Most Important Turkish Festivals: What to Expect

Turkey has religious festivals, national holidays, and local celebrations. Some involve fasting, some involve feasting, and some involve jumping over fire.

Kurban Bayramı (Sacrifice Holiday)

Four-day festival about 70 days after Ramadan. Families sacrifice a sheep, goat, or cow. Meat is divided into three parts: family, relatives, and poor people.

• Animals must be healthy and clean

• Sacrifice is done after morning prayer

• Meat cannot be sold (only given away)

• Children again kiss elders' hands for money

• No work or school for 4 days

Hıdırellez (Spring Festival)

Held on May 5th-6th. Celebrates the arrival of spring. People jump over bonfires, write wishes on paper, and tie them to rose bushes.

• Wishes are written and buried under a rose bush

• Jump over fire (for health and luck)

• Eat together outdoors (picnic style)

• Believed to be the day prophets Hızır and Ilyas meet on Earth

• Very popular with young people and children

23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı (April 23 – National Sovereignty and Children's Day)

Turkey's only holiday dedicated entirely to children. Schools perform on stage. Children sit in parliament seats.

• Founded by Atatürk in 1920

• Children from around the world are invited as guests

• School parades in every city

• Children replace government officials for one day

• Very colorful and joyful

Mesir Macunu Festivali (Mesir Paste Festival)

Held in Manisa every March. A 500-year-old tradition. Cooks throw spiced candy paste from the rooftop of a mosque onto the crowd below.

• Believed to heal illnesses

• 41 different spices in the paste

• Crowds catch the wrapped candies in handkerchiefs

• Eating one brings good luck and health

• People travel from all over Turkey to attend