Turkey

The Republic of Türkiye

Location
Turkey is a large peninsula that bridges the continents of Europe and Asia.
Turkey is surrounded on three sides by the Black Sea, the Mediterranean
Sea, and the Aegean Sea.
Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, the city that lies on two continents. One
part of Istanbul lies in Europe and the other part lies in Asia.

Language
The official language is Turkish, which is the most widely spoken Turkic
language in the world. It is spoken by 85.54 percent of the population as
a first language. 11.97 percent of the population speaks
the Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish as their mother tongue.

Religion
Turkey is a secular state with no official state religion; the Turkish
Constitution provides for freedom of religion and conscience.
But that Islam is the dominant religion in Turkey, adhered to by 82% of the
total population; religiously unaffiliated people comprised 13% of the
population, while 2% were Christians
Culture
Turkey has a very diverse culture that is a blend of various elements of
the Turkic, Anatolian, Byzantine and Ottoman cultures (the latter was in
many aspects a continuation of both the Greco-
Roman and Islamic cultures).

Currency Of Turkey

The lira is the legal currency of Turkey.

How much is $1 lira in usd?

Is 0.0364783 USD

How much is $1 lira in Lmp?

Is less than 1 lmp exactly = 0.90 Lmp
Cuisine

Turkish cuisine is one of the world’s top

cuisines, joining the ranks of French,
Chinese, Italian. The cuisine of Turkey has
continued to evolve over centuries,
deriving influence from its rich history of
lands that hosted first the Byzantine, and
then the Ottoman Empires. Meals in
Turkey mainly focus on rice, meats (lamb,
beef, chicken, fish), vegetables and bread.
foods cooked in olive oil. The majority are vegetable-based and include
green beans, artichokes and of course, eggplants.
Turkish people love food and consider breakfast to be the most important meal
of the day. For that reason, a classic Turkish breakfast, better known as “kahvalti,”
is truly a sight to behold. Breakfast must always include bread. The tiny slices of
bread are typically consumed after being dipped in olive oil, eggs, or menemen.
Or, the slices are covered in jam before eating. Without bread, a Turkish breakfast
would be incomplete.

Traditional Turkish dishes: are kebabs,Yaprak dolma, Fish and seafood,

Turkish tripe soup, Vegetable dishes, baklava(dessert), Gozleme (dessert),
Turkish tea, Turkish coffee, Ayran, Boza.

Testi kebab a meat

and vegetable dish
that need to be
broken open before
Sports
The most popular sport in Turkey is association football. The Turkish
national football team won the bronze medal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup,
the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup and UEFA Euro 2008.
Other mainstream sports such as basketball and volleyball are also
popular.

Traditional Turkish Dresses

Turkish people have been wearing a wide variety for ages. Turkey is a very
unique junction point for the East and the West. That means Turkey has a
huge diversity of Turkish dresses.

Ottoman

Turkish kaftan dresses are one of the famous and important parts of
traditional costumes. You can combine “kaftan dress” with almost anything.
 Bindalli dress is one of the important
details of the henna night in Turkey.

Turkish traditions

Turkey has many interesting traditions that you should discover. Those
Turkish traditions are unique and special and you will not find them
anywhere else in the world.

1. NAZAR (THE EVIL EYE)

One of the most popular Turkish traditions is the blue eyes made of glass.
You will find the evil Eye in each home in Turkey because Turks believe
in envy. Turks believe that this blue eye protects them from envy, and
most often we find it hanging on the door. The choice of blue is the result
of the Turks' belief that this colour eliminates any negative energy.

2. TURKISH TEA
Turkish tea is one of the most prominent Turkish customs, served
in tulip-shaped glass cups, and is considered part of the Turkish
hospitality methods. Whether you are in someone's house, a
store, or even a hairdresser, you will be offered tea as part of the
welcome. Rejecting a tea invitation is disrespectful to Turkish
people.

3. THE HENNA NIGHT

The night before the wedding day is significant in Turkish
traditions. Each bride wears a red dress, and it is a night
dedicated to girls only. The bride's friends sing a folk song called
“Yüksek Yüksek Tepeler”. This song talks about the girl's
separation from her mother, which makes them cry.

4. HAND KISSING
Hand-kissing is a Turkish tradition. The hand-kissing tradition is
practised on religious holidays to greet or bid goodbye at special
occasions such as marriages, henna nights, or circumcision
ceremonies. People who kiss the hand typically take the hand to
their foreheads.

In Turkey, hand-kissing is a sign of respect and love. Usually,

people kiss the hand of those who are older than them.

5. THROWING WATER
One of the western customs in Turkey is throwing water while
saying goodbye to family members who are embarking on a long
road trip. They believe it brings good luck and makes people's
journey as smooth as water.
6. SHOES AND SLIPPERS
Turks leave their shoes at the house entrance or on the stairs and
use special slippers inside the house. They also expect their
visitors to remove their shoes before entering the house. In this
respect, they are very conservative. Turkish people also provide
slippers to their visitors. This is why there are so many pairs of
slippers in Turkish households.

7. TURKISH HAMMAM
The Turkish Hammam is another important tradition within the
Turkish culture and dates back to the Romans' days, and was
slightly modified by the Ottomans. It is performed by women or
men once a week, where they stay in a room full of steam with a
pool of water.

8. ASKING HAND IN MARRIAGE

When a couple discovers that their relationship is serious and
plans to marry, their families get involved.

The bride-to-be makes Turkish coffee for everyone after both

families settle down and get to know each other.
When arranged marriages were customary, if a woman did not
want to marry a man, she would put salt in his coffee to show that
she did not want to marry him. However, in recent years, this
custom has shifted, and women have begun to add salt to the
men's coffee regardless of the circumstances, just for pleasure.

9. CIRCUMCISION
In the Turkish community, circumcision is an actual ceremony for
boys. Circumcision is still practised today based on Islamic
practices. It is much better now as physicians perform it in
hospitals instead of in the past. Few families recommend that their
sons be circumcised between the ages of 5 and 12, while others
prefer that it be completed shortly after the baby is born.
10. TURKISH RUGS AND CARPETS
When you enter any Turkish home, you must find carpets
decorating the floor of the house, whether it is made by hand or
belongs to one of the commercial brands.

11. Ramadan
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is one of the
most sacred times for Muslims. During this month, Muslims
observe a strict daily fast from dawn until sunset. They are not
allowed to eat or drink, not even water, during these daylight
hours.

Fun facts about Turkey

• Ankara is the Capital of Turkey no Istanbul.

• The first ever Christian church was located in Antioch, Turkey

The Grotto of St Peter outside Antioch (now known as

Antakya) is believed to have been created by Jesus' disciple
Simon Peter.

• Santa Claus was born in Patara, Turkey.

St Nicholas – the historical figure behind the man we know as

Santa Claus – was born in Patara, Turkey in around 300 AD.
Even with Santa Claus's origins in Turkey, the country doesn't
traditionally celebrate Christmas as it's a predominantly
Muslim country.

• Turkey is the birthplace of important historical figures including

Herodotus and St. Paul the Apostle

Paul the Apostle (originally known as Saul) was born in Tarsus

in southern Turkey. The Greek historian Herodotus was born
in what is now Bodrum, a city on the coast.
• Turkey is responsible for 75% of the world’s hazelnut exports
Most of the world's hazelnuts grow in the Mediterranean basin,
in Turkey, Greece, Italy and Spain.

• There are over 30 languages spoken in Turkey

Although Turkish is the official language of the country, more
than 30 other languages are spoken regularly, including
Arabic, Kurmanji and Zazaki to name a few.

• Istanbul spans two continents – Europe and Asia

• Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar has 64 streets and 4,000 shops

One of the oldest (and largest) markets in the world, the Grand
Bazaar welcomes up to 400,000 visitors a day. It's often
described as one of the oldest shopping malls in existence.

• Despite the appearance of camels at holiday resorts, the

animals are not native to the country
There's no desert in Turkey, which means no native camels.

• Turkey is the official home of Kebac

Kebac is the most famous dish in turkey. Turkey has several
kinds of Kebacs, and turks are the best ones to make them

• There are over 82.693 mosques int the country.

• Istambul’s -airport is connected to over 250 international
destinations.

• Tulips are actually from Turkey and not Holland.

• Original black roses only grow in Halfeti; there has been
absolutely no genetic manipulation here."
Most Famous Turkish People Of All Time!

Turkey, a nation rich in culture and history, has been the birthplace of numerous
renowned figures who have left their mark on various fields such as politics,
science, sports, and arts.

1. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is arguably the most
famous person in Turkey. He served as
president of Turkey for 15 years (from 1923
until he died in 1938) and is credited with
creating the Republic of Turkey (aka
modern Turkey) after the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire after World War I.

2. Sabiha Gökçen

She is known as the world’s first female

fighter pilot! Sabiha Gökçen completed an
impressive 8,000 hours of flying and took
part in 32 military operations! In 1996, the US
Air Force selected her as the only female
pilot for their poster of “The 20 Greatest
Aviators in History.”

3. Suleiman the Magnificent

He was one of the most important

monarchs in European history, and under
his rule, his armies conquered Hungary,
Iraq, and several major ports in North
Africa. In fact, during Suleiman’s reign, the
Ottoman Empire controlled a large portion
of Africa, Asia, and Europe.
4. Aziz Sancar

Aziz Sancar is a molecular biologist

specializing in DNA repair, the circadian
clock, and cell cycle checkpoints. This
Turkish academician was awarded the
Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2015.

5. Burak Özçivit
Today, Özçivit is one of the most popular Turkish
actors in the world, but interestingly his career
started in 2003 when he won the Top Model of
Turkey competition.

6. Hande Erçel

A ranking by Top Beauty World has seen Turkish

actress Hande Ercel come out on top to be named the
most beautiful woman in the world.
 7. Akin Akinözü

Akin Akinözü is a Turkish actor who

burst onto the world stage with his role
as Miran in the hit Turkish TV series
Hercai.

Places To Visit in Turkey

1. Istanbul

It is Turkey's largest and most populated city and also the centre of
tourism.

2. Antalya
Antalya is one of the oldest yet most modern cities in Turkey.
3. Ankara

Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the second largest city after
Istanbul.

4. Capadoccia

Cappadocia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Turkey.

It is located in the centre of Turkey.

5. Ephesus
Europe’s most complete classical metropolis Ephesus was one of the
largest cities in all of the Roman
Empire, boasting one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World, the
Temple of Artemis. The ruins of
Ephesus are well preserved and
contained within a large
archaeological site, making it one
of Turkey’s most popular tourist
attractions.