{"id":61101,"date":"2026-04-06T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/the-fascinating-story-of-ritual-foods-from-the-world-and-turkiye\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T15:27:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T12:27:57","slug":"ritual-foods-the-world-gastronomy-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/ritual-foods-the-world-gastronomy-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The fascinating story of ritual foods from the world and T\u00fcrkiye"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Why are ritual foods important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In traditional agrarian societies, the appearance of specific foods at certain times was closely linked to harvest seasons and the natural balance of scarcity and abundance created by seasonal cycles. In the modern and postmodern era, however, producing these foods only at particular times creates an artificial rarity that fosters psychological anticipation, a sense of community, and a form of ritualistic satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foods prepared only on specific days or months of the year, or at certain stages of the human life cycle, move beyond being ordinary objects of consumption and become symbols that help shape identity. The sight of the white foam on \u201ckerebi\u00e7\u201d (a semolina dessert from Mersin filled with pistachios) appearing on market stalls, the smell of \u201cmahlep\u201d (an aromatic spice made from the kernel of wild cherry seeds) rising from Easter bread, the arrival of \u201c\u015faklak\u201d (a traditional pastry prepared for special occasions) in \u0130zmit bakeries, or in Japan, the steam of \u201cToshikoshi soba\u201d (buckwheat noodles) mingling with the hot broth of \u201cdashi\u201d (a traditional Japanese soup stock) at midnight; all of these become associated with moments such as the reopening of schools, nature awakening from its winter sleep, or the start of a period of spiritual cleansing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The gastronomy of faith and life cycles in Anatolia and the Islamic world<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"An
An iftar table prepared during Ramadan, with pita bread and various dishes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The geography of Anatolia features a unique culinary landscape that reflects its thousands of years of multicultural history, Islamic rituals, ancient Mesopotamian traditions, and nomadic practices brought from Central Asia into a vibrant melting pot. In this region, foods associated with specific times are clearly categorized based on the religious calendar, namely the Hijri calendar, which is lunar-based, the agricultural calendar, which is solar-based, and the biological life cycle of human beings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The table of Ramadan<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"An
An iftar table prepared during Ramadan, with Ramadan pita bread shared among diners<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The month of Ramadan marks the period when the culture of communal dining reaches its peak across the Islamic world, as people gather around \u201ciftar\u201d (the evening meal that breaks the fast) and \u201csahur\u201d (the pre-dawn meal before fasting). During this month, a vast gastronomic economy and culinary tradition develop, leading to the creation of special foods for these thirty days, from the kitchens of the Ottoman palace to local bakeries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most recognizable symbols of Ramadan are \u201cRamadan pita bread\u201d (a soft, round leavened bread) and \u201cg\u00fclla\u00e7\u201d. G\u00fclla\u00e7 is a dessert made from starch, rose water, and milk, layered delicately in translucent sheets that are easy to digest. G\u00fclla\u00e7 was created during the Ottoman period as a practical sweet, designed so that an empty stomach all day wouldn’t be overwhelmed by heavy syrup-soaked desserts. Meanwhile, warm Ramadan pita bread draws long lines outside bakeries, loved for its fluffy texture and flavor. However, the culinary richness of Ramadan goes far beyond these two symbols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the local level, Ramadan rituals include more specific and unique specialties. In the Bergama district of \u0130zmir, \u201cz\u00fclbiye\u201d (a deep-fried, syrup-soaked dessert traditionally made only during Ramadan) clearly exemplifies local identity and historical continuity. According to local stories, the dessert was brought to Bergama in the nineteenth century by a confectioner who had served as a soldier in Damascus during the Ottoman period. With minor changes, the recipe was passed down through generations and eventually became a Ramadan tradition in Bergama. Crafted through hours of meticulous work, with the dough shaped from after sahur until iftar, Z\u00fclbiye appears in the shop windows of confectioners whose craft has been passed from grandfather to grandson. When it does, it becomes one of the most striking visual and sensory signs that Ramadan has arrived in Bergama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kerebi\u00e7
Kerebi\u00e7 dessert served with a foam made from \u00e7\u00f6ven (soapwort root)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When you go down to the southern coast, you encounter kerebi\u00e7. In the past, kerebi\u00e7 was sold only during Ramadan from small, mobile glass display carts on wheels. The cookie itself has a heavy semolina dough and a filling of walnuts or pistachios. What makes this dessert truly remarkable, however, is the snow-white, cream-like foam served alongside it. This foam is a vegan meringue that contains no animal products; it is made by boiling the roots of \u00e7\u00f6ven for hours and then vigorously whipping the resulting liquid. The saponin compounds naturally present in \u00e7\u00f6ven make this unique and stable foam possible. Although kerebi\u00e7 can now be found in shops year-round, it still lives in public memory as a Ramadan dessert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Marmara region, especially in Istanbul and many other cities, a leavened flat dough dessert called \u201cyass\u0131 kaday\u0131f\u201d or \u201cta\u015f kaday\u0131f\u201d (a flat fried dough soaked in syrup), which is available year-round, also appears in the \u0130zmit area. In local pastry shops there, however, it is made only during Ramadan and sold under the special name \u201c\u015faklak.\u201d This difference in naming and timing clearly shows how a nationally recognized food can become part of a local tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further east along the Mediterranean, around Osmaniye and Adana, another seasonal specialty emerges with the arrival of Ramadan: \u201cRamazan g\u00fcl\u00fc\u201d. This tender dough, prepared with milk, water, dry yeast, salt, and sugar, is dipped in watered-down \u201cpekmez\u201d (grape molasses commonly used in Anatolian cuisine) before baking, which gives it a rich golden color. Likewise, in the Gaziantep region, \u201cAntep Ramazan kahkesi\u201d (a ring-shaped pastry flavored with spices such as mahlep and fennel) and \u201cdolmal\u0131k ekmek\u201d (a special bread served alongside stuffed bulgur dishes) are baked in local ovens only on certain days of Ramadan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shared feasts and traditions of togetherness during religious holidays<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"A
A table set with various Anatolian dishes and ke\u015fkek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The two main holidays on the Islamic calendar mark times when the tradition of shared meals goes beyond the family table to become a community celebration. On the first morning of \u201cEid al Adha\u201d meat from the sacrificial animal is cooked right after the morning prayer to make \u201ckavurma\u201d (a traditional dish made by saut\u00e9ing freshly cut meat in its own fat) for breakfast. Although this practice goes against the usual rule that meat should rest before cooking, its social purpose is deeper: to immediately share the abundance of the sacrifice with family members and celebrate the acceptance of the offering to God through a moment of immediate physical nourishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During Eid al-Fitr, the Islamic festival that marks the end of Ramadan, homemade \u201cbaklava\u201d serves as a national standard. However, regional practices reveal an extraordinary level of labor and dedication. In the Gaziantep region, the dish known as \u201cyuvalama\u201d is served on the morning of the holiday, not as an ordinary soup or meal but as an unwritten tradition. Days before the celebration, neighbors gather to roll dough made of rice flour, lean minced meat, and black pepper into chickpea-sized balls, a process that can take hours. Cooked with meat, chickpeas, and strained yogurt, yuvalama is served to the entire family on holiday morning, honoring this collective effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Hatay, another festive specialty prepared in large trays during Eid al-Fitr is \u201ck\u00f6mbe,\u201d representing the height of holiday hospitality. The dough is flavored with a distinctive spice blend called \u201ck\u00f6mbe baharat\u0131\u201d (a mixture typically including mahlep (kind of cherry), nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and mastic) and shaped in carved wooden molds before baking. Due to its dense spice content and low moisture, it can stay fresh for months when stored in glass jars. Similarly, in Tarsus and surrounding areas, an aromatic pastry known as \u201ck\u00fcl\u00e7e\u201d or \u201c\u015fumum\u201d (a spiced festive bread topped with nigella seeds, sesame, and anise) is made during the holidays, fitting into the same category of long-lasting, richly spiced festive treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to taste Gaziantep\u2019s yuvalama fresh on the morning of the holiday, you can book a Gaziantep flight<\/a> or explore Hatay\u2019s spicy k\u00f6mbe on-site by securing a Hatay flight<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gastronomy of life cycles and rites of passage<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The concept of \u201cRites of Passage,\u201d formulated by anthropologist Arnold van Gennep, refers to key moments when an individual\u2019s status within society changes, such as birth, adolescence, marriage, and death. Cultures in Anatolia and the Middle East have linked these important threshold moments directly to specific foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrating birth: From Lohusa sherbet to meghleh<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Lohusa
Lohusa sherbet made with cornelian cherries<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLohusa sherbet,\u201d known in almost every region of T\u00fcrkiye, is a crimson drink prepared with cornelian cherry sugar, cinnamon, clove, and galangal, offered to mothers after childbirth. In Lebanon and across the Middle East, \u201cmeghleh,\u201d a vegan pudding made with rice flour, anise, cinnamon, and cumin, is traditionally prepared after a birth, with its surface decorated with hazelnuts and pistachios. The spices help the mother regain her energy; serving this dessert becomes one of the sweetest ways for a community to celebrate a birth together. Among the Tatar Turks, meanwhile, \u201cg\u00f6bete\u201d is handed out to people after childbirth; this rich, layered b\u00f6rek made with dough and meat marks a celebratory feast that welcomes the new life into the community while honoring the mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The projection of growth, marriage, and loss on the dinner table<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Traditional
Traditional halva served on a white plate, decorated with whole walnut kernels and pistachios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The appearance of a baby\u2019s first tooth is celebrated in Anatolia with a special ceremony called \u201cDi\u015f Bu\u011fday\u0131\u201d or \u201cDi\u015f Gedi\u011fi.\u201d A sweet dish made with boiled wheat, pomegranate seeds, walnuts, and sugar is prepared; a coin hidden inside is believed to bring good luck. The appearance of the tooth marks a tangible celebration of the baby\u2019s transition to solid food and the increasing likelihood of survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In wedding rituals, ke\u015fkek is a common dish throughout Anatolia. Wheat and meat are pounded for hours with wooden mallets until they reach a paste-like texture.\u00a0This communal preparation process highlights both the villagers’ physical strength and their community spirit. The Ke\u015fkek tradition, listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is one of the most notable examples of how food can serve as a social bond. If you’re interested in other items on the list, you can read the article<\/a> we prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In death rituals, the most well-known food in Anatolia is semolina or flour \u201chalva\u201d (a roasted sweet dessert). The slow roasting process of halva is seen as a physical reflection of the mourning process. In the Aegean Region, especially around Bodrum, \u201clokma\u201d (deep-fried dough fritters soaked in syrup) is handed out to everyone on the street. In this custom, the person who eats lokma is expected to pray for the deceased\u2019s soul. Today, this practice has also become part of popular culture; lokma is given out after the passing of very famous stars, scientists, and even fictional characters. If you\u2019re interested in learning more, you can read our article<\/a> on the journey of T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s lokma dessert and the famous figures for whom lokma has been distributed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mardin\u2019s sacred bun: Kili\u00e7e and an interfaith gastronomic bridge<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Kili\u00e7e bun, prepared in Mardin Syriac cuisine, is a food deeply rooted in the Christian community’s traditions. It serves both as a condolence offering after a death and as a celebration of new beginnings during Easter and engagement ceremonies. The dough contains exactly twelve spices: cinnamon, mahlep, ginger, clove, star anise, fennel, nutmeg, allspice, among others, carefully selected rather than picked at random. The complex harmony of these spices symbolizes the bitter, sweet, tangy, and sharp cycles of human life, the apostles of Jesus, the resurrection, and eternal life. Today, even though the date and almond versions are baked year-round for commercial sale, the true essence of Kili\u00e7e is found in the homemade versions shared with neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The olfactory memory of sacred months and religious nights: From A\u015fure to kandil simidi<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"A\u015fure
A\u015fure dessert prepared during the month of Muharram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Certain months and nights in the Islamic calendar are closely associated with specific aromas and flavors. \u201cA\u015fure\u201d (a traditional dessert made by boiling grains, legumes, and dried fruits together), prepared during the month of \u201cmuharram\u201d (the first month of the Islamic calendar), is a sweet symbol of salvation and rebirth whose roots trace back to the story of Noah\u2019s Flood. It is made by boiling the last remaining provisions on the ark in a single pot, using ingredients such as wheat, chickpeas, beans, figs, apricots, and pomegranates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a gastronomic and sociological perspective, the most fascinating aspect of a\u015fure lies in how agricultural products with completely contrasting characters can come together in a single pot without dissolving into one another; each preserves its own form and distinctive flavor while still maintaining a harmonious sweetness that never overwhelms the others. This quality is one of the most remarkable expressions of coexistence and multicultural life in Anatolia. In the Alaouite-Bektashi belief tradition, meanwhile, \u201cH\u0131z\u0131r lokmas\u0131\u201d (a fried dough pastry distributed after the H\u0131z\u0131r fast or during the month of H\u0131z\u0131r) is shared with neighbors; it enhances the spirit of sharing and the belief in H\u0131z\u0131r, the figure believed to come to the aid of those in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On kandil nights, (blessed nights per Islam) the aroma of mahaleb rising from bakeries forms the foundation of the kandil simidi (bagel) tradition. Savory simit rings prepared with sesame or nigella seeds are distributed to those in need on kandil nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Christian holidays and Europe\u2019s ritual foods<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Golden-brown
Golden-brown risen cake served on a wooden stand, decorated with fresh sour cherries and powdered sugar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Christian calendar revolves around the life cycle of Jesus. Christmas (the Nativity), Easter (the Resurrection), and the period of great fasting that precedes them, known as Lent, form the backbone of these rituals. This theological foundation has inspired a rich tradition of time-specific baking and confections across Europe. The restrictions during periods of religious fasting, followed by times of renewed freedom, led to the development of special recipes that pushed culinary chemistry to remarkable heights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winter solstice, Christmas, and New Year breads<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Sliced
Sliced panettone cake with a tender texture, filled with colorful candied fruits and raisins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Christmas celebrations overlap with the winter solstice, the time when days are shortest and darkest, and temperatures often drop below freezing. In these tough geographic and climatic conditions, the foods eaten to nourish the body and lift spirits are high in calories and energy; loaded with butter, packed with dried fruits, and scented with imported, costly spices. In medieval Europe, spices and sugar were among the rarest status symbols to acquire, which is why these valuable ingredients were reserved for the most important religious event of the year, the birth of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In northern Italy, Panettone, a gift from Milan, can be described as the domed centerpiece of the Christmas table. This exceptionally fluffy sweet bread, which takes days to ferment and is filled with raisins, candied citrus peels, and butter, symbolizes abundance and prosperity for the upcoming year. The lengthy preparation process itself signifies the effort and patience dedicated to the tradition. Verona\u2019s answer, Pandoro, is an eight-pointed star-shaped cake, without fruit, rich in butter, and coated with vanilla powdered sugar. Its sharp, sugar-covered peaks resemble the snowy summits of the Alps during the Christmas season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of Germany\u2019s Christmas tradition is Stollen, a dense fruit bread packed with nuts, spices, and dried fruits, with a thick cylinder of almond paste, marzipan, at its center. The heavy layer of powdered sugar covering the Stollen and its elliptical shape symbolize baby Jesus, Christkind, wrapped in swaddling cloth; this visual metaphor revives a deep theological story that has been part of the German Christmas table for centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In France, the crown of Christmas sweets goes to the B\u00fbche de No\u00ebl. This rolled cake, made with chocolate sponge, cream, and chocolate ganache, is shaped like a tree log. Its origins date back to the \u201cYule Log,\u201d burned for days in ancient Celtic and Germanic winter solstice rituals; the cake is an elegant adaptation of that tradition for modern homes without fireplaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Netherlands and Germany, Spekulatius, a thin and very crispy biscuit flavored with cinnamon and clove, is part of the Saint Nicholas Day celebrations in early December. These cookies, often embossed with windmills or Saint Nicholas figures, are small but rich in flavor, adding the warming taste of spices to the winter table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To visit a Panettone master\u2019s workshop in Milan, taste warm Stollen at Germany\u2019s Christmas markets, or try a B\u00fbche de No\u00ebl in Paris, you can book flights to Milan<\/a>, Frankfurt,<\/a> or Paris.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus Halva of Antakya: An interfaith synthesis<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In Hatay, one of the ancient cities of the Eastern Mediterranean, especially in Antakya, Samanda\u011f, and Mersin, \u201c\u0130sa Helvas\u0131,\u201d Jesus Halva \/ Halavet Jesus, is prepared at home by Orthodox Christians during Christmas celebrations, showcasing a unique cultural practice. Its traditional recipe primarily uses flour and molasses, although today semolina and sugar are also common ingredients. Flavored with nutmeg, mastic, and roasted walnuts, and shaped by hand, this halva is a key dessert on the festive tables set after the Christmas fast, which begins on November 15 and concludes on the evening of December 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus Halva exemplifies how fluid cultural boundaries can be within Anatolian cuisine. The long roasting of flour, combined with tahini and molasses, two staples of Middle Eastern culinary tradition, reveals how the region blends Islamic funeral and kandil food rituals with the influences of Arab culinary culture within a Christian context. A similar cultural permeability is evident in ki\u015fk soup, another Christmas table staple. Usually prepared in Arab Alaouite cuisine, this soup has become part of the Christmas tradition among the Orthodox community of Samanda\u011f, reflecting Hatay\u2019s layered culinary heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Easter, Carnival, and Clean Monday: The cuisine of purification and exuberance<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Easter
Easter eggs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Easter coincides with nature\u2019s awakening from winter and the arrival of spring. Easter bread, \u201cTsoureki\u201d (a sweet braided bread flavored with mahlep and mastic), has a milky, yeasted texture that pulls apart into soft strands, releasing the distinctly refreshing aroma of mahlep and mastic. The braided shape of the dough symbolizes the Holy Trinity in Christianity\u2014the inseparable unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Easter eggs dyed red represent the blood of Jesus on the cross; the cracking shells and the emerging life evoke the idea of resurrection. The tradition of dyeing eggs dates back much further, to Nevruz, an ancient Asian spring festival; Christianity later incorporated this spring ritual into its own theology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In northern Europe, carnival celebrations taking place in the last days before the great fast of Lent become occasions for consuming large amounts of fatty and sugary foods, meant to load the body with calories before the fast begins. In Sweden, the traditional Semla dessert eaten on \u201cFettisdagen,\u201d the last day before the forty-day fast, is one of the most refined ways to celebrate this tradition. The top of a cardamom-flavored round bun is cut off, and its inside is hollowed out; the removed crumbs are mixed with almond paste and milk, then put back into the bun, finished with plenty of whipped cream, and topped with powdered sugar. Its goal is to store energy the body will need before the fast starts. In Germany, especially in the Rhineland and during the Cologne Carnival, sweet pastries called Muzemandeln, made with almond flour, shaped like drops or almonds, deep-fried, and dusted with powdered sugar, are eaten in large amounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece\u2019s once-a-year bread: Lagana and the Clean Monday ritual<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"The
The special flatbread called Lagana<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Greece, the first day of the forty-day Great Lent that leads up to Orthodox Easter is called \u201cKathari Deftera\u201d (Clean Monday). It is an official holiday in Greece, celebrated with traditions like heading outdoors, flying kites, and having picnics. Orthodox fasting rules are very strict; during this forty-day period, people do not eat meat, dairy products, eggs, or blooded fish. Only bloodless seafood such as octopus, squid, and shrimp are allowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The undisputed culinary symbol of the Clean Monday ritual is the special flatbread known as lagana. Lagana is a ritual fasting bread produced in bakeries across Greece only once a year, exclusively on Clean Monday. Although it resembles focaccia, it contains no dairy products. As a traditional binder, tahini or olive oil is added, and deep indentations are pressed into the surface with fingertips. To ensure that its most distinctive visual feature, the generous sesame coating, adheres well to the bread, the surface is brushed with a mixture of corn starch and water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emerging from the oven golden in color, crispy on the outside and soft inside, lagana is one of the main foods shared at Clean Monday picnic tables alongside \u201ctarama\u201d (a fish roe spread), olives, olive oil-stuffed grape leaves, seafood, and semolina halva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To experience the unique atmosphere of Clean Monday and taste lagana bread at a Greek picnic table, you can book a <\/span>flight to Athens<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Asia\u2019s lunar cycles, homophonic tables, and harvest festivals<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Asian cultures, especially in China and Japan, foods associated with specific moments in time are chosen and consumed not only for their flavors or nutritional value; they are selected with care because of the linguistic connections in their names, the wordplay they create, and the philosophical meanings conveyed by their geometric forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese Lunar New Year and the magic of homophonic gastronomy<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Traditional
Traditional Chinese New Year table decorated with red envelopes and festive ornaments, featuring fish, shrimp, dumplings, and various desserts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Chinese Lunar New Year, also called the Spring Festival, marks the largest human migration in Asia and ends with a big family reunion dinner on the final night of the year. In Chinese philosophy, family gatherings are seen as the foundation of universal harmony. Every ingredient on the festive table carries a special ritual meaning, often based on words that sound alike. A whole fish lightly steamed with ginger and fresh scallions is the undeniable centerpiece of the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Chinese, the word for fish, \u201cYu\u201d (\u9c7c), sounds exactly the same as the word \u201cYu\u201d (\u4f59), which means abundance, surplus, and leftover wealth. More specifically, even the type of fish eaten can change the message. The first syllable of \u201cJiy\u00fa,\u201d a type of carp, sounds like \u201cJ\u00ed,\u201d meaning good fortune, while \u201cNi\u00e1ny\u00fa,\u201d the word for catfish, echoes the phrase \u201cNi\u00e1n y\u00fa,\u201d meaning surplus year after year. Serving the fish whole, with head and tail intact, symbolizes consistent prosperity throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chicken, like fish, is cooked and served whole. In Chinese, the pronunciation of the word for chicken sounds similar to words associated with good luck and prosperity. Having the whole chicken on the family table symbolizes the unity of the family. In line with ancestor reverence traditions, this whole chicken also shows respect to past generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nian Gao is a cake made from gluten-free glutinous rice flour, brown sugar, chestnuts, and lotus leaves. Its name in Chinese means \u201crising higher year after year.\u201d It symbolizes children growing physically, career progress, and business expansion. Tang Yuan, on the other hand, refers to round rice balls filled with black sesame paste or red bean pur\u00e9e, served in warm, sweet ginger syrup\u2014especially eaten on the fifteenth day of New Year celebrations. The round shape of this dessert and its Chinese pronunciation symbolize family reunion and the completion of all things in perfect circular harmony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mid-Autumn Festival and Mooncakes<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Golden
Golden Chinese mooncake stamped with traditional patterns, resting on a wooden base<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another important event in the Chinese calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a deeply rooted autumn harvest celebration held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, when the moon appears in the sky at its brightest, largest, and most perfect full form. The festival is based on the legend of the mythological Moon Goddess Chang\u2019e and features nighttime gatherings where lanterns are lit and the full moon is admired. The main gastronomic highlight of this festival is the Mooncake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mooncake is a dense, rich, and highly calorie-dense pastry shaped with intricately carved wooden molds, brushed with egg yolk, and baked to a glossy finish. Its filling is traditionally made with lotus paste or sweet red bean paste. In the most luxurious versions, a salted duck egg yolk is placed at the center so that when the cake is cut, it resembles a perfect full moon. This round, sweet treat is divided into pieces and shared among family members, symbolizing unity and reunion. Today, among younger generations, modern variations such as \u201cSnow Skin Mooncake,\u201d made with mochi dough, unbaked, colorful, filled with ice cream or mango, and served cold, have become very popular; yet the dessert\u2019s cultural significance remains unmatched within Asian cuisine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To experience the excitement of the Spring Festival firsthand and see China\u2019s homophonic table yourself, you can book a flight to China<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan\u2019s seasonal calendar and the New Year table<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Japanese culinary culture is closely connected to seasonality and the transient changes of nature. In Japan, foods served during the New Year reflect the purification rituals of Shinto beliefs, and each item on the table has a highly specific symbolic meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toshikoshi Soba: The noodles that must be cut before midnight<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Noodles
Noodles served in a black bowl, topped with crispy tempura shrimp and fresh scallions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On New Year\u2019s Eve, as temple bells ring near midnight to mark the end of the year, the Japanese eat Toshikoshi Soba, long buckwheat noodles. Served either in hot dashi broth or chilled, their remarkable length symbolizes a healthy, long life. Even more significant is the delicate structure of buckwheat dough, which is much more brittle and easily broken than other noodles. This ability to snap easily represents cutting away, like a knife, from the hardships, bad luck, debts, and misfortunes of the past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sakura Mochi: Tasting the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Two
Two pink sakura mochi sweets wrapped in pickled cherry leaves, with cherry blossoms alongside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During the Sakura season, which marks the arrival of spring and the awakening of nature, the Japanese spread mats beneath the trees and enjoy flower-viewing picnics. During this short and fleeting period of beauty, Sakura Mochi is a delicate sweet made by filling pink-colored rice dough with sweet red bean paste. This refined dessert is wrapped in a real, edible cherry tree leaf that has been pickled and fermented in lightly salted water. The sweetness inside the dessert offers a perfect contrast to the salty and slightly astringent aroma of the leaf on the outside; together, they evoke the fleeting beauty of spring, allowing the palate to experience \u201cmono no aware,\u201d the central concept of Japanese aesthetics that expresses the melancholic beauty of impermanence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To taste mochi beneath cherry blossoms during Sakura season or enjoy a warm bowl of Toshikoshi Soba at New Year, you can book a flight to Tokyo<\/a> or Osaka<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bread of the Dead: a legacy from the Aztecs<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Traditional
Traditional Mexican bread of the dead, decorated with bone-shaped pieces of dough and coated with powdered sugar, with orange flowers in the background<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Mexican culture, the Day of the Dead, celebrated with great enthusiasm each year on November 1 and 2, sharply contrasts with the Western world\u2019s tendency to fear and hide death. In Mexico, death is not seen as an end or as darkness, but as a natural and essential part of the life cycle. The most iconic and revered element of this celebration, including the multi-tiered altars decorated with marigolds placed in homes to honor ancestors, is the sweet pastry known as Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The historical roots of Pan de Muerto reflect a remarkable blending between indigenous Aztec beliefs from the pre-Columbian era and Catholicism brought by Spanish colonizers, two belief systems merging to form a new tradition. In ancient Aztec belief, rituals to thank agricultural gods for a good harvest involved human sacrifice. When Spanish Catholic priests arrived in Mexico in the 16th century, they took a decisive step to stop this practice and began baking leavened wheat breads symbolizing the heart of the sacrificed victim, covered with red-colored sugar meant to evoke fresh blood. Over time, this origin developed into a gentle bread of remembrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the visual and flavor characteristics of modern Pan de Muerto, emerging from bakeries, are entirely rooted in symbolism. The bread is baked in a domed shape; this round form represents the wholeness of the universe and the cycle of life and death. The thin, raised strips of dough placed crosswise on top of the bread symbolize the bones of the deceased and the tears shed for them. The small, round piece of dough placed at the very top directly represents the skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dough is rich with eggs and butter and is especially flavored with orange blossom water, grated orange peel, and anise. According to belief, the citrus and anise aromas released from the freshly baked bread guide the spirits of ancestors arriving from Mictl\u00e1n, helping them find their way to the earthly altar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to try a slice of Pan de Muerto among the colorful altars of the Day of the Dead, you can book a <\/span>flight to Mexico City<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From z\u00fclbiye displayed in the Ramadan shop windows of Bergama to the anise-scented Pan de Muerto of Mexico; from Sweden\u2019s cardamom-rich Semla to Japan\u2019s delicate Toshikoshi Soba, these ritual foods all point to a shared truth: for centuries, people have measured time not only with calendars but also with their tables. Every culture has its own \u201cflavor clock,\u201d and that clock continues to tick quietly in the background, even in a modern food system where everything seems available at any moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe the true power of these foods is how they slow us down. As we breathe in the mahlep aroma of kandil simidi or dig into a warm Ramadan pita fresh from the oven, we pause briefly. These flavors act like time capsules; tasting them connects us to one of the most personal traditions inherited from our ancestors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Why are ritual foods important? In traditional agrarian societies, the appearance of specific foods at certain times was closely linked to harvest seasons and the natural balance of scarcity and abundance created by seasonal cycles. In the modern and postmodern era, however, producing these foods only at particular times creates an artificial rarity that fosters […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":61106,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[145,321,147],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-61101","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-destinations","8":"category-eating-drinking","9":"category-trip-ideas"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61101"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61140,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61101\/revisions\/61140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61106"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}