E-Twinning ProjectE-Twinning Project

‘‘Knowing the Other Knowing the Other Culture’Culture’Part 3Part 3

Turkish CultureTurkish CultureThe culture of Turkey combines a heavily diverse and heterogeneous set of elements that have been derived from the Byzantine, Ottoman, European, Middle Eastern and Central Asian traditions. Turkey's former status as a multiethnic empire which,

de facto until the loss of Libya to the Kingdom of Italy in 1912 (and de jure until the official loss of Egypt and Sudan to the British

Empire in 1914, as a consequence of the Ottoman government's decision to join the First World War on the side of the Central

Powers) spanned three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. The present-day Republic of Turkey, which succeeded the Ottoman

state in 1923, is still a transcontinental country that spans Europe and Asia.

The nation was modernized primarily by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk starting from 1923. As he transformed a religion-driven former

Ottoman Empire into a modern nation-state with a strong separation of state and religion, a corresponding increase in the

methods of artistic expression arose. During the first years of the republic, the government invested a large amount of resources into fine arts such as paintings, sculpture and architecture. This was done as both a process of modernization and of creating a

cultural identity. Because of the different historical factors defining the Turkish identity, the culture of Turkey combines clear

efforts to be "modern" and Western, with a desire to maintain traditional religious and historical values.

In this part we would like to introduce some important Turkish traditional values …

Turkish DelightTurkish Delight

It is a kind of candy and very famous in Turkey It is a kind of candy and very famous in Turkey but contrary to candy it is very soft. Turkish but contrary to candy it is very soft. Turkish

people serve Turkish delight to their guests on people serve Turkish delight to their guests on rreligious holidays. As you see in the picture eligious holidays. As you see in the picture

there are many types of them.there are many types of them.

Turkish CoffeeTurkish Coffee

Turkish coffee is very important in Turkish Turkish coffee is very important in Turkish culture. It is generally drunk after breakfast. It culture. It is generally drunk after breakfast. It

is served in special tiny cups.is served in special tiny cups.

Turkish Meat RavioliTurkish Meat Ravioli

It is called ‘Mantı’ in Turkey. It consists of many It is called ‘Mantı’ in Turkey. It consists of many bundles with meats in it.bundles with meats in it.

It is served with garlic yoghurt sauce and It is served with garlic yoghurt sauce and tomatoe sauce on it. It is difficult but a very tomatoe sauce on it. It is difficult but a very

delicious meal.delicious meal.

Turkish RakıTurkish Rakı

It's similar to Greek ouzo and French pastis. When mixed with ice and/or water for drinking,

it turns milky white. Because of its color and hefty alcoholic punch, Turks call it lion's milk.

Turkish KebabTurkish Kebab

Lamb meat(generally) is grilled with Lamb meat(generally) is grilled with

Green pepper and tomatoe pieces on sticks. Turkish Green pepper and tomatoe pieces on sticks. Turkish men eat Turkish Kebab with Turk’s traditional drink men eat Turkish Kebab with Turk’s traditional drink

‘Rakı’.‘Rakı’.

BaklavaBaklava

It is a kind of dessert. We can say that it is our It is a kind of dessert. We can say that it is our national dessert. It is very hard to make it. Our national dessert. It is very hard to make it. Our

grandmothers make it well, we just know how to grandmothers make it well, we just know how to eat it :)eat it :)

Nasreddin HodjaNasreddin Hodja

Perhaps the most popular figure in the Perhaps the most popular figure in the tradition is Nasreddin who is the central tradition is Nasreddin who is the central

character of thousands of jokes. He generally character of thousands of jokes. He generally appears as a person who, though seeming appears as a person who, though seeming

somewhat stupid to those who must deal with somewhat stupid to those who must deal with him, actually proves to have a special wisdom him, actually proves to have a special wisdom

all his own:all his own:One day, Nasreddin's neighbor asked him, "Teacher, One day, Nasreddin's neighbor asked him, "Teacher,

do you have any forty-year-old vinegar?"—"Yes, I do," do you have any forty-year-old vinegar?"—"Yes, I do," answered Nasreddin.—"Can I have some?" asked the answered Nasreddin.—"Can I have some?" asked the

neighbor. "I need some to make an ointment neighbor. "I need some to make an ointment with."—"No, you can't have any," answered with."—"No, you can't have any," answered

Nasreddin. "If I gave my forty-year-old vinegar to Nasreddin. "If I gave my forty-year-old vinegar to whoever wanted some, I wouldn't have had it for whoever wanted some, I wouldn't have had it for

forty years, would I?"forty years, would I?"

Karagöz&HacivatKaragöz&Hacivat

Another popular element of Turkish folklore is Another popular element of Turkish folklore is the shadow theater centered around the two the shadow theater centered around the two characters of Karagöz and Hacivat, who both characters of Karagöz and Hacivat, who both

represent stock characters: Karagöz—who hails represent stock characters: Karagöz—who hails from a small village—is something of a country from a small village—is something of a country bumpkin, while Hacivat is a more sophisticated bumpkin, while Hacivat is a more sophisticated city-dweller. Popular legend has it that the two city-dweller. Popular legend has it that the two

characters are actually based on two real characters are actually based on two real persons who worked for Osman I,the founder of persons who worked for Osman I,the founder of

Ottoman Empire. Ottoman Empire.

It is a common attitude in Turkey and also in Muslim countries. When It is a common attitude in Turkey and also in Muslim countries. When we visit old people, we kiss their hands and put it onto our forehead. we visit old people, we kiss their hands and put it onto our forehead. Especially on religious days, grandchildren visit their grandparents Especially on religious days, grandchildren visit their grandparents and kiss their hands, immediately after it grandparents give money and kiss their hands, immediately after it grandparents give money

to the grandchildren.to the grandchildren.

When we send off a family member or a friend to do his military When we send off a family member or a friend to do his military service in Turkey, this farewell turns into a display to encourage service in Turkey, this farewell turns into a display to encourage

the soldier nominee. the soldier nominee.

The night before the wedding day, the women among the family and The night before the wedding day, the women among the family and the friends of the bride meet with wearing traditional clothes and turn the friends of the bride meet with wearing traditional clothes and turn around the bride singing and dancing with henna in their hands. They around the bride singing and dancing with henna in their hands. They sing sadly and wait the bride to cry as she is leaving her house and sing sadly and wait the bride to cry as she is leaving her house and family. Some piece of henna is also put into each of the women’s family. Some piece of henna is also put into each of the women’s palms in the meeting. It is called ‘Henna Night’ in our country. palms in the meeting. It is called ‘Henna Night’ in our country.

Vicinity is very important in Turkish culture. Especially in Vicinity is very important in Turkish culture. Especially in villages neighbours share anything. This can be a photo of it.villages neighbours share anything. This can be a photo of it.

Folk-danceFolk-dance

Folk dance is our Folk dance is our traditional dance and it traditional dance and it can differ from region to can differ from region to

region,and also the region,and also the clothes are different in clothes are different in

every region.every region.

FIRE OF ANATOLIAFIRE OF ANATOLIA

It is a professional group of It is a professional group of dancers in Turkey which often dancers in Turkey which often

goes on tour in Europe and goes on tour in Europe and displays the modernized Turkish displays the modernized Turkish

folk and oriental dances.folk and oriental dances.

Enjoy the movie…Enjoy the movie…

And if you like the movie,here are some other links of their movies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrImHI9Oz2Q&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRm8DzpbcDE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNT6fmtIYlQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbbxbAxgtyw&feature=related

Whirling DervishesWhirling Dervishes

A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity. In this respect, Dervishes are most similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain

sadhus.The whirling dance of dervish or Sufi whirling that is

proverbially associated with Dervishes is best known in the West by the practices (performances) of the Mevlevi order in Turkey, and is part of a formal ceremony known

as the Sama. It is, however, also practiced by other orders. The Sama is only one of the many Sufi ceremonies performed to try to reach religious ecstasy (majdhb, fana).

Enjoy the movieEnjoy the movie

Our SongsOur Songs

Here are some old and new samples of our music.

We tried to choose different kinds for you…I

hope you enjoy…

Bab-ı Esrar by YANSIMALARBab-ı Esrar by YANSIMALAR

It is an example of our mystical music. The name of the group is YANSIMALAR means ‘echoes’

Enjoy the movieEnjoy the movie

We would like to introduce our winner of Eurovision Song

Contest of 2003 SERTAB ERENER and her song ‘Everyway that I can’

‘‘Everyway That I can’Everyway That I can’

The song ‘Everyway that I can’ is about a The song ‘Everyway that I can’ is about a concubine in Ottoman Harem, concubine in Ottoman Harem,

and her and her efforts to get her love back.efforts to get her love back.

TarkanTarkan

Tarkan is a famous Turkish singer and also he is well-known in Europe. Maybe

you might have heard him somewhere in your country.

Here are his two songs…

Here are some other songs of him…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=W8tmcJrBHJ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJkpzFlFuD4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVbtVACV5pk&feature=related

GripinGripin

Gripin is a pop-rock music group who has many top-listed songs. They are very popular nowadays…

Böyle Kahpedir Dünya by GripinBöyle Kahpedir Dünya by Gripinenjoy the movieenjoy the movie

HadiseHadise

Hadise firstly became famous in Europe as she was born in a European country then she came to Turkey and represented Turkey in Eurovision song Contest of 2009. She still lives in

Turkey.

Düm Tek Tek by HadiseDüm Tek Tek by Hadise

And Sezen Aksu…And Sezen Aksu…

She is the most famous among the others. Everyone in Turkey knows her. She made

many songs both wrote the lyrics and compsed them. Also she sang with her

beautiful voice.

Şinanay by Sezen AksuŞinanay by Sezen Aksu

We know that telling about the culture of a We know that telling about the culture of a nation is a very complex and a difficult nation is a very complex and a difficult

matter. We tried to introduce our culture as matter. We tried to introduce our culture as good as we do. We hope you feel happy to good as we do. We hope you feel happy to

know the Turkish Culture…know the Turkish Culture…

We will feel very happy to learnWe will feel very happy to learn about your culture… about your culture…