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Eid-al-Adha, which starts on 10 Dhul-Hijjah (Zil-Hijjah) according to the Hijri Lunar calendar, is also the time of pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) every year, so both domestic and international travels are intense in Turkey during this period. Let's take a look at what you can do during the Eid al-Adha holiday.
When is Eid al-Adha in 2022?
Eid lasts four days - it starts on the 10th day of the holy month of Dhul-Hijjah. This year, it is expected to fall on Saturday, July 9, 2022.
Why is Eid al-Adha Celebrated?
Sacrifice is an act of worship to thank Allah, to give thanks, and to show belief in His existence. Eid-al-Adha, on the other hand, is the performance of this worship on certain days each year. Those who want to worship on Eid-al-Adha sacrifice animals that meet the prescribed conditions by slaughtering them for the sake of Allah.
Eid-al-Adha Culture in Turkey
Eid al-Adha is a time of charity and charity. According to Islam, Muslims who meet the necessary wealth criteria should help the needy through a charity called zakat. One of the most suitable times for this cash aid is the Day of Arafah, the first day of Eid. Those who can sacrifice an animal during the feast are obliged to share it with the poor.
While these posts strengthen the sense of togetherness of Turkish people, they enable everyone to experience the same holiday joy regardless of their financial situation.
On feast days, Turks visit their parents, relatives, friends, and neighbors. These visits strengthen feelings of friendship and teach hospitality. In addition, young people learn about the traditional culture during these visits, so Eid-al-Adha and Eid-al-Fitr are like a school where moral and traditional values are passed down from generation to generation.
People wear their most beautiful clothes and celebrate their holidays by kissing the hands of elders and touching their foreheads. Another instructive tradition for people during the feast is visiting the graves. These visits help young members of families remember how short life is.
Eid al-Adha is not just a fun day where people have a good time. It also regulates and improves relations between people. While home visits are of great importance, the resentment among people ends on the occasion of the feast. Neighbors and friends mediate and reconcile broken people. Therefore, we can say that Eid al-Adha is an important event in Turkish society as it encourages warmth, friendship, and hospitality.
What Can Be Done in Turkey on Eid-al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha is Turkey's longest national holiday with four and a half days. Many people choose to combine the weekend before and after the holiday to take their annual vacation. This means that the duration of this holiday is a time of year when the normally bustling capital cities are relatively empty. That break creates a great opportunity to embark on one of the many adventures Turkey has. Here are some things you can do in Turkey on Eid al-Adha:
Museums
Unquestionably, in addition to the museums in Istanbul, there are wonderful museums all over Turkey. Therefore, this holiday week offers the perfect opportunity to visit some of Turkey's most interesting and magnificent museums. From the Istanbul Archaeological Museum and Zeugma Mosaic Museum to Göbekli Tepe, from Mount Nemrut to the Ancient City of Ephesus, there's no better time than this if you haven't visited yet.
Nature
Turkey, a country with vast natural beauty and different cultures supported by thousands of years of history, is a country like no other. If you want to spend a quiet and peaceful time during the Eid al-Adha holiday, you will find what you are looking for in this country, integrated with nature, greenery, and blue.
Natural wonders such as Ayder Plateau and Salda Lake are perfect for those who want a nature holiday. In addition, places such as Cappadocia, Mardin Antique City, and Sumela Monastery, where history meets nature, will also offer you a completely different dimension of natural wonders.
Sea/Beach
In Turkey, which hosts unique beaches in the Aegean and Mediterranean, a sea holiday awaits you like a nonesuch experience during the Eid al-Adha holiday. Especially with its untouched and never-before-seen beaches, such as Butterfly Valley, Ölüdeniz, and Patara Beach, Turkey offers a perfect sea holiday opportunity where peace and calm come together. You will have taken a step into new adventures while having a pleasant time on these beaches, which offer a completely different dimension of blue and green.
Islands
One of the places to be discovered in Turkey is undoubtedly its islands, which have a distinctive culture. If you are in Istanbul during the Eid-al-Adha holiday, going to the Princes’ Islands can be a memorable opportunity. It takes only half an hour to reach these unique places of Istanbul with the ferries departing from the European and Anatolian Sides.
Apart from the islands in Istanbul, islands such as Gökçeada, Bozcaada, Cunda, and Avşa, which open doors to new adventures, cultures, and amazing sceneries, are also great options for both vacation and sightseeing.
Shopping
With open-air markets, indoor Turkish markets, and stylish boutiques everywhere, shopping in Turkey offers a wonderful experience. Turkish carpets and ceramics are world-famous and unique. It is a tradition to bargain while shopping at places like these in Turkey.
If you bargain correctly, you can gain profit and have a pleasant social experience. Apart from this, you can enjoy your Eid al-Adha holiday by accessing all the world brands you want while spending quality time in numerous stores and shopping malls in Turkey.
Things to Consider in the Eid-al-Adha
Eid al-Adha holiday lasts 4-5 days in Turkey and is a national holiday. Therefore, there are a few important points to consider before planning your vacation. Most businesses and banks are closed on the first day of Eid, so it's helpful to have cash on you. Public transport is used by everyone as it is a holiday and free. Thus it is much more crowded than usual.
Therefore, it will be to your advantage to use a private vehicle. Finally, plan not to travel during the first or last days of the vacation period. If you can avoid traveling the days before and after these dates, that's probably fine too.
