Bayram

Man, over 7 months! That's how long I've been away from my Turkish blog. Ouch! During this period, I've been preoccupied with my home renovations (as well as helping Mary with her home's maintenance). They've been very disruptive, to put it gently. You can read about it at my main blog.

In any event, I'm back. And starting with a blurb about bayram is fitting, as it's now holidays here in America. In fact, Christmas music is already being played on the radio even though Thanksgiving has not even occurred yet. Irritating—can we finish with one holiday first? Christmas, wait your turn! Stop trying to shove past Thanksgiving, the distinctly American holiday!

Historical footnote: New England's religious Pilgrims were not the first to usher in Thanksgiving. That honor goes to the secular settlers of Jamestown, Virgina. For more information, check this link out.

Back to bayram (bai-ram), which means "religious or national festival". Turkey has two religious bayrams. During both, it's customary for young people to visit older family members and friends and kiss their hands.

Note: My source for this information is lonely planet's Turkish phrasebook.

One is called Şeker Bayramı, the feast of the sweets, or Ramazan Bayramı, the feast of Ramadan. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Ramazan Bayramı, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night for one month. At the end of the month, they celebrate this three-day bayram and public holiday, making sweets and visiting each other. Children also go from house to house wishing people Mutlu bayramlar (Happy Bayrams!) and receiving sweets, chocolate or money.

Shades of Halloween! Interesting surface similarities but, of course, the context is totally different.

During Kurban Bayramı, the feast of the sacrifice, the second bayram, people make animal sacrifices and give the meat to the poor and needy. This festival last for four days and is also a public holiday.

Ben Şeker Bayramı ile ilgileniyorum. Tatlı seviyorum. Güdülenme var. [Translation: I am interested in Şeker Bayramı. I like sweets. There's my motivation. :^) ]