From Turkish Team( A Picture from Presentation Video)
Ramadan Month and Ramadan Festival in Turkey
— Ramazan month is fasting month. It means that people don’t eat and drink from early morning to evening.
— There are 74 million people living in Turkey and 99% of them are Muslims. Turkey live this religion since Ottoman Empire and before it. Muslims do some tasks for gaining the blessing of Allah (God). There are lots of things about it but today I will explain one of them “ Ramadan Festival”
— Ramadan Month and Festival aren’t about only Muslims but they are about all people living in Turkey so they are both part of the religion and culture.
— Ramadan Month is the most holly month for Muslims. We live this month 10 days earlier every year. For example this year July 20 is the first day of Ramadan Month so next year July 10 will be the first day for this holly day. What I mean to say that Ramadan Festival is changeable. Muslims live this month for every month during their lives. Because of that reason fasting time during day is changeable according to season. In summer it lasts about 14 hours but in winter less than this.
— In Ramadan Festival people don’t eat and drink during day but it is not enough. People who are fasting should be far from sin and do beneficial things to people around. It is a difficult process during the days but when you are free to eat and drink and to do Helal things( food and drinks or other behaviors that God give permission). You experience exciting time like festival every evening.
— People are on the streets until late hours and also shops are open until late hours.
— At night people get up to eat something. Its name is “Sahur”. By eating this night meal, people fast during the day.
— Ramadan Month is very important for everyone in Turkey. If someone isn’t fasting he is not eating in front of fasting people because of respect.
— Ramadan Month is also very social attitude. People invite their families, relatives and friends and they have very nice time while eating in the evening. ( After a fasting period at the end of the day)
— Especially in this month people who are angry with each other make peace by the help of other good people.
— In this month İftar Tents( places where some homeless or poor people eat at the end of the fasting day) are constructed in the centers of cities and towns. Not only the poor but also everybody eat there.
— They are strangers they don’t know each other but they sit together and eat with joy.
— On the last days of Ramadan month there is a very holly day. Its name is “ Kadir Night”. It was the starting of Quran which is the holly book of Muslims.
— At the end of the month people are both sad and happy. They are sad because it finished, they are happy because Ramadan Festival is coming very soon.
— After the last day of Ramadan month, it is Ramadan Festival.
— This Festival lasts during 3 days. On these days people visit their families, relatives and friends. Younger people kiss their elders’ hands and they give a hug to each other.
— There are lots of entertainment actions around the country during Ramadan Month and Ramadan Festival. One month and these three days are very enjoyable and meaningful for Muslims and other people living in Turkey.