Kurban Bayrami/Sacrifice festival

The day before Kurban Bayram starts is called Arefe. This is a day when people visits the graves of those who are not among them anymore and plant flowers on the graves. In Alanya the municipality provides it's inhabitants with free flowers to be planted on the graves. 

During the four-day holiday, which takes place from Nov. 6-9 of this year, Muslims worldwide remember and celebrates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. God saw this, intervened and provided him with a ram to be sacrificed in his son's stead.

There are special places for the sacrifices of animals (usually a cow or a sheep). As there are not enough butchers for a day like this the sacrifices take place at special appointed places. It can be a warehouse, a car-wash or some other empty premises. In Turkey it is forbidden to sacrifice animals in places that are not appointed for this purpose. Unfortunately there are still many doing the sacrifice in their own gardens!

The meat from the sacrifice is divided into three parts. The family keeps one third of the share, another third is given to friends and neighbors and the last third is being donated to the less fortunate. For many people this is the one time per year when they can have meal with meat!

During Bayram people are not meant to fight. You have to be nice to everyone! The first day of Bayram is normally spent with family. The other days with relatives and friends. This is also a time when people dress in new clothes, meaning that it boosts sales in Turkey! 

Iyi Bayramlar!

Turkey cancels Republic Day parades after deadly quake

Turkish officials have cancelled parades traditionally held every year to celebrate the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the province of Van on Sunday, plunging the nation into grief over a disaster that has left at least 570 people dead. President Abdullah Gül had also earlier cancelled an Oct. 29 reception commemorating the founding of the Turkish Republic due to the earthquake. A statement released by the Office of the President on Monday declared that the reception had been cancelled “while work continues to save any citizens found under the rubble and while our people continue to suffer deep grief.” Republic Day commemorates the day Mustafa Kemal Atatürk proclaimed Turkey a republic. Source: Todayszaman.com

29 Ekim Cumhuriyet Bayramı / 29 October Republic Day

The Turkish Republic was officially recognized on October 29 1923. Since that day it is a public holiday. The celebrations will start already after lunch on October 28. You will see the Turkish flag with the picture of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on it everywhere. The Turkish Republic was founded by Mustafa Kemal Paşa, later known by everyone as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Atatürk meaning the father of the Turks. (More interesting reading about Atatürk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk ) 

The way the Turks do! #3

Why not do like the Turks do and have a soup for breakfast!

A common soup for breakfast is the red lentil soup! Here's a recipe like the Turks like to prepare it

Sebzeli mercimek çorbası

1 glass of red lenses
1 tbsp rice
1-2 onion
1 carrot
1 potato
3-4 capsicum
1 tsp red pepper paste
garlic
1-1,5 beef bouillon or vegetable bouillon
2 tbsp butter
water
salt, pepper

Put all the ingredients in a pot and cover with water. Let cook for about 20-25 minutes. Then mix everything with a blender. If the soup is too thick then add some hot water. Serve with fresh bread, lemon and why not some hot pepper!

Afiyet Olsun! (Bon appetit!)

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Hamam; turkish bath!

A visit to a Hamam while you are in Turkey is a must! You will get cleaner than you have ever been before!

The procedure starts with being provided a loin cloth by the personnel that you should use all the time while in the hamam. Women are recommended to wear a bikini. You will first be asked to take a shower and after that to lay down on the hot marble, working up some sweat to open the pores and loosen up the muscles. In some hamam's they have a sauna where you can go in first before laying on the marble.

Then the treatment begins! Either by a woman with a strength like a man or by a man. They will start by rubbing you with a rough glove. You will see all the dirty skin coming off you, all black and nasty, like you never washed your body before! After that treatment they will pour lots and lots of foam on you, washing and massaging you at the same time. Be prepared at some unexpected reverses of your body! After that time for a shower again and then maybe relaxing in a cool pool. Then it all ends by a traditional oil massage. You will be feeling like a new person.

Have a look at the video where friends gathered in a hamam to spend some fun time together and at the same time getting clean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCC37cEkU5k&feature=fvst

Rain!

We have been longing for it! This is just unusual during this time of year but very welcome!