The Art of Meddah
Meddahlik, performed by a single story teller, is among the few traditional Turkish drama and theatre forms to have survived to the present. A Meddah, usually holding a cane and a handkerchief, tells stories through impersonations and animated scenes. Stories told are usually improvised depending on the political and social events of the period, as well as the profile of the audience. The Meddah taps the cane in his hand on the ground to produce sound effects during the course of the performance. The cane is also used to represent objects and creatures appearing in the story. Since the art of the Meddah is an oral tradition, few scripts of Meddah performances from the past have survived to today.
The art of the Meddah tradition was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.
Mevlevi Semah Ceremony
A form of Sufi ceremony, a Mevlevi Semah Ceremony symbolizes the path to God. Although the ceremony is today performed under detailed rules according to certain religious themes, it was practiced without any rules at the time of Mevlânâ Celâleddîn Rûmi. The rules of the ceremony took their final form during the period of Pir Adil Çelebi and have remained until today.
The Mevlevi Semah Ceremony is performed in accompany of Mevlevi music. A ceremony comprises the following sections: eulogy to the Prophet Mohammed, ney (reed flute) transition, overture, Devr-i Veledî, or Era of Sultan Veled (circumambulation), and four salutes. From start to end, the ceremony takes place with symbols bearing mystical meanings. Whirling represents watching Allah from all directions. Foot tapping expresses resisting to and struggling with the desires of the ego. Turning the palm of the left hand up and the right hand down means receiving abundance from Allah and distributing it to the world. The Mevlevi Semah Ceremony was inscribed in 2008 on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Âşıklık (Minstrelsy) Tradition
One of the arts where we can best see Anatolian cultural heritage is without doubt the âşıklık (minstrelsy) tradition. Those artists who can recite poems, tell stories and engage in oral duels of wit by sticking to the essentials of the tradition, often accompanied by the saz, a stringed musical instrument, are called âşık (minstrel) and the tradition itself is called âşıklık (minstrelsy). As a versatile and rich art, âşıklık reflects the daily living practices and ethical and aesthetic values of the period. Most known types of the âşıklık tradition are Atışma (Oral Duel of Wit) and Leb Değmez (No Touching of Lips), though they take different names from region to region. In Atışma, at least two âşıks try to outwit each other by uttering witticisms before the audience. In Leb Değmez, with a pin between their lips, the âşık recites poems without using certain letters of the alphabet.
The tradition of Âşıklık was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
Nevruz (Nowruz)
Also called Nevruz-i Sultan, Sultan Nevruz, Yılsrı, Navrız, Newroz, March Nine, Solstice and Noruz; Nevruz is celebrated in many regions from Central Asia to Anatolia, from the Caucasus to the Balkans and it is kind of a New Year celebration. Celebrated by rural communities engaged in farming and animal husbandry, and usually on March 21, Nevruz rituals express a wish for increased affluence and abundance. Regarded as the arrival of spring, Nevruz also symbolizes rebirth and expresses hopes and expectations for the future.
The oral culture and rituals of Anatolia have a significant place in Nevruz celebrations. Houses and streets are cleaned beforehand, and people participating in the celebrations wear clean clothes. The decorating of streets, flying kites, egg tapping games, and leaping over a bonfire are the most characteristic rituals of the Nevruz celebrations.
Nevruz was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
Karagöz
Also called the shadow theatre, Karagöz is a performance art wherein human, animal and inanimate object cutouts, attached to the tip of sticks, are animated on a screen usually made of water buffalo skin, on which a light is cast from behind.
Rumor has it that Karagöz and Hacivat, the principal characters of the show, were executed by the order of the Ottoman Sultan of the time, on the grounds that they disrupted the progress of the construction of a mosque. Later, a man named Sheikh Küşteri, seeing that the Sultan regretted his decision, hit upon the idea of animating the figures of Hacivat and Karagöz on a screen. It is believed that this incident is the beginning of the art of Karagöz. Those curious about this incident might enjoy the 2006 movie ‘Hacivat Karagöz Neden Öldürüldü?’ (Why Was Hacivat Karagöz Killed?), directed by Ezel Akay.
Karagöz is a comedic play based on the duel of wit and amusing dialogs between the characters on the screen. Karagöz, being a tactless and uneducated character, cannot understand, or else misunderstands what the other characters say, picking fights with them throughout the play. This makes the Karagöz show a highly entertaining traditional art.
Karagöz was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
Traditional Sohbet Meetings
The meetings attended by men for the purpose of social solidarity, usually during winter months, taking different shapes in different regions, are called Traditional Sohbet Meetings. The most popular types of such meetings, which take different shapes across many regions of Anatolian culture, are Yaren Teşkilatı (Society of Friends), Sıra Gecesi (Sira Night), Gezek (Meetings held monthly in a different home), Kürsübaşı Sohbeti (Rostrum Talk), Barana Sohbetleri (Barana Conversations), Cümbüş (Jamboree), Delikanlı Örgütü (Young Boys’ Organization), and Yaran Sohbeti (Friends’ Conversation). Attendees’ timely attendance and departure from these meetings, which are usually held on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, is a rule. Attended by men aged 15-16 and above, the meetings have always been a notable venue for conversation. Taking different names across the regions, the chief is tasked with directing the conversation, regulating intra-group relationships, and reminding attendees of the rules. At these meetings, folk dances, chamber games, music and eating play an important role.
Traditional Sohbet Meetings were included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival
Referred to as the ancestral sport of Türkiye, wrestling is at the same time one of the world’s oldest sports. Established in the 14th century, the Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival is still an annual fixture in Türkiye, and one of the oldest wrestling festivals in the world.
Lasting seven days, the Kırpınar Oil Wrestling Competition starts in July each year. The wrestlers wear leather tights called ‘kıspet’ and are oiled with olive oil in preparation for a match. The wrestlers compete on grass and the wrestler who defeats his rivals earns the title of Başpehlivan (Chief Wrestler). The Chief Wrestler is awarded a golden belt. If a wrestler wins the golden belt three times in succession, he becomes its permanent owner.
The person who invites wrestlers to the competition, organizes the staging of the festival in a traditional manner, and secures financial resources is called Kırkpınar Ağası (Chief of Kırkpınar). The Cazgır (Announcer) who introduces the wrestlers to spectators, Yağcı (Oiler) who assists with their oiling, and Peşkirci (Towel Holder) who provides towels to the wrestlers are key figures of the festival.
The Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
Semah, Alevi-Bektaşi Ritual
As a path to God, Alevi-Bektaşi Semah is performed in Cems (gatherings). Mystical and aesthetic body movements accompanied by words, folk poems and songs, usually accompanied on the saz (a stringed musical instrument), are the main elements of the ritual. The words, music and body movements, which vary from region to region, make Alevi-Bektaşi Semah one of the richest cultural heritages of Anatolia.
Semah usually comprises three main sections. The introduction section conducted with slower movements is called Ağırlama (Welcoming). The section where the Semah gains pace is called Yürüme (Walking) and the liveliest section is called Yeldirme (Wind Raising). Yeldirme is also the most difficult section of the Semah. After these sections, the Semah whirlers say prayers in front of a Dede, the person regarded as the spiritual leader. While prayers are said, all present raise their hands toward the sky and utter the oneness of Hakk, one of the names of Allah.
The Semah, Alevi-Bektaşi Ritual was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
Ceremonial Keşkek Tradition
One of the traditions that best portrays collective labor and sharing in Anatolian culture is the Ceremonial Keşkek Tradition. Although Keşkek is a meal eaten at homes and in restaurants, it is actually a ceremonial dish usually prepared by cooking wheat and meat together. It is usually cooked in cauldrons by a division of work. Meat and wheat are ground before cooking. This stage is quite lengthy and carried out collectively. During the preparation, the meal is constantly stirred with a certain rhythmic movement.
The reason why Keşkek is a ceremonial meal frequently served during circumcision and wedding ceremonies, such as the haj, religious festivities, the month of Muharrem, Islamic memorial services, charity events and the time of Hıdrellez, is that it takes the form of a collective production. Also, the scoops, mortars and pestles, cauldrons and other implements used in the preparation of ceremonial Keşkek are made of natural materials and stored together for many years of use.
The Ceremonial Keşkek Tradition was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011.
Mesir Macunu Festival
The annual Mesir Macunu (Mesir Paste) Festival held in the province of Manisa, Türkiye has 400 years of history. Held during the period of Nowruz, accepted in the Anatolian culture as the start of spring, the unique Mesir Macunu Festival boasts its own traditional practices and draws thousands of tourists every year.
Rumor has it that Hafsa Sultan, the mother of Suleiman the Magnificent, was taken ill in Manisa. The cause of her illness could not be identified. Merkez Efendi, the chief of doctors at the madrasah of Sultan Mosque, prepared a paste comprising 41 herbs, and upon taking the preparation Hafsa Sultan recovered from her illness. From that day on, by order of Hafsa Sultan, this paste began to be distributed annually to the people from the Sultan Mosque. This is believed to be the origin of the Mesir Macunu Festival.
The traditional preparation of the Mesir paste itself is also important. During its preparation, while blending black seeds, mustard seeds, coconut, cardamom, black pepper, clove, cumin, coriander, rhubarb, saffron, gum, cinnamon, vanilla, pimento, ginger, and many more herbs and spices, the chef gives detailed information on his technique, transferred from generation to generation down the centuries.
The Mesir Macunu Festival was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.
Turkish Coffee Culture and Tradition
Turkish coffee culture dates back to the 16th century. With the opening of the first coffee shops in İstanbul, Turkish coffee culture and tradition began to thrive. As the materials used in coffee brewing, such as coffeepot, coffee cup, grinder, and so on gained their own artistic value through engraving and embossing, they have become an important part of Turkish coffee culture.
With its unique flavor, grounds and foam, Turkish coffee is differentiated from other types. Served with chocolate, Turkish delight or rock candy, Turkish coffee is known for its lively flavor, freshness and prolonged taste on the palate.
It is also possible to perceive the thriving Turkish coffee culture in hospitality. Turkish coffee is drunk during important events such as the hosting of guests, on visits, at betrothal meetings, among others. The Turkish proverb “A cup of bitter coffee cultivates a memory of friendship for forty years” is among the frequently uttered adages in Turkish, which denotes that hospitality lasts a lifetime.
Turkish Coffee Culture and Tradition was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.
Ebru: Turkish Art of Ebru (Marbling)
The Turkish art of Ebru (marbling), the first samples of which appeared in Central Asia in the 13th century, entered Anatolian culture via Iran. During the Ottoman era, calligraphers developed the art of marbling to its present form.
Ebru is quite involved in technique and rather difficult to master. Defined as the art of making patterns with color pigments on water in a pan and transferring them to a paper, the art of Ebru requires special materials. Kitre, a kind of herbal gum, is used to thicken water in the pan. Color pigments are obtained by natural methods. Öd, or ox-gall, is used to help pigments disperse on the water. A number of types of the Turkish art of Ebru, such as gelgit, taraklı, hatip, bülbülyuvası and çiçekli, have evolved, particularly in Anatolian culture.
Ebru: The Turkish Art of Marbling was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014.
Traditional Craftsmanship of Çini-Making
Çini-making is an ancient tradition existing in Anatolia since the 12th century. Çini usually refers to household crockery made by firing and glazing clay and decorating the end product with various motifs and designs. Çini-making, which has many different techniques such as Minai, Polishing, Luster, among others, is a craft passed on in a master-apprentice relationship from generation to generation in Anatolia to this day.
In Çini embellishment, geometrical, animal and plant figures, which symbolize beliefs, are usually used. The lower part is embellished in dark blue or white, while the upper part in green, red, blue and turquoise. These characteristic colours of the traditional art of Çini-making are infused on a fired pottery or tile.
The traditional craftsmanship of Çini-making was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
Flatbread Making and Sharing Culture
One of the most delicious aspects of Turkish cuisine is that the breads served with the meal have an exceptional taste. Usually in round or oval form, these flatbreads have locally varying names. These flatbreads, called lavash, yufka, jupka, katyrma among many other names, have spread to a wide geography in Central Asia, Western Asia and Türkiye.
The culture of flatbread-making exhibits substantial diversity. In Türkiye, yufka is made from wheat flour without yeast and baked on sheet metal. Lavash, on the other hand, is made from wheat flour containing yeast and baked in a traditional earth or stone oven in the ground, known as a tandoori oven. Apart from daily consumption, flatbreads are baked on the occasion of special events such as religious festivities, Islamic memorial services, weddings and funerals, and possess a special significance. Flatbreads are made collectively during the festivities and people attending a memorial assist in the making of the bread. Hence, collective bread-making is a sound indicator of Anatolia’s sharing culture.
Flatbread Making and Sharing Culture was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
Spring Celebration: Hıdrellez
Being a common cultural heritage of Türkiye and Macedonia, Hıdrellez is the name given to the festivities held on May 6 every year to celebrate the re-awakening and renewal of nature. During Hıdrellez, oral storytelling, shows, rituals, festivities and social practices are conducted. These rituals and practices are related to the awakening of nature and performed to invite prosperity, fertility, health and happiness for the coming year.
As a tradition dating back thousands of years, Hıdrellez is celebrated in many cities of Türkiye and Macedonia and given great importance for its characteristic of uniting people.
Spring Celebration: Hıdrellez was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017.
Whistled Language
The communication system established by means of the whistle sound emitted by fingers and mouth to simulate and articulate words is called the whistled language. The whistled language, which is used especially by the people who live in houses far from each other on mountainous terrains in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Türkiye, is a good example of the creative solutions invented by human beings for the challenges of daily life.
Used by people living in the region to make daily life simpler, the whistled language is estimated to be used by over 10 thousand individuals. As one of the best demonstrations of the cognitive richness and cultural diversity in Türkiye, the whistled language is under the protection of both societies and governmental institutions. Added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List from Türkiye, this is probably one of the more original cultural elements to be found anywhere in the world.
The Whistled Language was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017.
Heritage of Dede Korkut: Epic Culture, Folk Tales and Music
Dede Korkut Culture, which has many forms including words of wisdom, parables, stories, musical narrations, and written works, is one of the well-established traditions survived today. Dede Korkut stories mostly rely on themes such as generosity, compassion, hospitality, courage, etc. These themes promote the social solidarity and the peaceful social life. The Heritage of Dede Korkut is one of the most important cultural values in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Türkiye.
The stories in the Dede Korkut culture have been passed on from generation to generation by varying methods. In the oral transmission, aşıks (minstrels), bards and meddahs (story tellers) play a role, while in the transmission of the social practices, women and children play an active role. However, although written sources have been used for the transmission of the culture, only 2 books survived today. These are Kitâb-ı Dedem Ḳorḳud Alâ Lisân-ı Tâife-i Oğuzân ve Hikâyet-i Oğuznâme, Kazan Beğ ve Gayrı. The culture of Dede Korkut is evident in many social practices involving special events such as child naming ceremonies, wedding ceremonies, and mourning ceremonies, among others, across a broad geography.
‘Heritage of Dede Korkut: Epic Culture, Folk Tales and Music’ was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018.
Traditional Turkish Archery
Traditional Turkish Archery is an important tradition in encompassing its own rules, practices and rituals that have evolved over the centuries. The equipment used in Traditional Turkish Archery is also made with time-tested methods. Those who teach the tradition are called ‘masters’, those who learn are referred to as ‘talip’ or ‘kepazakeş’, those who make the bow are known as ‘kemanger’, and those who make the arrow are called ‘tirger’.
Traditional Turkish archery is basically divided into two types, namely on-foot and on-horseback, which are also divided into sub-types of ‘kıgaç’, ‘tabla’, ‘puta’ and ‘menzil’ shooting. Horseback archery is a more challenging tradition that also requires balance as well as an understanding of the horse. In traditional Turkish archery, training sessions take the form of a festival.
Traditional Turkish Archery was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019.
Traditional Intelligence and Strategy Game: Mangala
Mangala, which has a place in both Ottoman and ancient Turkish culture, is a traditional game of intelligence and strategy. A tradition dating back hundreds of years, Mangala has many different names according to the region and the period in history. The most familiar names are ‘Köçürme’, ‘Kümelek’, ‘Dokuz Kuyu’, ‘Kuyulama’, ‘Yalak’, ‘Kale’, ‘Çakıldak’, ‘Çukur’, and ‘Hane’.
Mangala is a pleasurable game of intelligence which can be played by persons of any age. In Mangala, which can be played between two persons or two couples, players try to gather pellets put into pits on the ground or on the game board. The person or couple who gathers the most pellets wins the game. Still played in tournaments and festivals today thanks to the federations and clubs that keep the game alive, Mangala maintains its cultural status as an ancient intelligence game. Mangala is the only intelligence game inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Türkiye.
Traditional Intelligence and Strategy Game: Mangala was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.
The Art of Miniature
Miniature, which is among the most important branches of art in Ottoman culture, is a form of art where stories are depicted by the language of painting. Those who produce this art are called ‘nakkaş’, miniature artist, ‘müsavvir’ or ‘şebihnüvis’. The art of miniature is one of the most important cultural values included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Türkiye.
In the art of miniature, the nakkaş paints pictures on paper glazed with egg white. The organic dyes used are applied to the paper with feathers. The outlines of the figures are drawn with ink and the mid sections are colored with organic dyes that preserve their vividness for a long time.
The usual themes of miniature painting are accession to throne ceremonies, weddings, hunting scenes, and landscapes. These illustrations also contain elements from daily Ottoman life. In this sense, miniature illustrations have the attribute of a historical document.
The Art of Miniature was included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.
Stories knock at your door!
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