Turkey being civilizational border between Europe and Asia is absorbing the essence of the two continents and thousands of years of history. Turkish music and dance, Turkish cuisine and architecture, everyday life all demonstrate the flavor of the richness of the culture. The understanding of this very peculiar cultural identity can only be received by going through the definition of the term “Evırı,” which reflects the experience of discovery and integration with the incredibly vast and rich Turkish cultural sphere.
What is Evırı?
When it comes to ‘Evırı’ it is not just a word but it is about a process or a voyage to discover the real spirit of Turkey. Evırı is derived from the Turkish word ‘evirmek’, translating to ‘turn’ or ‘transform’, so it reflects transformation that happens to a person when they are indulged into each and every facet of the Turkish rich culture. This is the uniqueness of the page that has now been turned into the large couch of multicultural tapestry that contains flavors, music, and fables.
Historical Background of the Turkey
Turkey is a country rich in culture and history and this because through the ages it was subjected to influences of the Hittites, Phrygians, Urartians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantine and Ottomans. The above illustrated cultures have in one way or the other been part of the building process of the Turkish identity. The ancient sights of the country refer to the remains of such cities as Ephesus and Troy, the architecture of the Haghia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.
Art and Architecture
Turkish art is basically amalgamation of a number of different styles and techniques that native to Turkey for centuries. Present day Turkish arts include folk dance, folk music, storytelling as well as traditional arts like calligraphy, ceramics, and carpet weaving.
Visual Arts
Modern Turkish art can be characterized by its versatility, and herein we can find virtually all directions that are visual arts nowadays. Calligraphy, ceramics and carpet weaving traditions, as well as others, are honored.
- Calligraphy: This art form is especially important in the Islamic world because stenciled patterns are used on mosques and other public structures. In essence Turkish calligraphy is graceful in form and meaning and conveys some form of spirituality.
- Ceramics: Iznik tiles, famous with their beautiful and livid colors and drawings revealing Turkey’s nice tradition of ceramics. These tiles embellish most mosques and palaces giving evidence of the prowess of the Turkish artificers.
- Carpet Weaving: Turkish carpets are very famous all around the world due to their designs. Every region is described by its concrete designs and techniques, which serve as the reflection of the tales and culture of the creators.
Performing Arts
Turkey boasts of a rich musical and dancing culture that has a wide range of that is due to the rich culture of the country. Turkish music has its peculiarities, including the use of saz and ney instruments, and frequently touches upon the issues of love or nature, everyday life. Levantine folk dances are bright, brisk like the famous horon dance from the Black Sea coast where the tradition of dancing at festivals dominates.
Culinary Heritage
Originally the Turkish food had to be influenced by the different cuisines that were found in the area where the Turkish people lived.
Key Dishes
- Mezze: Mezze refers to a range of small portions taken before the main meal proper – and some of the most common options are hummus, baba ghanoush, as well as stuffed grape vine leaves. All these dishes are taken with bread and they form a common feature of food that is consumed in the Turkish region.
- Main Courses: Naturally, the fabled kebab is just the beginning. Manti (Turkish dumplings) and gözleme (stuffed flatbread) are popular among guests as are different kinds of stews which demonstrate a more diverse side of Turkish’s cuisine.
- Sweets: Turkish cuisine like in other parts of the world cannot be complete without the inclusion of desserts. Baklava is another sweet pastry prepared from filo pastry that is interleaved with the reducing circles and piled up in layers of syrup-soaked chopped nuts. Turkish delight or lokum is another cake, which is usually consumed with tea.
Music and Dance
Artistic creations in dance and music are particularly significant in the development of Turkish cultural appeal. Turk classical or folk music has many instruments including the saz and ney which are unusual to most other cultures and the music reflects this with themes of love, nature, and everyday life.
- Folk Music: Folk songs and dances differ region by region, and every region presents its peculiarities in dances and the instruments used. The spirited rhythm of the horon of the Black Sea area or the sad notes of the Turk baglama, which can also be included in this list.
- Dance: Turkish music can also be divided into types according to the occasions on which it is performed Traditional Turkish dance is also as vibrant as the country’s music; from the vigorous, wedding folk dance to the graceful Whirling Dervishes who perform the Sufi dance as a form of devotion.
Festivals and Celebrations
An insight into the display of Turkey’s cultural myriad is evidently encapsulated by the following festivals.
- Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr: Ramadan is one of the most essential months of the Islamic calendar, particular aspects of which include fasting and togetherness. Ramadan is followed by Eid al-Fitr, a three-day festival of cheer which comes with non-stop food surving, visiting friends and relatives, and giving to charity.
- National Sovereignty and Children’s Day: A nationalist holiday of Turkey, it is observed on April 23 to mark the founding of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. It also celebrates children, as seen through parades and the often shows, dances and other events that are meant to bring joy.
- Whirling Dervish Festivals: Every year there are whirling dervish performances in different cities which reveal the religious side of Sufi music and dance, with people from different parts of the world being attracted by this type of show.
Social Customs and Traditions
Hospitality
It is not news that Turkish culture pays a lot of importance to the hospitality business. Avowals of hospitality are made by hosts and guests are held in high esteem, the visitor on most occasions is usually welcomed with food and /or drink. Declining an offer of tea or food is considered rude since sharing and donating are considered valuable in Turkish culture.
Family and Community
The value that is predominant in the culture of Turkey is the family; multigenerational families are valued and elders are respected. People meet and feast and the food are not just for the filling of the stomach but has a symbolic role in uniting people.
Embracing Evırı: A Cultural Journey
The essay is a cultural journeyIEEE centralized culture has maintained and advanced its centralized culture.
In fact, to taste Evırı is to sip into Turkey’s culture. It is not only the desire to see the old buildings or the traditional dishes or the festivals of the chosen country. In this aspect, Evırı goes a step further and wants the guests to feel closer to the Turkish traditions, beliefs, and the way of life.
This journey may begin in Istanbul – the city which is located in two continents, the city where traditions of antiquity and the spirit of the coming to life modernity intermingle. Shopping at a local souk, admiring the beautiful architecture of mosques, and taking a boat cruise on the Bosphorus – these all give a small idea of the important aspects of Turkey’s traditions.
Adding on to the experience of the Evırı, traveling to the different regions of Turkey, as from the Mediterranean coastal region to the Anatolian plains. Every region has its own peculiarities in terms of the customs, dialects, and several traditions that enrich the general picture of the Turkish culture.
Conclusion
Indeed, the culture of Turkey may be described as diverse and colourful, rooted in history and traditions as well as in the hospitality of Turkish people. An insight into the flavor, rhythm, texture and colors of Turkish art, cuisine, music, and celebrations all go to indicate that any journey into Turkey must be a journey into the beating heart of some of the world’s oldest civilizations. Regardless of how one enjoys the taste of kawarma, or the harmony of a line of Persic script, the joy of Turkish folk music, or the grace of folk dance, indeed all of these and more collectively, the essence of Turkey is one that once experienced becomes embedded deep within the soul. Thus, Evırı, or exploration, is the only way to grasp and, therefore, appreciate the richness and richness of this astounding civilization.
Adam Carter 
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