Islamic Holidays

The 30-day Islamic holy month of Ramadan, called also Ramazan in Turkey, is a time of continuous fasting, prayer and celebration. Fasting takes place during the days of the Ramazan month, meaning that no food, beverages, chewing gums, cigarettes are allowed. From sunrise to sunset nothing must pass the Muslims’ lips.

Most pious Muslims even refrain from sexual intercourse during daylight in the holy month. The meaning of Ramazan for the Turkish people is huge: this is the time when they remind themselves of virtues like charity, compassion and forgiveness and show their devotion and respect to their god Allah. Since many Turkish people fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramazan, restaurants are palpably less busy during the day. Ramazan is also a time of celebration, and after sunset the feasting begins with a ceremonial light meal called Iftar. It always includes freshly-baked flat pied bread, and usually soup, pickled vegetables, olives and other easily-prepared edibles. Elaborate dinners are held later in the evening. In the middle of the night drummers circulate through towns and villages to wake sleepers so they can prepare Sahur, the big early-morning meal to be eaten before the fast begins again at sunrise. They tend to make their noise around 2-3 am and make sure everyone hears them. During the month of Ramazan, a carnival atmosphere prevails with temporary booths selling religious books and religious items, traditional food and stuff for the kids.

A major Islamic festival is the three-day holiday called Seker Bayrami (Sugar Holiday), which comes at the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. A favorite treat at this time is rahat lokoum colorful gelatin cubes covered with powdered sugar, known in English as Turkish delight.

A four-day Islamic holiday called Kurban Bayrami (Sacrifice Holiday) honors Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, at Allah's command. It also marks the season of pilgrimage to Mecca. Usually, an animal is sacrificed on this day to symbolize Allah's allowing Abraham to sacrifice a ram instead of his son as a reward for his demonstration of obedience.