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Culture in Turkey
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Turkish Cuisine
Turkey is where Orient meets Occident, a crossroads for
ideas, beliefs and cultures. This is expressed in the country's
art, literature, music and architecture, from the ancient
Hittite civilization through Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk
influences to the mighty Ottoman empire. The faces of its
people reflect its diversity; modern day Turkey is a cultural
amalgam wrought by history and its unique position between
two cultures.
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Bring your belly to Turkey
- it will thank you. Shish kebab (skewer-grilled lamb) is
a Turkish invention and you'll find kebapçis everywhere.
Lamb and fish (which can be expensive) dishes are the restaurant
staples. If you're scrimping, the best cheap and tasty meal
is Turkish pizza. Eggplant is the number one vegetable: look
out for imam bayildi ('the priest fainted'), a delicious stuffed
eggplant dish. Desserts are sweet (often honey-soaked) and
tend to incorporate fruit, nuts and pastry in tempting combinations.
Vegetarians aren't much catered for, but you'll never starve
- making an entire meal from magnificent meze (hors d'oeuvres)
is easy. The national drink is çay (tea). Beer is served
almost everywhere and Turkish wines are cheap and surprisingly
good. Raki, an aniseed-flavoured grape brandy, is the knockout
tipple of choice.
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Handicrafts
Traditional Turkish handicrafts form a rich mosaic by bringing
together genuine values with the cultural heritage of the
different civilizations which have passed through Anatolia
over the millennia. |
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Traditional Turkish handicrafts
include; carpet-making, rug-making, sumac, cloth-weaving,
writing, tile-making, ceramics and pottery, embroidery, leather
manufacture, musical instrument-making, masonry, copper work,
basket-making, saddle-making, felt-making, weaving, woodwork,
cart-making etc.
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Ataturk
Known by his nickname
Kemal, which means perfection, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
founded the Republic of Turkey, independent of Ottoman
rule, in 1923. He served as its first president from
1923 until his death in 1938. Atatürk initiated
expansive reforms, such as abolishing polygamy and
granting new rights for women. He also abolished corruption,
improved public education, and modernized industries.
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Religion and Secularity
98% of the Turkish population is Moslem. However,
everyone in Turkey has freedom of religion and belief. No
one can be forced to participate in religious ceremonies
or rites against their will and no blame can be attached
to anyone because of their beliefs.
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