RELIGIOUS AND CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN TURKEY

Islam is the largest religion of Turkey with around 99 % (percent) of population. There is a small minority withChristian faith (Oriental Orthodoxy, Greek Orthodox andArmenian Apostolic).

Before telling about Christian traditions in my country, I want to say that Turkey is a secular country since 1924 withno official religion.

CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS OF TURKISH ARMENIANS

GAĞANT (NEW YEAR’S EVE)

Gağant means the New Year’s Eve in The Armenian language .Ithas the same meaning with ‘feast’. They start shopping manydays before the New Year’s Eve.

At that night all the family members come together and sit around the table until midnight. They eat ‘sarma’ grape leavesstuffed with rice, stuffed mussels, turkey and aşure (Noah’spudding which is a common dessert in Islamic and Christiantradition)

Although they feel tired people go to their working places

for at least two hours and spread pomegranates around thatthey bring from home. It is believed to bring abundance.

DZUNUNT

That is Armenian Christmas and they celebrate it differenly

from other Christians.

It is on January 6.

Armenian children visit the houses and sing ‘Melkon, Kaspar

yev Bağdasar, avedis song to tell good news about Christ’s

birth on January 5. People give small presents and coins to the

children. Melkon, Kaspar and Bağdasar are three shepherds

that visited Christ with presents after he was born.

At the night of the feast all the family come together and eat

fish.

Catholic Armenians celebrate Christmas like other Christians

on December 25.

PUN PAREGENTAN

Armenians celebrate Pun Paregentan a day before the Great

Fast. With the sundown, Medz Bahk (the Great Fast) starts.

It is a period for forswearing and to prepare the believers for

Resurrection feast with prayers and fast. People eat, drink and

have fun during Pun Paregentan. They wear different and

interesting costumes and make jokes to their friends.

The Great Fast lasts 7 weeks (50 days). During that time they

don’t eat animal products. They have just one meal which

includes vegetables and grain after the evening prayer.

They don’t have weddings during these 7 weeks.

Almost every Church has a special day for ritual. People go to

the churches on these special days.

At the Great Fast people make peace among their offended

friends and help poor people.

SURP ZADIK

That’s Armenian Easter. People great each others saying ‘Christ

rised from the dead’ and in return‘Happy birthday Christ’.

They give red eggs to their friends as a present. Eggs are

mostly dyed in red traditionally. Egg symbolizes the world and

the red colour stands for Christ’s blood that he shed for the

salvation.

People eat scones in the shape of braid and visit graveyards.

CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS OF TURKISH GREEKS

TA FOTA

Greeks celebrate Christ’s baptism on January 6. The patriarch

throws a wooden cross into cold water of the sea. It is to bless

the water. Young people dive into the sea and compete with

each others to take it out.

The person who gets it is rewarded with a golden chain and a

cross. This ceremony takes place in the Golden Horn.

PROTOHRONIA

Greeks celebrate Christ’s circumcision on January 1.

In the evening of December 31 children visit the houses around

the neighbourhood, sing Christmas songs and get coins and

presents.

At Christmas they eat turkey and dance. They spread

pomegranates around at home and in their working places since

they believe it brings good luck.

On December 6 Turkish Greeks commemorates Saint Nicolaus

who was born in Patara and was believed to be Santa Claus.

They also believe that he is the protector of the seas and bring

gifts to the children.

TON PSIHON Greeks visit graveyards and have rituals on February 17. They eat koliva, a kind of sweet prepared with almond,

walnut and wheat.

TESSARAKOSTI That’s the beginning of the Easter that lasts for 40 days on

February 26. They fast without eating and drinkinganything on the first day.

During the following 5 weeks they eat food that doesn’tinclude animal products. They just eat vegetables in thelast week of the Easter.

THE EASTER

It comes after the Great Fast. Easter is the time whenChrist was crucified.

Greeks don’t eat animal products on Friday . They are in mourning until Saturday . At Saturday night they go to thechurch and at midnight everybody lights a candle tocelebrate Christ’s resurrection.

Easter is on Friday. People have a large menu at lunch. Scone in the shape of braid is indispensible food for them.

HRISTUGENNA

Turkish Greeks celebrate Hristugenna (Christmas) likeother Christians and have almost the same traditions.

MANY

THANKS TO

OUR

TURKISH

ARMENIAN

TEACHER,

AGOP

KÜPELİ FOR

HIS HELP