes, trying to adhere to once and for all accepted general schemes.

A tourist does not have to take special care of a dress to visit Turkey - here you can wear almost everything that suits the local hot and dry climate. However, when visiting places of worship and provincial areas, one should dress as modestly as possible - shorts, short skirts and open dresses will cause a sharp rejection almost everywhere outside the beach areas, and approaching mosques in this form can end in failure.

When visiting mosques and temples, women are advised to choose clothes that cover their legs and body as much as possible up to the head and wrists, and not to wear miniskirts or trousers. Men are strongly advised to avoid shorts and in some cases overalls. Women are allowed to enter the territory of all temples only with a covered head (you can rent a headscarf and a long skirt at the entrance). Shoes when visiting the mosque, of course, are also left at the entrance. It is better not to visit mosques during prayers.

Beachwear as such (including overly open bikinis and shorts) should also be limited directly to the beach - they may simply not be allowed into a store or hotel in this form. Even just going outside in a bathing suit outside the actual beach hotel is strongly discouraged. Nudism is also not accepted, although some closed hotels practice this type of recreation, but only in carefully isolated areas. By and large, topless sunbathing will not cause any special emotions on an ordinary beach, but it’s better to correlate your desires with the traditions of the local population. Even if the owners and hotel staff are too polite to show their dissatisfaction with excessively free behavior, harsh reactions may follow from other guests. Often, in order to avoid problems, it is enough to simply consult with the staff about the traditions of a particular institution and find out the places where "free rest" is allowed - often they are specially allocated and quite safe.

During the holy month of Ramadan (Ramadan), believers do not eat, drink or smoke from sunrise to sunset. In the evening, shops and restaurants are open until late, but you should refrain from smoking and eating in the presence of those who are fasting. The end of Ramadan is noisily and colorfully celebrated for three days, so all places in restaurants and hotels, as well as tickets for transport and various performances, must be reserved in advance.