Turkish customs and traditions family. Türkiye - traditions and customs

Turkey is a country with a rich culture, which bears the imprints of the ancient traditions of nomads and Islam. Not taking into account the widespread cultivation of the Western way of life, observing strictly traditions.

Ramadan is a holy month (fasting). It consists in the fact that devout Muslims do not drink or eat from dawn to evening. At this time, almost all restaurants are closed until sunset, in provincial cities it is forbidden to drink, eat, smoke until evening prayers.

The religious foundation is laid in the great holidays.

One of the most important family holidays is the circumcision of little boys, it can only be compared with the first communion in Europe. In luxurious uniforms with a plume, feathers and a ribbon, future “men” before circumcision make a horseback ride through a village or city.

Sheker Bayram (Uraza Bayram), it ends the holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, when a sacrifice is made. The duration of this holiday is 4 days.

Four major holidays are accompanied by dances and military parades. On Youth Day (May 19) and Independence Day (April 23), performances are held in almost all villages, in which children in bright costumes perform beautiful folk dances.

Such a faith as Islam defines numerous spheres of public and private life.

Islam attaches great importance to rituals: fasting, hajj, five prayers are all included in the basic principles of the five pillars of Islam. This also includes the main dogma, faith in one Allah, charitable alms "zekat". However, Turkey is an unusual country - nowhere in the Islamic world is there such legislation as in Turkey.

Two prescriptions are strictly observed - the rite of circumcision, and the prohibition of eating pork. Most often, circumcision is performed on boys at the age of 10 years. This is usually done in August or September. Before circumcision, a haircut is performed and knowledge of basic prayers is tested. The boy wears a beautiful suit with a ribbon over his shoulder. The Arabic saying “mashalla” is written on the ribbon, which means “God save!”, he is put on a horse or camel and solemnly taken to a specialist who performs this procedure.

Circumcision is a big family holiday. People close to him give gifts to the hero of the occasion. Here, a "kivre" - an adult male - takes part in the ceremony. For Christians, this is the godfather.

Family ties play a very important role for the Turks. In urban and peasant families, children and mothers are subordinate to the head of the family, and sisters are subordinate to older sisters and brothers. However, the master of the house is always a man.

A mother of many children and an elderly mother is surrounded by love and respect from all family members. In Turkey, after the revolution, polygamy was banned by law. But, in the propertied strata of the population, it still continues.

In provincial cities and villages, civil marriage is not given much importance. Muslim marriage is of great importance here. Such a marriage is performed by an imam. Only such a marriage sanctifies the creation of a family, as fans of traditions believe. But this marriage is not legal and is not recognized by the state. Therefore, Kemal Ataturk is respected in Turkey. Since thanks to this man, great changes have taken place in the fate of Turkish women. She was equal in her rights to a man. Among the Turkish women there are also university professors, journalists, writers, members of parliament, judges, doctors. There are also dramatic actresses, ballerinas, singers.

Partly Turkish women are still shackled by Islamic traditions. In everyday life, in everyday life, they are bound by numerous rules of behavior: they have no right to overtake a man, give way to him.

The pleasure of visiting Turkey is that you can taste a large number of interesting and diverse national dishes. Here everyone can choose for themselves, someone is interested in visiting new restaurants every day to discover the exotic local dishes, and someone loves a varied and plentiful buffet in an all-inclusive hotel.

The national cuisine of the country has absorbed most of the cuisines of the peoples who lived on the territory of the country in ancient times. The origin of the cuisine is considered international.

At present, tourists in almost every restaurant in Turkey can taste any dishes according to their individual preferences.

Customs and mores of Turkey

A minimum knowledge of Turkish traditions and customs is necessary, this will help you communicate and avoid embarrassing situations.

The most conspicuous feature of the Turkish people is sincere hospitality, which is why Turkey remains one of the most popular Mediterranean resort states.

In the villages of Turkey, family traditions are strong and old habits are not erased by time.

Although women are equal in rights with men in Turkey, there are many prohibitions for them in small provincial towns; the attitude towards them in the villages is softer, and in big cities - liberal. The main emphasis is on the family and, despite the fact that decisions are usually taken by men, the influence of Turkish women in the family is very strong, since in many cases they are the main breadwinners of the family, both in the village and in the city.

Women in rural areas cover their heads with headscarves, mostly to protect their hair from dust and dirt, rather than for reasons of religious conservatism. In big cities, women wear Western clothes, master various professions and hold high positions.

The Turks practically do not interfere in the private life of foreigners, because they believe that everyone has their own laws. However, for female tourists, provocative clothing can create problems. Big cities in Turkey are relatively safe compared to other countries. Of course, sidelong glances and "interesting" offers are not uncommon, but cases of violence and robbery are rare (unless you provoke yourself).

Good manners rules
1. Women in black capes should not be photographed. If you want to take a picture of a man, be sure to ask permission.

2. When entering a private house or, moreover, a mosque, you must take off your shoes and leave them at the entrance. In crowded mosques, you can put your shoes in a bag and take them inside with you. In addition, when visiting a mosque, you must be neatly dressed, exclude shorts, T-shirts, miniskirts from clothing, and observe silence.

3. Drinking alcohol on the streets can be frowned upon.

4. Tipping is optional, but according to an unspoken tradition, it is customary to leave waiters about 10% of the order value. Porters are given a tip of one dollar. Taxi drivers are usually not paid above the price.

5. You should not compare Turkey with Greece - these countries were at war with each other not so long ago. No need to make fun of Kemal Ataturk - although he died, according to rumors, from indefatigable drunkenness, for the Turks he remains the number one national hero. Calling Istanbul Constantinople is also not recommended. Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which was once conquered by the Ottomans. With all this, you can offend the national feelings of Turkish citizens.

Islam attaches paramount importance to the ritual side: five times prayer, fasting and hajj are among the basic principles, the "five pillars" of Islam. They include the main dogma of faith in one Allah and charitable alms - "zekat". But Turkey is an extraordinary country - nowhere in the Islamic world is there such secular legislation - religion in Turkey is separated from the state.

Now only two prescriptions are strictly observed - the ban on eating pork and the rite of circumcision. Turks circumcise a boy most often at the age of 7-12 years. This is usually done in August or early September. Circumcision is preceded by a haircut of the head, a test of knowledge of the basic prayers. The boy is dressed in a beautiful suit with a ribbon over his shoulder, on which the Arabic saying “mashalla” is written - “God save!”, put on a horse, camel or wagon and solemnly taken to the sunnetchi - a specialist who performs the circumcision procedure. Circumcision is a big family holiday. Parents and guests give gifts to the hero of the occasion. Among the Turks, a godfather (“kivre”) necessarily participates in the rite of circumcision - an adult man, similar to the godfather among Christians.

Islam in all its manifestations determines many spheres of private and public life. Five times a day, the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer from the minaret of the mosque. During Ramadan, the Muslim fast, coffee houses and tea gardens are empty (but usually not closed in tourist centers), at sacred springs, men perform ablutions according to the canons of their faith before gathering for Friday prayers.

Family ties are very important for the Turks. In peasant families, and in many urban families, a strict and clear hierarchy reigns: children and mother unquestioningly obey the head of the family - the father, younger brothers - the eldest, and sisters - the elder sister and all brothers. But the owner of the house is always a man. And no matter how great the power of the elder sister is, the youngest of the brothers has the right to give her orders. True, an elderly mother with many children is surrounded by respect and love of all family members.
After the Kemalist revolution, polygamy in Turkey was officially prohibited by law. However, among the wealthy segments of the population, it continues to persist. Moreover, polygamy is allowed - if not encouraged - by the Muslim clergy, who honor the canons of the Prophet Muhammad more than the laws of the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Atatürk.

In villages and provincial towns, civil marriage is not given much importance. Here, the Muslim marriage performed by the imam has more weight. Only marriage with an imam sanctifies the creation of a family, according to fans of the tradition. But such a marriage is not recognized by the Turkish state, it is not legal.

That is why Kemal Ataturk is respected in Turkey. After all, it was thanks to his reforms that great changes took place in the fate of the Turkish woman. In her rights, she was equal to a man. Among the Turkish women there are deputies of parliament, and university professors, writers, journalists, judges, lawyers and doctors; among them are singers, ballerinas, dramatic actresses. Although quite recently, at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. Turkish women could not even dream of all this - how many of their Russian sisters sobbed over the suffering of the unfortunate Feride from the Turkish hit film "Korolek - a singing bird" - and the situation in it is described as quite ordinary for that time. In part, the Turkish woman is still bound by Islamic customs. In everyday life, in everyday life, she is bound by countless traditional rules of behavior: she must give way to a man, she has no right to overtake him.

Women in Turkey- wonderful dancers and some of the most beautiful in the world. A lot of tourists try to get acquainted with Turkish women on vacation. Here you need to be very careful. Morality in Turkey sets very strict rules of conduct for women. Dubious connections are a stain of dishonor that casts a shadow not only on the family of the sinner, but on the entire village. There are a lot of cases when vacationers who tried to take care of Turkish women had big problems with her relatives. If you know these simple customs, then your vacation in Turkey will become truly unforgettable, and it will not be overshadowed by minor troubles.

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. Those who are interested will be curious 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 do not 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.

An interesting fact is that Turkey's predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, pursued an aggressive foreign policy for many centuries and was a model of cultural and religious intolerance. And the modern Turkish Republic is one of the most tolerant and religiously tolerant states of Asia, in which the most diverse peoples and nationalities coexist peacefully, not so long ago they fought with each other. Most of the locals consider themselves Turks, and only the Kurds, who are called here, stand apart from them. doula(which means “people from the east” in translation), Circassians (this includes people from the Caucasus: Meskhetian Turks, Abkhazians, Balkars and others) and Arabs, which include Syrians here.

social hierarchy

Wealth and education are two components that are considered in Turkey as the main indicators of a person's social status. Higher education for a Turk is the minimum that will allow him to get into the highest circles of society, regardless of his material well-being. If in the Ottoman Empire the upper echelon of society was represented by the military and bureaucratic elite, now successful businessmen and politicians have taken its place. Most members of the upper class know foreign languages ​​(or at least one), are well versed in world culture and are in contact with foreign political and business circles.

The middle class, which includes private firm owners and civil servants, skilled workers and students, tends more towards Turkish customs and traditions, although they have the same level of education.

About 30% of the country's population is made up of rural residents with low incomes, and this leads to the migration of peasants to the cities (sometimes only for the season), as well as their desire to get an education, without which they cannot find a good job. In the East of Turkey, there are still rural areas that are under the control of large landowners and religious leaders.

Those Turks who have a high level of income prefer European style of clothing, follow fashion, live in their own apartments, have their own car and expensive phone as attributes of success and prosperity. They visit exhibitions and theaters, go to concerts and restaurants, while the poor wear conservative clothes, listen only to Turkish music, and speak many dialects of the Turkish language, often with difficulty understanding each other. But, unlike other countries with the same social hierarchy, this does not cause any tension in society.

Family and marriage

In Turkey, marriages between members of the same ethnic or religious group are very common, but marriages between members of different social groups are quite rare, because here it is believed that the husband cannot reduce the standard of living and prosperity of the future wife.

In 1926, the new Turkish government banned the Islamic family code and adopted a slightly modified Swiss civil code as the basis for family relations. The new law provides for the consent of both parties, a civil marriage ceremony and monogamy. But in the conservative Turkish outback, the choice of future spouses is still made by the heads of families without the participation of the newlyweds themselves. At the same time, the blessing of the marriage by the imam and the strict observance of all traditional rituals are considered very important here. Therefore, weddings there last several days, and all relatives, without exception, and often residents of the whole street or the whole village take part in them.

In the traditions of Islam, the groom is obliged to pay a ransom for the bride, but today this tradition is already dying out: the amount of the ransom is either reduced by the expenses incurred for the wedding, or transferred to the young spouses for the development of their family.

Divorce in Turkey is a rare phenomenon, although it is now more common. But divorced men with children (and this often happens here) usually immediately remarry as soon as the divorce proceedings are completed.

In the life of any Turk, the family plays the most important role. Members of the same family live either together or next to each other, providing emotional and financial support. As a result, the Turks do not have the problems of homeless children and abandoned, lonely old people. Aging parents, like teenagers, receive immediate help and attention.

Men and women play different roles in the family. Usually, the Turkish family is dominated by the subordination of the wife to her husband and respect for older family members. The father is considered the head of the family, and no one discusses his instructions. He provides his family with material wealth, since Turkish women, until recently, did not work at all outside their homes.

And the role of a wife and mother in a Turkish family is quite simple. She is required to respect and completely obey her husband, give birth and raise children and run a household. And although Turkish women are considered almost the most emancipated in the entire Middle East, they respect centuries-old traditions, and even in the largest cities, women wear modest and closed dresses, and sometimes headscarves that the government has forbidden to wear in state institutions and universities.

Turks pamper and adore children in every possible way. Sons are especially loved, as they raise the status of their mother in the eyes of their husband and his relatives. Until adolescence, sons are brought up mainly by the mother, and only then their upbringing is entrusted to the father and other men of the family. Daughters usually live with their mother until marriage. All children are respectful with their parents and almost never cross them.

There is also a kind of hierarchy between brothers and sisters: everyone must obey the older brother ( abi), which is assigned some of the rights and obligations of parents in relation to sisters and younger brothers, or an older sister ( abla), which becomes, in relation to younger brothers and sisters, like a second mother (the Turks believe that this helps to prepare girls for the role of a future wife).

Grandparents also take on a lot of care for the upbringing of children, and often on the streets and in parks you can meet entire families from three or even four generations who spend time together, walk, visit cafes or go on picnics.

Relationship

Relations between representatives of different sexes and generations are defined by Turkish etiquette very clearly. The elders are always treated very politely and respectfully, and relatives and acquaintances even kiss their hand. Add the word to the man's name "beat"(master), and to the name of a woman - "khanim"(Miss). Husbands never show their affection for their wives and keep away from them, as it were, and on holidays everyone is divided into male and female companies.

Relatives and friends greet each other with hugs or kisses on both cheeks. Men shake hands, and women - only with their consent.

On a bus or theater, a woman cannot sit next to a stranger, it is considered indecent, but it is quite acceptable if a man does it.

Etiquette

Hospitality is considered the cornerstone of Turkish culture. Relatives, friends and acquaintances like to visit each other often. In this sense, the Turks seem very intrusive to Europeans, and if you do not want to accept their proposals, refer to employment and lack of time, as they simply do not accept other arguments.

Guests are offered all the best, regardless of the wealth of the family. You will always be offered tea with sweets, and for a dinner party - a whole set of dishes. Lunch or dinner is held at a low table, and guests can be placed directly on the floor. All the dishes are laid out on a large tray and placed on this table or on the floor, and the guests are seated around on mats or pillows and take the dishes to their plates with a common spoon. But in modern cities, ordinary dining tables are already in great demand, as well as European serving of dishes with cutlery.

If you are planning to buy an apartment in Turkey (for example, in Antalya), then be prepared for the closest communication with your neighbors, for visiting, and, of course, when visiting them, do not forget to make a courtesy return gesture by inviting them to yourself!

Table etiquette

Food for the Turks is a whole ritual. They never have a snack on the go, do not eat alone, but sit down at the table with the whole family. Breakfast is usually served with bread and butter, cheese, cheese, jam, olives and tea. They dine quite late, after all family members have gathered, and often neighbors or relatives are invited. The menu consists of three or more courses and various starters. TO kebab vegetable salads are served, rice is served with chicken and fish, and soup is called chorba, - meat cakes, marinades and cheese. Raki (aniseed vodka) is sometimes served on the table, which is half diluted with water, wine or beer. But drinking alcohol in public places is considered bad manners here. On the streets in Turkey you will never meet drunken Turks - this is a big plus of Islamic morality.

Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, Muslim believers do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset. They satisfy the needs of their body for water and food only in the late evening and early in the morning, even before sunrise. Therefore, we advise you to refrain from eating in the presence of fasting Turks. But the end of Ramadan is celebrated for three whole days, arranging a real holiday of sweets - Sheker Bayram.

Having visited Turkey once, you will definitely want to come back here again and again to plunge into the unique local flavor and feel the cordiality and hospitality of the inhabitants of this beautiful country. And whoever wants to stay here and buy an apartment on the seashore - welcome to hospitable Turkey!

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 peoples coexist quite peacefully, for several centuries, and what’s there - decades ago they 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".

Family relationships and marriage

The Turkish tradition is characterized by a rather early age of 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. The new family law only requires and recognizes civil marriage ceremonies, binding consent from both parties, contracting, 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 for many days and consist of several ceremonies, which usually involve all family members, 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, if the procedure itself is followed, they try to formalize it formally, 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 of family ties, regardless of the place of residence of family members. 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, which many of the fair sex enjoy using (in 1993-1995, Prime Minister Turkey there 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 also pay tribute to centuries-old traditions - even in the most modern cities of the country, 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 types of clothing that Turkish women wear with a certain elegance. 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.

Relationship

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 is of great importance in Turkish culture, 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 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 money away 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 sitting right 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 it is necessary 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 kebab, 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 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.

Cloth

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.

Tourist to visit Turkey you don’t have to take special care of the dress - here you can wear almost anything 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 scarf 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. H udism is also not accepted, although some closed hotels practice this type of recreation, but only in carefully isolated areas. Basically, fire

topless will not cause any special emotions on an ordinary beach, but it is 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 just to 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.