Have you ever considered celebrating Christmas in Turkey?
Most people would find the idea of travelling to Turkey for Christmas odd because after all, it is a country with a 98% Muslim population. Although Myra, Turkey was home to the Santa Claus back in the 4th century AD, Christmas in modern Turkey is a day like any other day. The local people do not go to church, prepare traditional food like potato salad, make gingerbread cookies, have family dinners or buy presents on Christmas day like Czech people.
Christmas in the Czech Republic
Prague
For Czech people, December 24th (Štědrý den) is the most important day of the Christmas holiday. Štědrý den means “Generous Day” in the local language it is the name day for Adam and Eva. People follow traditions each year; Christmas markets are built all over the Czech cities; people decorate Christmas trees and buy presents for their family members and prepare for the most joyous dinner of the year. One of the most famous Czech Christmas customs suggests fasting all day so that you would see the “golden piglet” (zlaté prasátko) in the evening. Some people like to attend the midnight mass (půlnoční mše) at a local church.
Don’t think Christmas is mainly for the presents, eating, and decorating the houses. First of all, it is time for family visits, enjoying a cup of hot wine (svařák) or tea with the beloved once. Meeting the people living abroad when they finally come home for a once-a-year visit. That is exactly how it gets from the old pagan traditions before Christianity.
Even though you wouldn’t be able to enjoy the exact same festivities as in the Czech Republic, Istanbul can be a great destination for Christmas; especially if you are looking for something different than what can be considered a traditional Czech Christmas.
Christmas in Turkey
Istanbul
Even though you wouldn’t be able to enjoy the exact same festivities as in the Czech Republic, Istanbul can be a great destination for Christmas; especially if you are looking for something different than what can be considered a traditional Czech Christmas.
In Turkey, locals enjoy celebrating Noel (Christmas) on New Year’s Eve. This celebration does not go back so far in history as Turkey adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1926 and New Year’s eve became an official holiday only in 1935. Therefore, Turkish people have borrowed many traditions from western countries and this day can be considered a mixture of Christmas and American holiday, Thanksgiving. They adopted the name Noel (Christmas) and Noel Baba (Father Christmas) from French, they decorate Christmas trees with ornaments and bake a turkey. In Istanbul, streets are usually decorated and small shops and street food markets remind the traditional Christmas markets bringing the Christmas atmosphere. The restaurants and bars are usually fully booked for further celebration and welcoming the New Year. Equally important, the Christian expats living in the city always organize traditional Christmas celebrations.
Christmas in Czechia vs. Turkey
Christmas in Czechia vs. Turkey
