Language
Turkish is the mother tongue of 90 percent of the population of the country. Some 70 other languages and dialects are also spoken, including various dialects of Caucasian and Kurdish as well as Arabic, Greek, Ladino and Armenian. The Turkish language of Turkey represents the southwestern arm of the community of Turkic languages within the Ural-Altay linguistic family that slowly evolved over time. Groups speaking these languages spread to the east and northeast out of Central Asia, and particularly to the west. Ever since the very earliest times, Turkish has influenced various dialects of Middle Persian, and turned the Caucasus and Anatolia away from the Indo-European group of languages. With the acceptance of Islam, Arabic on the one hand and Persian on the other had a clear influence on the Turkish language. Since the end of the 19th century such modern Turkic written languages as the Turkish of Turkey itself, Azerbaijan and Kazakh Turkish, based on Turkish dialects, have emerged. Of the 4,000 or so languages currently spoken in the world, Turkish ranks seventh in terms of numbers of speakers and area, being used by around 200 million people.
Culinary Culture
Turkish Cuisine, which in general consists of sauced dishes prepared with cereals, various vegetables and some meat, soups, cold dishes cooked with olive oil, pastry dishes and dishes made from wild vegetation has also produced a series of health foods such as pekmez, yogurt, bulgur etc. The eating habits which reflect the tastes changing from one location to the next, gains a new meaning and near - sacredness on special occasions, celebrations and ceremonies.
Turkish Cuisine, while rich in variety and taste-bud friendly, also contains examples which could provide a source for healthy and balanced diets and vegetarian cuisines.
Traditional Sports
The sports in this section are largely variations of wrestling (aba wrestling, grease wrestling), horse race, jereed, camel wrestling, bullfighting, cockfighting, hunting etc.
Jereed was very popular all over Anatolia 50-60 years ago, although today it is only seen in some parts of the Kars- Erzurum region and in the Aegean. The great interest felt by Turkish people in horse rising, and their considerable success at it, turned first into an entertainment and later into a sport. The jereed was a kind of a javelin game played either on horse or on foot, although today it appears as a cudgel. The mounted variation is played with two teams, each consisting of ten people. Riders throw the jereed while approaching each other at the gallop. Avoiding the jereed, and particularly catching it in mid-air, earns a score. When or how to throw the jereed is pre-determined. The game is played by men, and generally performed at weddings, on special days or at fairs.
TOURİSM
İstanbul
İstanbul, which was known as a capital of the capital cities, and created a big peace of geographies with regaining to first Roma, and then Eastern Roman (Byzantium) Empire and continents, and was the capital city of Ottoman Empire, is going to a modern future with preserving magnificence of history with proud. Variety in Istanbul is really charming the visitors. It is serving infinite nuances with its museums, churches, palaces, mosques, bazaar places and natural beauties. When you lean against backside at the coast of the strait, you feel Istanbul as "center of the world" and understand why people select this extraordinary place centuries before with watching the reflection of the red at sun set from the houses at the coast
Antalya
Pergamum King Aktallos II. ordered his soilders to discover the retreat of heaven on earth.Upon this command, the soilders had wondered around it till they came to the place of Antalya and exclaimed " This is heaven". Then founded city “Attalia" today enables you to feel like you are in heaven. Stretching out along the coastline of Antalya, Alanya, Manavgat-Side, Kemer, Kaş, Finike, Serik, Demre and many other destinations expect you for a holiday never to be forgotten...
Cappadocia
Cappadocian Region and displays a beautiful combination of nature and history. The geographic movements had formed the peribacalarini and during the historical development process, mankind had settled and inhabited these natural wonders, fairy chimneys and carved houses and churches inside these formations and adorned these settlements with frescos, carrying the traces of the thousands of years of their civilizations. The current CappadocianRegion is an area covering Nevşehir, Aksaray, Niğde, Kayseri and as for the more narrow rocky Cappadocian Region, Üçhisar, Ürgüp, Avanos, Göreme, Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı, Ihlara and its environs will be included.
Aegean Coasts
If someone was claim that the most scenic vistas in Anatolia can be found on the coasts of the Aegean, he could not be accused of exaggerating. In the words of Heredotus, the Aegean coasts "have the most beautiful sky and the best climate in the world." The bays and peninsulas, coves and golden beaches stretch the length of these beautiful shores. In this region where the countless events of mythology took place, at almost every turn, you will encounter the theaters, temples and agoras of ancient cities:Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, Kuşadası, Selçuk, Bergama, Foça, Çeşme, Pamukkale...
for more information:
http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Default.aspx?17A16AE30572D313D4AF1EF75F7A79681D9DD78D03148A6E |
