Turkey was founded in 1923 by the remnants of the Ottoman Empire. Turkish culture features the characteristics of Anatolian, Eastern Mediterranean, Balkans, Siberia, Central Asian, and Islamic cultures. Each city in Turkey has a diverse range of cultural aspects, traditions, beliefs, languages, and dialects.
Turkey's historical background, culture, customs, environment, and lifestyle draw millions of tourists. When you visit Turkey, you will be astonished by the richness of its traditions and culture. Turkish people are noted for their warmth and hospitality. They enjoy meeting people and forming bonds with them, and visitors to Turkey are always impressed by the Turkish people's hospitality.
Here is a list of the Turkish culture and customs that you will experience and enjoy while visiting Turkey:
Turkish Breakfast
If there is one thing that Turks or people living in Turkey love, it is to start the day with a good and satisfying breakfast. After all, it is not in vain that the fame of Turkish breakfast spread across the world. The Turkish breakfast table is a feast of taste with its delicious foods.
Turkish breakfast does not promise that you will become a morning person, but it does have a high chance of helping you get through the day. Breakfast is known in Turkish as kahvalti. It can be rendered as kahve–alti, being under-coffee, which refers to the food eaten before the coffee. So, of course, a Turkish breakfast should end with a cup of freshly brewed Turkish coffee.
A well-prepared tea, bread, different kinds of cheeses, olives, olive oil, butter, honey, jam, an omelet or boiled eggs, cucumbers, and sliced tomatoes are the essential ingredients of the Turkish breakfast.
Turkish Tea
Despite the long history of coffee consumption in Turkey, tea is an essential component of Turkish culture and the most often consumed hot drink. Turkish hospitality includes serving tea to guests. In Turkey, tea leaves are grown on the eastern Black Sea coast and served in distinctive small tulip-shaped tea glasses known as Ince Belli Bardak.
Turkish tea is typically made in two stacked teapots known as Caydanlik. Tea produced in Turkey is exported to 114 countries in the world. Turkish tea is a part of Turkish culture and lifestyle as a hospitality gesture. Turkish tea provides several health benefits.
The shopkeepers will show their hospitality by inviting you in for a cup of tea. There are gardens called ''Cay Bahcesi'' where friends and family meet to sip tea and discuss their daily lives while enjoying each other's company.
Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is an essential part of Turkish culture. It has been a way of socializing since the 16th century. Coffee started to get served in the coffeehouses for the first time in Istanbul. People used to meet there to read books, have a conversation, and socialize while drinking coffee. It has become a symbol of friendship, hospitality, and entertainment. Turkish coffee is recognized as a part of the heritage, and it is impossible to see a Turkish house without Turkish coffee stored in their kitchen.
Turkish coffee is made using a handheld kettle called Cezve in Turkish. It is prepared with the desired amount of coffee and sugar cooked to perfection and served in coffee cups accompanied by saucers and cold water. You need to drink the coffee slowly, allowing the small coffee grains to settle at the bottom.
The following tradition after drinking coffee is fortune-telling. It is an old-age ritual that has been practiced for centuries. As time went by, society followed this tradition for the fun of it more than its reliability. One of the ancient traditions following Turkish coffee is that the potential in-laws judged how well the bride prepared and served the coffee.
Evil Eye Talisman
A significant element of Turkish culture is the Evil Eye Talisman. It is called Nazar Boncugu in Turkey. Many Turkish people believe that the Evil Eye Talisman will protect them from bad luck, negativity, curse, and hatred. It is recognized by its blue, white, and turquoise circles. You can see them everywhere in Turkey, from shops to offices, homes, and cars. Some wear it as jewelry, and it is also a popular form of souvenir.
Turkish Bath
A Turkish bath is a place where muscles and body relax, and spiritual and physical dirt is purified. It is also called a Hammam or Hamam. It is one of the oldest forms of bathing in history. During the Ottoman Era, being clean was very important, and people went to the Turkish baths when no other bathing facilities were available at home. As time went by, it had become a traditional activity.
The Turkish bath was known to be the beauty secret of Ottoman women. Washing the sweating body by rubbing it with a sponge helps blood circulation and opens the pores, giving comfort to people. Nowadays, tourists visit Turkish baths to have that experience.
Doner-Kebab
For food lovers, one of the first things they think of when they hear Turkey is its famous doner kebab. Doner kebab is a traditional Turkish dish, which is usually made with lamb meat. It is highly popular as a quick meal or a late-night snack, recognized by different names by different people.
Doner Kebab is made with lamb, chicken, or beef meat, depending on your preference, and served as Doner Durum and Iskender Kebab.
Nasreddin Hodja
Nasreddin Hodja was born in the 13th century. He is famous for his legendary narratives and symbolizes the sense of humor in Turkey. Every year between 5th to 10th of July, the International Nasreddin Hodja Festival takes place in Turkey. His stories and plays are not just limited to Turkey but have been spread all over the world.