The Sugar Feast (Şeker Bayramı or Eid ul-Fitr) is the three day festival following Ramadan. Eid ul-Fitr is the Arabic name of this religious holiday. Eid meaning "festivity" and Fitr meaning "original nature." It refers to the restoration of one's best human composition and the celebration of the end of the thirty days of fasting during Ramadan. Bayram is the term used … [Read more...]
Where (Not) to Celebrate New Year in Istanbul?
Last updated: December 07, 2023 Celebrating New Year in Istanbul (Yılbaşı / Yeni Yıl) is a great idea. Turkey's metropolitan is bustling all year round, but definitely goes the extra mile to welcome the new year. Every venue wants to outdo the other to make the transition from old to new as unique and special as possible. Therefore, listing what every bar, restaurant or … [Read more...]
Celebrating Christmas in Istanbul — Pros and Cons
Last updated: December 07, 2023 The roots of Santa Claus lay in Turkey, to be precise in Patara near Myra. Already in the 4th century A.D.E. St Nicholas dropped bags of money down the chimneys to help people. But today, in a country with a 98% Muslim population, Christmas is a day like any other day. Yet, spending Christmas in Istanbul is not that odd an idea -- here's … [Read more...]
Kurban Bayramı or the Feast of the Sacrifice in a Nutshell
"What exactly is the Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayramı)?" is a question foreigners often ask me when visiting Istanbul during that festival. In this article I will explain the basics of this 4,5 day religious holiday, and of course here and there mention some aspects typical for Istanbul. What? - The Feast of the Sacrifice commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to … [Read more...]