Every year, a lot of festivals and ceremonies are held in Turkey. The most popular Turkish festivals are held in Turkey’s largest cities, such as Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara. Some festivals, like religious or traditional festivals, have a long history and date back hundreds of years. Despite the historical and cultural festivals of Turkey, there are some modern festivals in Turkey, some of which are one-time things and some of which are annual things.
Top 13 exciting Turkish festivals
In this article, we will name some of the best Turkish festivals attracting tourists worldwide yearly.
- Nowruz
- Eid Al – Fitr (Seker) and Ramadan Festival
- International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival
- Istanbul Tulip Festival
- Kurban Festivals
- Camel Wrestling Festival
- Mevlana Whirling Dervishes Festival
- Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Festival
- Mesir Paste Festival
- Folk Dance Festivals
- Cappadox Festival
- Istanbul Shopping Fest
- Turkish Republic Day
Nowruz (21 March)
Nowruz is the first day of the Persian New Year, and celebrations occur in all Middle Eastern countries, including Turkey. This celebration includes several days of ceremony, fireworks, dancing, greetings, parties, etc.
Although Turkey does not celebrate this occasion like its neighbor countries, it is still considered one of the most lavish celebrations among Kurds in Turkey and the community of Iranian immigrants. Nowruz in the Middle East is as important as Christmas in Christian culture and religion.
If you want to see the celebration of Nowruz and participate in this festival, In that case, you have to go to the Kurdish region of Turkey on 21 March or ask the Iranians in Turkey’s main cities about the location of the celebration and ceremony.
Eid Al – Fitr (Seker Festival) and Ramadan Festival
One of the main celebrations in Islam is Ramadan, a ceremony of fasting from dawn to sunset for a whole month. Turkey, a country with many Muslims, celebrates Ramadan’s end like a festival. The celebration of Ramadan’s closure is called Eid Al-Fitr and is a national holiday in Turkey’s calendar.
During Ramadan, some restaurants might close during the day or cover their salons as a sign of respect for the fasting people. Eid Al–Fitr is probably the most critical and typical holiday and Turkish festivals calendar, celebrating the country’s culture and religion.
Seker Bayrami is the last day of Ramadan, also known as the sugar holiday. Locals in Turkey spend this day at family reunions. On this national holiday, children receive gifts and surgeries from adults.
International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival
The International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival is an annual event held in the Aspendos Theatre, a Roman theatre in the ancient city of Aspendos that dates back more than 2000 years. The Turkish State Opera and Ballet arranges this festival, and every year, many performers from Turkey and other neighboring countries come to participate in it.
You can watch classical works like “Aida” or “The Rite of Spring” at this festival. You can also watch some newly produced shows. In the international Aspendos opera and ballet, you can explore a grand historical site and enjoy modern theaters while sitting in a Roman-style amphitheater.
Istanbul Tulip Festival
Tulips are considered the symbol of the Dutch community and the Netherlands. Still, you are probably unfamiliar with the fact that this beautiful plant was brought to Europe by the Turks during the Ottoman Empire. Turkey, especially Istanbul, is covered with tulips in various colors in March and April of every year.
In March and April, the landscapes of Istanbul are filled with blooming tulips that amaze every visitor. Tulips are an essential part of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire’s heritage. At Istanbul’s tulip festival, you will see other kinds of plants and flowers, as well as different colors and types of tulips that are together for harmony.
Kurban Festival
Kurban festival is another festival in Turkey that has a religious base. This holiday and festival are known as “the sacrifice holiday” and Kurban Bayrami. The sacrifice holiday is a Muslim holiday that every Muslim in every country will celebrate.
Some Muslims that have a better financial situation will sacrifice a goat or sheep on this day and give its meat to the poor or share among family members and Acquaintances.
Camel Wrestling Festival
Camel wrestling is another interesting festival with more than 2400 years of history. The tradition of watching camels fight and placing bets on them is similar to bullfighting in Spain and Cockfighting in India.
The camel wrestling festival occurs mainly in winter, from December to March. Although some might consider this festival an act of animal cruelty, many enthusiasts worldwide come to Turkey every year to watch camels wrestle and place bets on them.
Mevlana Whirling Dervishes Festival
Another famous festival in Turkey is the Mevlana Whirling Dervishes Festival, which happens in Konya city in November or December every year. This festival takes place in the home of Mevlana, a great Sufi saint, and thousands of Dervishes have accepted his beliefs and thoughts.
This festival celebrates Mevlana and is full of dance and music. Most of the people who come to this festival are not Sufis or followers of Mevlana, but they come to see the celebration and religious dances of dervishes in this magical place. Women should cover their heads when they come to this festival.
The timing of the Mevlana Whirling Dervishes Festival is based on Islam’s calendar and changes every year.
Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Festival
Oil wrestling is a more than 600-year-old traditional sport in Turkish culture. The tournament takes place in Edrine, a city northwest of Turkey. It has been a three-day festival in late June every year since the second half of the 14th century.
This is a competition where Pehlivans compete against each other for the championship. As it is clear from the title of this competition, this is a traditional Turkish sport in that the champions will cover their body with oil and wrestle.
Mesir Paste Festival
Another fun and exciting festival in Manisa, near Izmir, is the Mesir Paste Festival in Turkey. The timeframe of this festival is the first week of the Nowruz celebration. Mesir is a traditional Turkish sweet paste that belongs to the city of Manisa. This festival is one of the oldest festivals in Turkey.
Hafsa Sultan, mother of Suleiman the Magnificent, was cured of a disease by the invention of Mesir paste, a toffee paste. Then, Suleiman ordered the dissemination of the paste among the public. Mesir is a toffee-like paste made from 41 kinds of herbs, and it is believed that it has medical advantages.
Folk Dance and Music Festivals
One of the most exciting Turkish festivals is the Folk and Music Dance Festival, held every year from October 14 to 17. Istanbul is a metropolitan city with a mix of cultures that live together. This festival wants to celebrate the dance and music of all these cultures.
Turkey’s folk dance and music festivals allow you to learn about this magical country’s many cultures, beautiful traditional dances, and folk music.
Cappadox Festival
Cappadox Festival is another exciting festival in Turkey. It takes place in Cappadocia, which is full of attractions and is one of the most visited places in Turkey. It is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cappadox Festival is a festival about music, art, and gastronomy. It will meet all your needs for fun and excitement. At this festival, people light up hot air balloons. On nights of the festival, the sky of Cappadocia is filled with glowing air balloons. Outdoor concerts and loud music are other aspects of this marvelous festival that attract youth worldwide.
Istanbul shopping fest
Another exciting festival in Turkey is Istanbul’s shopping festival, which lasts 40 days and takes place in Istanbul. During this festival, shops, brands, and malls offer their best discounts, and you can find the products you are looking for at the best deal.
Istanbul is a shopaholic’s paradise. This city has modern and traditional shopping centers where you can find various products, from traditional handicrafts to luxurious brands. At Istanbul Shopping Fest, all these products are offered at less than the accurate price to customers.
Turkish Republic Day
Turkish Republic Day is a public holiday in Turkey. It is celebrated on a day that is a public holiday. The annual celebration takes place in all city areas and streets. The people of Turkey come together on the streets to mark the anniversary of Turkey’s Republic Day.
On this day, the streets of Turkey are full of happy people marching in the cities and shouting in honor of their freedom. They celebrate this occasion with music, dance, marching, and flags.
Final words about Turkey’s festivals
We tried to name the top exciting and enjoyable Turkish festivals that represent the culture and beauty of this glamorous country. If you are still wondering about the timing of your trip to Turkey, this article might help you with the selection process.
