TURKISH   TRADITION

 FOLK MUSIC

The lively Turkish folk music, which originated on the steps of Asia , is in complete contrast to the refined Turkish classical music of the Ottoman court. Until recently, folk music was not written down and the tradition have been kept alive by the 'ASIKLAR' (troubadours). Distinct from folk music is Ottoman military music, now performed by the 'MEHTER TAKIMI' (janissary band) in Istanbul , which originated in Central Asia , and is played with kettle drums, clarinets, cymbals, and the bells. The mystical music of the Whirling Derwishes (MEVLEVILER) is dominated by the haunting sound of the reed pipe or Ney.

FOLK DANCES

Each region in TURKIYE has its own special folkdance and costume, and the best known of these are listed below:

a) HORON : This Black Sea dance is performed by men only, dressed in black with silver trimmings. The dancers link arms and quiver to the vibrations of the " KEMENCE " (a primitive kind of violin).

b) KASIK OYUNU  : The spoon dance is performed from Konya to Silifke,Bolu, Bursa , and consist of gaily dressed male and female dancers clicking out the dance rhythm with a pair of wooden spoons in each hand.

c) KILIC KALKAN  : The sword and Shield dance of Bursa represents the Ottoman conquest of the city. It is performed by only men, dressed in early Ottoman battle dress, who dance to the sound of clashing swords and shields, without music.

d) ZEYBEK : In this Aegean dance, colorfully dressed male dancers, called " EFE " symbolize courage and heroism. The spoon dance is performed from Balıkesir Izmir,Aydin,Bodrum,Fethiye.

e) HALAY : The region West and south of the Turkiye. Diyarbakır , Urfa , Adana , Hatay, Gaziantep

COSTUMES FOR FOLK DANCES

There is no special costume other than for the drummer, zurna player, dancing boy and girl and zeybek dancer. In the folk dance activities done in public-culture centers, each group chose a special costume for themselves, when choosing the costumes, they have made use of wedding costumes. As it is in all over the world, the Turkish folk dance groups have come to possess a special costume they wear during their show. The widespread costumes for men are fez, turban, tall Persian- lambskin cap for the head, short jacket with slit sleeves, aba for the body, sash and weaponbelt for the waist, baggy trousers, full- gathered knee- breeches and a kind of tight- fitting trousers zibka for the legs, socks with a motif, boots, light peasant's shoes yemeni and sandal of rawhide carik for the feet. Woman costumes are very rich in color and form in our folk dance groups. If we outline, in general, the head is covered and ornamented with jewels kerchief with embroideries and light shoes or yemenis are widespread. On single skirts, two skirts, there skirts, they wear a short jacket cepken, short collarles jacket salta and double- breasted waistcoat- camadan. They must also wear a belt or sash. Under their loose- robe, the wear baggy- trousers salvar of which many kinds can be seen. Apron, stocking with a motif on feet and light shoes- yemenis, sandal cariks complete their dressing.

FOLK HEROES

a) Nasrettin Hoca - a 13th-century humorist and sage from Aksehir. His witticisms are known throughout Turkey and are often used to make a point.
b) Karagoz - Another jester, said to have lived in Bursa in the 14th century and now immortalized as a shadow puppet. Karagoz is a rough man of the people, who uses his ribribald wit to get the better of his pompous friend, Hacivat. The puppets are made from gaily painted, translucent animal skin and are projected onto a white screen.
c) Yunus Emre - The 13th-century philosopher-poet is one of Turkey 's national treasures. His basic themes were universal love, friendship, brotherhood and divine justice. His simple and pure writing brings out a deep meaning for his readers and although he lived over 700 years ago, his work is still timely and thought provoking.
d) Köroglu - A 15th-century folk poet, Koroglu was a role model for his contemporaries and a hero of his time. His a ventures have been recounted for centuries with prestige and vigor and perhaps now with more interest than ever. Koroglu was one of the first people to pioneer the ideal of unconditional help for the poor and down-trodden. He was also a great champion against the confines of government control and harassment.

TRADITIONAL SPORTS

a) Yagli Gures "Grease Wrestling" is the Turkish national sport and every year, in July, Wrestling championships are held in Kirkpinar, outside Edirne The contest is made more difficult by the fact that the wrestlers smear themselves with oil. 

b) Cirit Oyunu The "Javelin game" of daredevil horsemanship is a sport where wooden javelins are thrown at horsemen of opposing teams to gain points. The game is played mainly in Eastern Turkey

c) Camel Wrestling Also, in Seljuk, in the Aegean Region you can watch camel fights (in January), but if for some reason, weather does not permit, don't despair, camel fights are held in many small towns throughout the springtime. Also, a type of bullfight is held in June in Kafkasor, Artvin.

POPULAR CUSTOMS

Hospitality: Hospitality is one of the cornerstones of the Turkish way of life. Following Koranic tenets and naturally friendly instincts, the Turk is a most gracious and generous host. Even the poorest peasant feels bound to honor his guest ("misafir") in the best possible manner. Hospitality is taken to such lengths that a foreigner often feels he is suffering from an overdose of it after being plied with food and drinks for hours and being unable to host's refuse anything, lest he hurt hi, feeling,. In addition to ensuring a guest's material well-being, the Turk makes every effort to converse, no matter what linguistic barriers might exist. While most middle-class urban-dwelling Turks speak at least one European language, even the uneducated bravely struggle to make themselves understood, with remarkable success.

Turkish coffee houses: Even the smallest Turkish village has its coffee house or "kahvehane", where men can talk, sip coffee, and play the national game of backgammon ("tavla"). In Istanbul especially, men can still be seen smoking their bubble bubble pipes ("nargile") in these coffee houses.

TURKISH BATH

The tradition of the Turkish bath extends far back, to a time before Turks had reached Anatolia . When the Turks arrived in Anatolia , they brought with them one bathing tradition, and were confronted with another, that of Romans and Byzantines, with certain local variants. The traditions merged, and with the addition of the Moslem concern for cleanliness and its concomitant respect for the uses of water, there arose an entirley new concept, that of the Turkish Bath. In time it became an institution, with its system of ineradicable customs.

 For the Turkish bath was much more than just a place to cleanse the skin. It was intimately bound up with everyday life, a place where people of every rank and station, young and old, rich an poor, townsman or villager, could come freely. Women as well as men made use of the "hamam", as the bath is known in Turkish, although of course at separate hours.

From the individual's point of view, the hamam was a familiar place from the earliest weeks of life right up to its very end. Important occasions during a lifespan were, and in some township still are, celebrated with rejoicing at the bath. The newborn's fortieth day, the brides bathing complete with food and live music, and the Avowal are instances. The latter requires some explanation, for it involved the custom common in Anatolia of making a promise or vow, contingent on the fulfillment of some important wish. The celebration of this in the hamam was arranged and paid for by the person fulfilling his vow, and was open to one and all.

 The hamam ceremony of mourning, on the other hand, was far different, but also widespread. The Hospitality bathing was simply the taking of one's house-guest to the hamam for a wash. Then there were the Circumcision, Groom's, and Off-to-the-Army bathings, and others besides. As we see, the whole culture of a people had the Turkish bath as one of its important nexuses.

 Naturally, there was a range of equipment associated with a hamam visit, and until recently one might count from 15 to 20 articles in the bundle which a woman brought along with her.