From May 13-15, the world will be observing the three-day holiday of Ramadan Bayram (also known as Eid al-Fitr). The holiday marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, during which devout Muslims fast for 30 days. Now is the perfect time to take a look at some uniquely Turkish traditions as they celebrate what is known as Şeker Bayram in Turkey.
You say shekel, I say shukr
Now, some may wonder why in Turkey, unlike anywhere else in the world, the Eid al-Fitr holiday is called “Şeker Bayram,” which translates to “sugar festival.” One might assume it’s because a large amount of candy and sweets are consumed, as most Turks have only had a limited amount of food for the last month. Of course, this is actually the largest communal fasting event in the world, as Muslims around the world fast from dawn to sunset during Ramadan. But in fact, the name “Şeker Bayram” for this holiday in Turkey is thought to be due to a mispronunciation. Yes, it is said that the holiday was originally called “Şukr Bayram,” or “the holiday of giving thanks.” According to Ottoman era expert Murat Bardakci, the two words “şükür,” meaning “thankful,” and “şeker,” meaning “thankful,” were spelled with the same letters in the Ottoman alphabet, which led to a misunderstanding of the meaning of the holiday over time. According to Bardakci, the term “şükür” was used to refer to the feeling of gratitude felt by people who had fulfilled their religious obligation to fast. Meanwhile, the late scholar Güngöl Urás argued that Eid al-Fitr in Turkey is called the “Sugar Festival” because of an Ottoman tradition in which on the 15th day of fasting, the palace would present trays of baklava to soldiers, who would then parade through the town on their way to their quarters to the delight of onlookers. The “sweet” reference is also relevant in that one of the most common customs surrounding the holiday of Ramadan is giving children pocket money to use to buy sweets. Regardless of what it was called, the term Şeker Bayramı stuck, symbolizing the importance of sweets in Turkey to this three-day holiday, a tradition that dates back to the Ottoman Empire. However, today it is widely accepted that the correct name for the holiday is Ramadan Bayramı.
Baklava is the most sought-after and most consumed dessert during Ramadan Bayram in Turkey. (AA Photo)
A holiday that means everything
In fact, Eid al-Fitr has many traditions that originated in the Ottoman Empire, some of which continue into modern times, while others have sadly fallen into disuse, but this year the holiday will be celebrated in a very non-traditional way, as it takes place amid the strictest lockdown since the pandemic began.
For any expats feeling stuck in Turkey this time of year, just think about how Turks are struggling without their usual traditions for what is literally a combined Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday in Turkey. Halloween refers to the enduring tradition of going from door to door in the neighborhood handing out candy to trick-or-treating children.
If the original name of the aforementioned holiday wasn’t enough evidence, the reason this holiday is reminiscent of Thanksgiving is due to its strong sense of gratitude and open practice of giving charity to those less fortunate. The best way for Westerners to understand the importance of this holiday today is to consider that it is one of the longest and most important holidays in Turkey, similar to Christmas in that it is traditionally spent with family and elders, sharing food and gifts, and dressing up in one’s finest attire.
This photo depicts the celebration of Ramadan Bayram during the Ottoman period. (Archive photo)
Ramadan traditions during the Ottoman Empire
Throughout history, the Ramadan holidays have been a time to gather around the table, visit neighbors and family, go for walks, and enjoy outdoor entertainment such as hajivat and karagöz, practices that are almost synonymous with this cherished time of year. Indeed, the need to curb the spread of the pandemic has unfortunately forced people indoors, and it is Turkey’s children who will suffer the most.
Not only children, but also the less fortunate cannot afford to miss out on the tradition of sharing a meal to break the fast. The meal to break the fast is an integral part of the traditions surrounding this month, a custom that dates back to the Ottoman Empire. In fact, during the Ottoman period, not only was everyone allowed to participate in the iftar, the meal to break the fast, but the host actually handed out small bags of silver or gold coins to less fortunate guests. This was once called “diş kirası”, which means teeth-losing in English. Another charitable tradition in the Ottoman Empire was when the wealthy would visit local markets to pay off the debts of strangers, who would then be recorded in a notebook as a common practice of giving credit to customers. The stranger whose debt was repaid would never know who had bestowed the kind act.
People pray at Selimiye Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan in Edirne, Turkey, on May 14, 2019. (Shutterstock Photo) The tradition of firing a cannon to signal the start of iftar (from the Anatolian Fortress, or Anadolu Hisari, in 1821) to break the fast was started by the Ottomans, who also traced back to the Ottomans the practice of walking through the streets at dusk beating drums to wake people from their sleep. Neighbors would knock on doors to hand out “pisi,” a delicious fried bread, and Ottoman sherbet, a tasty and healthy treat said to have been born as a result of Ramadan.
During the Ottoman Empire, the month of Ramadan and the subsequent holidays were celebrated with a carnival-like atmosphere, as evidenced by baklava parades and street performances by the Janissaries, the main elite unit of the Ottoman army. But Ramadan of old truly featured some much more beloved and exciting traditions.
In the courtyards of Istanbul’s largest mosques, such as Sultan Ahmet, Hagia Sophia and Eyup Sultan, exhibitions and fairs were held, with stalls selling anything imaginable. After evening prayers, there was also a show of flying coloured oil lamps, and decorative lanterns were hung between the minarets and the mosque courtyards. Children would go door to door with their oil lamps, reciting tongue twisters to ask for pocket money. This tradition later evolved into children being given candy when they knocked on doors.
During the Ottoman era, the sultan would personally begin Ramadan celebrations by kissing the hands of their mothers and handing out pocket money in decorative little bags to children. Another of the holiday’s most important traditions – kissing the hands of elders and placing them on one’s forehead – may have to be dropped this year. The tradition of visiting elders in one’s family will also have to be dropped this year. But as Ottoman-era customs prove, times change, and Turks have learned to adapt and remain grateful for all they have.
