SultanAhmet Mosque during Ramazan
August-The Month of Ramazan
A National/International Religious Event – 01 August 2011 – 29 August 2011
The 30-day Islamic holy month of Ramazan (Eid-Al-Fitr or Ramadan in other countries) is a time of fasting, prayer and celebration. It can disrupt or otherwise affect travel plans.
Fasting means exactly that; no food, drink, chewing gum, tobacco smoke or, for the strictly observant, not even licking an envelope or postage stamp from sunrise to sunset. After sunset the feasting begins with a ceremonial light meal called İftar which breaks their fast. It always includes freshly-baked flat pide bread.
Breaking fast (İftar) during Ramazan
If you visit or live in Turkey during Ramazan, it’s polite to refrain from eating and drinking in public during daylight hours. Go to a restaurant, tea house, cafe, or other semi-private area. Muslim restaurant and cafe staff, who may be fasting themselves, will understand if you are non-Muslim and will be happy to serve you.
The phrase for wishing your Turkish friends’ a happy holiday is “Iyi Bayramlar” (ee-yee-by-rahm-lahr), which means literally “good festivals” or “I wish you a happy festival.”
2011 Elmalı Turkey Oil Wrestling
Elmalı Yeşil Yayla Güreşleri
(Green Apple Upland Oil Wrestling Festival)
06 August 2011 – 08 August 2011
Oil Wrestling is over 600 years old in Turkey and followed avidly by many Turkish people. The one closest to Kaş is in the upland town of Elmalı, approximately 70 km away. The event takes place in the large stadium. Wrestlers come from all over Turkey to engage in this highly competitive sport made popular long ago in Ottoman times. The contest lasts for three days and over 100 wrestlers participate. Photos of the 2011 Oil Wrestling on the Elmalı Municipality Web Site.
1922 Atatürk and İnönü, Zafer Bayramı
Zafer Bayramı or Victory Day
An official Turkish Holiday and celebrated every year on August 30.
Victory Day, according to World Events Guide:
“Its origins date back to a battle that began on 26 August 1922 when Greek troops invaded Turkey. The invasion was successfully repelled and the battle ended just four days later on 30 August. Although the day has now lost much of its military significance for the younger generations, it is still a day of national pride on which the country’s armed forces lay wreaths at the Ataturk Mausoleum in Istanbul, acknowledging the role Mustafa Kemal Ataturk played in founding the country”
Also see WikiPedia: Battle of Dumlupınar
“Battle of Dumlupınar was the last battle in the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922) (part of the Turkish War of Independence). The battle was fought from 26 August to 30 August 1922 near Kütahya in Turkey.”
Şeker Bayramı (Ramazan Holiday)
Şeker Bayramı
A National Turkish Holiday – 30 Aug 2011 – 1 Sep 2011 – Tuesday – Thursday
(This will probably be 1 week + 2 weekends) When a bayram, especially a religious one, falls early through mid week like this year, it is likely the entire week will be a holiday. Adding the weekend before and after will likely turn a three day holiday into 10 days. – (Sat 27 Aug – Sun 4 Sep 2011)
Ramazan is followed by the three-day official holiday of Şeker Bayramı or the Candy Festival. It marks the end of the 30-day fasting period of Ramadan. It is an official Turkish Holiday, schools and government offices are closed during those days, and celebrations take place all over Turkey.
On the first evening it is common to get together with friends, families and loved ones for a huge feast. Şeker Bayramı is traditionally celebrated with chocolates and sweet foods and traditional families visit each other, bring sweets and drink tea. It is also common to give children a present and many families take holidays in the countryside.
Young people visit their elders first and other relatives, neighbors and friends are also visited. Because of these visits, traffic can be quite busy on the first day of the festival. Candies, chocolates, Turkish coffee and cold beverages are offered to visitors and visits are usually kept short. If you visit your Turkish friends, a box of candy or chocolate would be the most appropriate gift to take.
