Ethnic and Folklor

Have you heard of Zeybeks (chief of a tribe). If not, let's give you some info about them. Heroic stories of Zeybeks told especially during the Independence War have been reach today. Although when one says Ankara we all remember Anıtkabir, if you ask Ankara's natives the symbol of the town they will immediately reply you as Zeybek.

During the independence war the territorials defending Ankara are called Zeybek. They are famous with their courage as well as their folklore. Ankara has a very rich folklore and the effect of Oğuz tribe is quite big. Ankara folklore is of folksongs and dance. Saz (string instrument in oriental music) accompany the dance.

The favorite folkloric dance is Misket. If you are invited to a wedding party or go to a tavern don't be surprised by the number of people on the dance floor as soon as the music plays. And be sure this is Misket. Well as Greeks cannot resist Sirtaki, Misket is the same for Ankara. They may invite you to join them. Don't hesitate; you'll sure keep in step with Misket. A small clue: yours arms are on the sides and sometimes you squat on one leg.

Old Houses of Ankara
Ankara Houses are usually two stories and have very simple design. They were developed from Hilanis, a very old structure seen in Anatolia and North Syria. Those wooden houses have bean built on stone grounds.

The cavities between wooden framework have been filled with mud brick and brick. The entrance is not directly from the street; usually there is soil or stone paved yard between the street and the house. The house is located around this pave yard. Toilets, larder, maid room and the kitchen are located at the same floor with the yard.

Since winters are cold and summers are warm in Ankara the house was built in two quarters as summer and winter. Winter quarter where the family members reside during the cold winder is usually situated at basement or the second story. There, the walls are of stone or thick mud-brick. The number of doors and windows are less and the floors are of wood and there are furnaces and inset cupboards, bathroom is also located in this section. A wooden stair leads you upstairs namely summer quarter of the house.

The interesting part is the hall or terrace named Hayat (Life), which has wooden beams for supporting the roof. Hayat having wooden barriers in front usually overlook the courtyard or the street. The ceilings are usually embellished and the rooms are lined up around Hayat. These rooms are bedroom, living rooms and guest room. The guest room is the biggest room of the house with an embellished high ceiling.

The furnace is located on one of the walls and there are also small niches on the wall for putting some goods. The other two walls have windows or one of them has an inset cupboard. Divans and couch are in front of some walls. The upstairs windows are wider and higher and built to be closed from outside with wooden blinds or lattices. The doors are of wood and usually the upstairs doors are ornamented. The gates are also wood and have embellished two wings and the details are of ferforge. Since the grounds are not flat the ground plans of those houses are not smooth also.

However in order to have a good-looking façade the upstairs have bay windows. The ornaments of those houses are mostly geometric figures, stylized animal and plant motives. If you wish to see those old house the districts around the Kale is the right address. Unfortunately, you may be disappointed of as several of those houses are ruinous.

Although shanty houses surround it, Ankara is a modern city. Unfortunately due to the lack of Modern Architecture concept and the "view pollution" is a beautiful city for those who live in.

The old Ankara appears with very different façade when viewed from Ankara Kalesi. This old Ankara with its city walls, narrow streets, wooden houses, women with colorful dresses and scarves, men with caps and cheerful children resembles an Anatolian city. Alaaddin Cami of 12th century located between the walls of is worth to visit.

While wandering the narrow streets between those walls you'll meet houses restored sticking to its original. Some of them are converted to art galleries or restaurants serving traditional Turkish food. Especially Büyüzade and Ziya Paşa kanağı welcomes the visitors with beautiful panorama and delicious food. Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu and Bakırcılar Çarşısı of Ulus is a real treasure for the Antique lovers, carpets, copper, old cloths, silver ornaments and even straw baskets. Shortly an exhibition of a tale of 1001 nights.

Especially the stands near the Kale entrance exhibiting various herbs, spice and dried fruit will fascinate you and offer the colors of an oriental tale. Sure you are going to find some suitable to your taste. After leaving the castle and head up from Ulus towards Atatürk Bulvarı, another surprising face of town will meet you especially Tunali Hilmi Avenue and Gaziosmanpaşa are full of shops with European gusto.

Ankara being the governing center of Turkish Republic has less industrial installations compared to Istanbul and İzmir. Small or medium size industrial plants have been established on the southwest of the railway and passes through the city center and around the Istanbul-Eskişehir high way.

Besides Ankara University founded just after the foundation of Republic, ODTÜ (Middle East Technical University) and Hacettepe Universities have been established in 1960's and 1967 respectively. Finally Gazi University was opened with the combining of various academies. Bilkent and Başkent are the ones founded after 1980's as private universities.

A very famous and important orchestra Cumhurbaşkanlığı Senfoni Orkestrası-CSO- (Symphony Orchestra of Presidency), operas, ballets, several theatres, cinemas and exhibition halls are all among the cultural facilities of Ankara. It also houses 2 important festivals every year. Ankara Music Festival in May and International Children's Festival on April 23rd.

The other festivals of Ankara and environ are:

Tuz Festivali (Salt Festival)
Şereflikoçhisar, August 5-6
Kaplıca Festivali (Spa Festival)
Haymana, June 18-20
Amatör Tiyatolar Festivali (Amateur Theaters Festival)
March 26-31
Kavun Festivali (Melon Festival)
Kazan, September and October
23 Nisan Uluslararası Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı
(23rd April International Sovereignty and Children's Festival)
April 23rd
Çocuk Tiyatroları Şenliği (Children's Theatres Festival)
May 20-24
19 Mayıs Gençlik Haftası (19 May Youth Week)
May 19-25
Hıdrellez Bahar Ve Kültür Şenliği (Hıdrellez Spring and Culture Festival)
Nallıhan, May 6
Lale ve Kültür Festivali (Tulip and Culture Festival)
Sincan, May 12-25
Uluslararası Asya Avrupa Bienali (International Asia-Europe Bienal)
May - June
Aluçdağı Festivali (Aluçdağı Festival)
Çamlıca, June
Soğuksu Festivali (Soğuksu Festival)
Kızılcahamam, June
Ayaş Dut Şenliği (Ayaş Mulberry Festival)
Ayaş, July 22
Ankara Uluslararası Tiyatro Festivali (Ankara International Theatre Festival)
November 7-17
Ankara Film Festivali (Ankara Film Festival)
26 November - 9 December
ODTÜ Caz Günleri (METU Jazz Days)
12-17 November
Efes Pilsen Blues Festival
20-25 October
Avrupa Gezici Film Festivali (Festival on Wheels)
15- 31 October
Uzakdoğu Filmleri Festivali (Far East Film Festival)
23 November - 2 December
Uluslararası Ankaro Koro Festivali (International Ankara Chorus Festival)
14-17 November
Ankara appointed as Capital
October 13

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