Holidays, climate and national customs of Turkey
Public holidays
There are a number of public holidays that do not have a fixed date but are based on the time of Easter. Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Lent, which lasts 46 days, begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Pentecost is 50 days after Easter. The Corpus Christi festival is celebrated on the 2nd Thursday after Pentecost. All Saints’ Day is celebrated for Orthodox Christians on the 1st Sunday after Pentecost, but for Catholic Christians the date is fixed on November 1st. On October 31, Protestants celebrate Reformation Day. The Halloween festival also takes place on this day.
Date | Holiday |
January 1 | New Year |
January 8th, 9th, 10 | Islamic Festival of Sacrifice |
April 23 | Sovereignty and Children’s Day |
1st of May | Day of spring |
May 19 | Ataturk’s Remembrance Day |
October | End of ramadan |
28th of October | National holiday |
November 10 | Ataturk’s death anniversary |
Source: Countryaah – Turkey Holidays
Cultural events
Date | Event |
January | Camel fights in Selcuk |
March | International Jazz Days in İzmirKurdish New Year Festival
Dardanelles Victory Celebration in Canakkale International Film Festival in Istanbul |
April | International Book Fair in İzmir.Culture and Art Festival in Giresun.
National Independence and Children’s Day in Ankara |
May | International music and folklore festival in SilifkeInternational jazz festival in Antalya
Various cultural events and international yacht festival in Marmaris Festival in honor of the mystic Yunus Emre in Eskişehir Seyit Batdalgazi Festival in Eskişehir Selçuk Efes Kültür ve Sanat Festivali: Culture and art festival in Selçuk Mesir) in Manisa Wrestling competition in Kemer Theater Biennale in Istanbul Music festival in Kusadasi Festival in Bergama |
June July | Festival in memory of the folk poet Karacaoğlan in MuşOpera and ballet
festival in the ancient theater of Aspendos Carpet and rose festival in Isparta Oil wrestler competitions in Edirne International culture and music festival in İzmir, Ephesus and Miletus. Folklore Festival in Çandarlı Concerts in Ayvalık, Bodrum and Marmaris Culture Festival in Amasya Aluçdağ Festival in Çamlıdere Tourism Festival in Alanya Festival in honor of the dervish Abdal Musa in Antalya Van Kültür ve Turizm Festivali: Culture and Tourism Festival in Van International Marmara Music and Folklore Festival in Istanbul for tourism and art in Marmaris Pamukkale festival in Denizli Kırkpınar Wrestling in Edirne Apricot Festival in Malatya Homeland Festival in Hatay Festival in honor of the mystic Hacı Bektaş Veli in Hacıbektaş Çini Festivali: Ceramic Festival in Kütahya Culture Festival in Kemer International Art and Culture Festival in Istanbul Navy Day on July 1st International Culture and Art Festival in Bursa Jazz Festival in Istanbul |
August | Celebrations in honor of Haci Bektas Veli (theologian and mystic) in Hacibektassailing regatta in the Gulf of Edremit
Troy Festival in Canakkale and Troy almond harvest festival on the Datça Peninsula Vintage Festival in Bozcaada Foça Müzik ve folklore Şenlik: Music and Folklore Festival in Foca Master Chef Festival in Bolu |
September | International Tango Festival in Marmarisbullfights in Ula in Muğla
Hittite Festival in Corum – Sungurlu, Alacahöyük – Boğazkale International Music and Folklore Festival in Mersin melon festival in Diyarbakir Eğridir-Apple Festival in Isparta – Eğridir Art and Folklore Festival in Kırşehir industrial fair in Izmir Cultural Festival in Bodrum Art Biennial in Istanbul Music Festival in Antalya Film Festival in Adana |
October | Theater festival in Assos, grape harvestfestival in Şirince and Bozcaada
film festival in Antalya |
November | International sailing competition in MarmarisBlues Festival in Istanbul |
December | Nikolausfest in DemreDervish dances in Konya
Pistachio festival in Gaziantep Nikolausfest in Kaş – Demre |
Sporting events
National folk sports are the yagli güres, a wrestling match in which the wrestlers rub themselves with oil beforehand, which makes a firm grip almost impossible, the javelin competition Cirit Oyunu, in which galloping riders throw spears, as well as camel wrestling and bullfights.
June
triathlon in Alanya
National customs
- The distinct bath culture of the Turks is celebrated in the so-called hammams. These baths offer a comprehensive opportunity for personal hygiene. In addition to the various forms of cleaning such as scrubbing with a rough glove, lathering and bathing, massages are offered. Mixed bathing is not allowed. If a man used to go into the women’s bathroom, he could be sentenced to death.
- The Mevlana order comes from the Seljuq Empire. He became known for the singing dervishes with their high hats and wide skirts. The mystical poet, philosopher and founder of the order Mevlana believed in ecstatic, universal love. According to him, this state can be achieved by turning quickly in a circle. The dance symbolizes the rotation of the heavenly spheres and is accompanied by shepherds flutes. The right hand is held up in order to experience a blessing from above, the left hand is stretched towards the earth in order to pass this blessing on.
- In the coffeehouses all over Turkey men meet to drink coffee, chat and play board games.
- The bazaars are the best places to shop in Turkey. You can find anything in the big markets.
- Shoes are not allowed in mosques. These must be deposited at the entrance. Out of respect, women should cover their heads with a scarf, arms and legs.
- One should avoid exchanging affection in public.
- The Âşık poem is a Turkish folk song that is accompanied by a saz (musical instrument).
- The Turkish superstition describes an evil eye as a bad influence or curses from evil people. One can protect oneself from him with talismans, sayings and ceremonies.
Turkey: climate
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that TR stands for the nation of Turkey as a two-letter acronym.
Travel times
The ideas of what is meant by a particularly favorable travel climate depend on a number of factors. Pure cultural travelers certainly see the climate differently than people who want to spend a pure beach holiday, for example. The state of health or age can also play an important role. The ideal travel times are spring, summer and autumn. Usually winter is less suitable to visit.
Climate table
The following table shows a range of climate data for the country. It should be noted, however, that the climatic conditions in different regions of the country can differ considerably from one another and thus also from the values shown. In addition, such monthly temperature averages say little about the possible current minimum or maximum temperatures. It is not uncommon for average temperatures of around 30 °C to reach maximum values of 40 °C or even more on a number of days. The table therefore only provides a general overview of the climatic conditions in the country.
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
January | 17-18 | 0809 | 02-03 |
February | 13-14 | 07-08 | 01-02 |
March | 13-14 | 10-11 | 03-04 |
April | 10-11 | 14-15 | 07-08 |
May | 08-09 | 20-21 | 11-12 |
June | 04-05 | 25-26 | 15-16 |
July | 04-05 | 27-28 | 18-19 |
August | 04-05 | 27-28 | 17-18 |
September | 07-08 | 24-25 | 14-15 |
October | 10-11 | 20-21 | 11-12 |
November | 15-16 | 16-17 | 07-08 |
December | 16-17 | 10-11 | 04-05 |