Ramadan in Turkey

Ramazan or month of Ramazan that also known as Ramadan in Arabic is the ninth month of the year according to Islamic Calendar. Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar which is 11-12 days shorter than the calendar used today and dates of Ramadan are determined according this calendar therefore the dates of Ramazan change every year and comes forward. Ramadan is the month of Fasting and considered sacred in Islam religion.

Fasting in Turkey

Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires the refraining from drinking water, eating food, smoking and sexual intercourse from dawn untill sunset. Besides being obligated to fast it also helps to improve your self-control and give a chance to emphatize with people on the edge of starving.

Whether religious or not a large part of Turks fasting during the Ramadan month therefore restaurants,cafes are less crowded and even some closed during the day time. The ones who are not fasting are quiet respectfull to the fasting ones and avoid to eat,drink or smoke near them.

Sahur and iftar are the terms that show the eating times for the people. These times change according to location of the people and declared by the authorities. Sahur is the name of meal that eaten before dawn, Fasting starts with Sahur meal and lasts with iftar. iftar is the name of meal to finish your Daily fast. A centuries old tradition, in which the drummers walk in the streets beat their drum and shout the nice poems to wake up the people both before Sahur and Iftar meals, is still alive in most of the towns and an interesting experience for the first timers but it can be also irritating to wake up in the night  for the people who are not fasting.

Ramadan and Fasting lasts in 29-30 days and right after the month of Ramadan lasts, Ramazan Bayrami /Seker Bayrami ( Feast of Ramadan/ Candy Feast) is held for 3-4 days and this feast is an Official National Holiday when the governments offices, banks, schools etc. are closed.

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