I am an ESL Teacher and 2 of my students are from Turkey and we were talking about holidays last week. They were telling me about a holiday that was on Friday all I was able to understand is ....They would kiss the back of their hand and touch it to their forehead and then I think someone gives them money for this? I am curious and would like to be able to speak with them about this and ask questions. Can you tell me about this please.
2007-10-12 09:14:37 · 5 answers · asked by Petra 5 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Turkey
Kissing the back of the hand and then touching it to their forehead is a way to show respect. At the end of Ramazan there is Seker Bayram (sweet (candy) festival) so people want to show respect to their older family members and then the older family members give them money:)
People visit neighbors and the neighbors offer chocolate and lemon cologne!
2007-10-12 13:33:39 · answer #1 · answered by ithinkiatetoomuch 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Today is a special day here called "bayram".
We have two bayrams. The first one is celebrated at the end of the holy month Ramadan. It lasts for 3 days and today is the first day of it.
I like the spirit of "Ramazan Bayrami" which is also called "Seker Bayrami" meaning candy/sweets bayram. I don't know how it's celebrated in other countries but here's how it's celebrated in Turkey.
In bayram, everybody gets dressed as if they're going out on a special occasion even if they're sitting at home because in bayram people visit each other. If you're the younger of the family you visit your father/mother (if you're not living together), and uncles, aunts etc. Like today, we had many guests (cousins mainly) visiting us. And we will also pay visits to them. Apart from family and friends, people also visit their neighbors even though they see them everyday. Bayrams are special days in which people reunion and exchange well wishes and candies of course :)
Visits are usually very short, at most half an hour but that may change from person to person too. The most important thing in these visits is that the host should serve candies/chocolate to the guests. It's the tradition and I love it. About five minutes after your guests come, you take out your fancy bowl of candies and serve your guests and you also offer them cologne (not for drinking hehe). You put the cologne in their hands if they want it. You can serve them a cup of Turkish coffee too.
Children look forward to bayram not only for the massive amount of candies they eat. Elders give money to kids in bayram (and kissing the hands of the elders is a custom). And sometimes kids knock on the doors of neighboring houses and say "happy bayram" and collect candies and money.
2007-10-12 16:32:29 · answer #2 · answered by Earthling 7 · 12⤊ 0⤋
Think of it like the Christians kissing Pope's hand and Pope giving them blessings. Kissing the hand is a gesture of respect and the money the adult gives is a gift. It could well be a handkerchief (a good handkerchief was a good present in traditional times), some sweets or other gift, too.
2007-10-13 05:00:25 · answer #3 · answered by Totally Blunt 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The holiday is a Muslim feast of Ramadan. It has to do with Mohammad ascending to heaven.
2007-10-12 16:17:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
We (children) do it on bayrams! =)
I think the best part of the bayrams is having money from adults! ;-)
Also we eat lots of sweet =)
2007-10-13 04:18:58 · answer #5 · answered by Irmak 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋