Ramadan in Turkey...?

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Totally Blunt

I suspect it changes from neighborhood to neighborhood. In certain religious neighborhoods people may look sideways at anyone eating outside during Ramadan, as it is considered inappropriate to flaunt eating in front ot fasting people. I have read that there have emerged some hardliners who warn people who eat. I am sure there are those who would be quite rude about it, too. Radical religious feelings are on the rise here, like everywhere on earth and I am not happy with it.

But all in all, restaurants are open, you can have lunch in your workplace, school, etc. and people donot care who fasts and who doesn't.

I don't know the expression you mention.

venu m

I met relatively few people in Turkey who fasted, but *many* people who went for the iftar meal. In Istanbul, Ramazan means traffic gets *very* busy around sunset as people rush home-- whether they've been fasting or not, iftar is a time to get together and chow down. Right after sunset, most businesses are "on pause," and it's hard to find a cab. It's kind of like having Thanksgiving every evening for a month! Restaurants seem to be a little slower during the day, but I saw very few that actually close. Fun fact: Burger King offers a fast food version of the traditional iftar meal. I never had the heart to try it-- I always held out for an invitation to one of my friends' homes.

pak1789

I am in Ankara, Turkey right now - I am working here as an exchange teacher this year. Hardly anyone I know is fasting. They still serve lunch at school and everyone eats. And people still eat and drink in restaurants during daylight hours.

anlarm

Ramadan looks quite well in Turkey. Of course you can eat in public places. Turkey is not Iran or S.Arabia. You could be from another religion or sick. Or if you are travelling you are excused.
Laylat ul Qadr (the night of Qadr) is a night for prayer not for mourning.

Tanju

Dear Vahe,

Would you please read it,
You can find lots of thing in that Ramadan in Turkiye;

The 30-day Islamic holy month of Ramazan (RAH-mah-zahn, called Ramadan in other countries) is a time of fasting, prayer and celebration. (Dates) It can also affect your travel plans.

FASTING...
Fasting means letting nothing pass the lips: no food, drink, chewing gum, tobacco smoke or, for the strictly observant, not even licking an envelope or postage stamp from sunrise to sunset. Observant Muslims also refrain from sexual intercourse during daylight in the holy month.

Most Muslims, whether strictly observant or not, use the holy month and the stricture of fasting to help them examine their lives, to remind themselves of virtues like charity, compassion and forgiveness, and to avoid vices like cupidity, selfishness and dishonesty.

Many Turks fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramazan. Restaurants are less busy at lunch, and there's even less Turkish tea in evidenceâ€”which is amazing.

If you're in Turkey during Ramazan, it's polite to refrain from eating and drinking in public during daylight hours. Rather, do it inside a restaurant, tea house, cafe (some of which will be operating, except in Konya), or other private or semi-private area.

Muslim restaurant and cafe staff, who may be fasting themselves, will understand if you are non-Muslim and will be happy to serve you. Some eateries may cover their windows with curtains so as not to distract those fasting by the sight of others eating.

FEASTING!
Ramazan is also a time of celebration, and after sunset the feasting begins with a ceremonial "break-fast" light meal called Iftar.

It always includes freshly-baked flat pide bread, and usually soup, pickled vegetables, olives and other easily-prepared edibles. Elaborate dinners are held later in the evening.

Strings of colored lights festoon trees and buildings, mosques are illuminated and crowded with worshippers.

A carnival atmosphere prevails with temporary booths selling religious books and paraphernalia, traditional snacks and stuff for the kids.

In the middle of the night drummers circulate through towns and villages to wake sleepers so they can prepare Sahur, the big early-morning meal to be eaten before the fast begins again at sunrise. They tend to make their noise around 02:30 and 03:00 am, and they make sure everyone hears them. If you don't want to awaken, have earplugs, close your hotel room windows, or both.

Many restaurants offer special banquet-like Ramazan menus at night.

Some restaurants which normally serve alcoholic beverages may refrain from doing so during the holy month, offering fruit juices and other drinks instead. It would be polite for you to observe this stricture if you are in an establishment where others are refraining from alcohol. (In some restaurants, alcohol service may resume after the evening's main meal is largely concluded.)

Non-Muslims are welcome and usually invited to join in the evening celebrations, which are great fun. Enjoy this special time!

Here are the dates for Ramazan, and here is how the holy month may affect your travel plans.

Ramazan is followed by the three-day holiday of Seker Bayrami. More...

Ref : http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/Religion/ramazan.html

Cheers

genÃ§ tÃ¼rk

Having the most tolerant population for a country with a muslim majority, Turkey is the place where you can eat during ramadan. Try doing this in Saudi.

hanibal

Yes we can eat. All restaurants are open.

We respect everyone that eats or not.

Don't you know that worship is personal.

What is ''laylat-ol-ghadr''? Is it mean '' night or day '' ???!!!

Ipek K

In Ramadan there is of course a difference; the people waiting at the bakeries to get fresh pitta bread- a specialty for Ramadan- which smells heavenly, traffic getting busy at ifthar- Ramadan dinner- time, families and relatives having each other as guests for ifthar and the great preparations of it in the kitchens- my mom for example becomes the best chef in town during this season :) -

There is a nice mysticism to it but other than that especially in big cities you don't notice a difference. People go to work, shopping, eating at restaurants etc.

I don't fast and never heard anybody objecting to it. I don't eat or drink outside in public areas not because I am banned to do but because of my respect to the ones who are fasting.

If you mean the Night of Ghadr- Kadir Gecesi, please note that that is the night that our holy book Qur'an has started to be declared to our Prophet and in our book, it is stated by God that that night is better and holier than 1000 months. So believers of Islam of course not mourn!!!- we celebrate and pray since we believe that our sins will be pardoned that holy night.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask ....:)

EDIT: ALANA, I am afraid you are going to sufficate in your own ignorance and hatred..

istanbul bogazi

This question is funny. And specially coming from you. Before you were writing long speeches as if you knew Turkey very well but now i see that you know nothing about Turkey.
first of all what is that laylat...? which language is it? I am not kidding i don't know really.
Second NOBODY can say anything about the other person's belief. Turkey is a secular country. Each one of us has different ideas, different beliefs.
People can eat in public places. They do everything they want. Don't worry about us you take care of yourself.

Alana: What you wrote is nonsense. You only show your ignorance.

Vahe: ok you asked your question you got your answers. Hope you are satisfied. I wish your researches will bring you more knowledge.

i think you got ur answer and Turkish users explained it to you very well. since they know very well what are they talking about

Ã‡etin

I watch HACÄ°VAT ve KARAGÃ–Z ,too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKQ4GRq8cyA
------
Hepimizin Ã¼zerinden "1"geÃ§ti!
geÃ§miÅŸ olsun!

ashley t

Everyone is free and can eat in every rastaurant.

Joannah

After Armenia Forever's video, I can't help but ask and the punchline or the wringer is? I've read most of your answers and I know you probably know the answer to this but I will give you the benefit of the doubt.

Turks have no opinion about people who don't fast unless they are devout as in all other Islamic countries or with conservative Muslim followers. Of course everyone has their own thoughts. Christians are ideally supposed to turn the other cheek and not turn children into child-soldiers right? But then again I'm sure it doesn't speak for the whole right?

God I hope this is an honest want-to-know question. There must be some good in some of you.

ipek

Why are you asking?Do you want to go? We can help you to show when you visit.

Irmak

Lol.

Nobody tell a person who doesn't fast: ''Why don't u fast Ramadan?'' ..Everyone is free and can eat in every rastaurant.

Ramadan looks like 'a family and pide month' for me :D

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