New Year’s Day in Turkey
New Year’s Day is a holiday in Turkey.
When is New Year’s Day in Turkey
New Year’s Day is celebrated on 01, January, 2023 in Turkey.
About New Year’s Day in Turkey
New Year’s Day, or “Yılbaşı” in Turkish, is a national holiday in Turkey celebrated on January 1st. It is a time for families and friends to come together and celebrate the start of a new year.
In Turkey, New Year’s Eve is a big celebration with parties, fireworks, and traditional meals. Many people decorate their homes with festive lights, ornaments, and a New Year’s tree similar to a Christmas tree. The most popular food for the New Year’s Eve dinner is “kuru fasulye” (white beans) with meat, and “pilav” (rice). Many people also enjoy drinking “şerbet” (a traditional Turkish drink made with fruit juice and sugar syrup).
At midnight, people gather outside to watch fireworks and cheer as the new year begins. It is also a tradition to exchange gifts and wishes for good luck in the new year. Many people believe that wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve brings good luck and prosperity.
On New Year’s Day, people usually spend time with their families and go out to enjoy the holiday. Some people also visit friends and neighbors to exchange greetings and gifts. Many businesses and shops are closed on this day, but some restaurants and cafes remain open for those who want to celebrate outside of their homes.
Overall, New Year’s Day in Turkey is a time of joy, celebration, and hope for a happy and prosperous new year.
History of New Year’s Day in Turkey
New Year’s Day, or Yılbaşı in Turkish, is a relatively new holiday in Turkey. The holiday was not celebrated in Turkey until the 1920s, when the country underwent a period of modernization and secularization under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Prior to the 1920s, the Ottoman Empire celebrated the Islamic New Year, which is based on the lunar calendar and falls on a different date each year. However, Atatürk wanted to align Turkey with the Western world and adopt the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the solar year and is used by most of the world.
In 1926, Atatürk officially adopted the Gregorian calendar and declared January 1st as the new year. The holiday was initially celebrated only by the secular elite, but it gradually became more popular among the general population.
Today, New Year’s Day is a major holiday in Turkey, and it is celebrated with fireworks, parties, and family gatherings. Many people exchange gifts and decorate their homes with lights and ornaments, similar to the Western Christmas tradition. However, some conservative Muslims in Turkey still do not celebrate the holiday, as they view it as a Western import that has no place in Islamic culture.
How is New Year’s Day celebrated in Turkey
New Year’s Day, or Yılbaşı, is celebrated in Turkey with great joy and enthusiasm. Here are some of the common traditions and customs:
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New Year’s Eve Parties: People in Turkey celebrate the New Year’s Eve with parties, gatherings, and fireworks. They gather with their friends and family to welcome the New Year.
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Decorations: Houses, streets, and public places are decorated with lights, ornaments, and trees. The most common decoration is the New Year’s tree, which is similar to a Christmas tree.
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Gift-giving: People exchange gifts with their loved ones as a symbol of their love and affection. It is also common to give gifts to children.
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New Year’s Eve Dinner: On New Year’s Eve, people in Turkey prepare a special dinner with traditional dishes such as lamb, pilaf, and baklava.
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Fortune-telling: It is believed that the first visitor of the New Year brings good luck to the house. People also read their fortunes from coffee cups or tarot cards.
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New Year’s Resolutions: Like in many other countries, people in Turkey make New Year’s resolutions to improve their lives and achieve their goals.
Overall, New Year’s Day is a time of joy, hope, and new beginnings in Turkey.
