New Year Habits

Women wear new lingerie as soon as the clocks struck midnight. The pants are called "don" in Turkish and this word is associated with "donanmak" which means to dress up. Therefore, especially the red lingerie are on display at he showcase. Moreover you can find packed red pants at supermarkets like Migros or Carrefour. Most people buy red pants funnier than each other as present for their friends.

Most people celebrating the New Year eve at home turn on the facets at 24:00 to increase the abundance of their houses.

Those who have financially hard times open padlocks at midnight and believe that the good days are ahead.

Although I don't believe that the year will be wonderful if I eat something sweet or if I enjoy a lot, I carry out such customs

Those who enjoy traveling, immediately go out at midnight for a short walk. They believe this will lead them travel a lot in the New Year.

The Armenians living in Istanbul, males open their shops or other work places for at least one or two hours on January 1st and they sprinkle the kernels from pomegranates around, which are believed to bring abundance in the upcoming year. Pomegranate symbolized abundance in many cultures and they sprinkle the kernels at their threshold.

Salt is also another symbol of abundance and peace, some people sprinkle salt at the thresholds of their houses and offices.

I once more like to repeat that those are the practices I know of. There are sure many New Year customs I've never heard.

Latest comments about this article

 By desertrose  18.11.2006

Have lived in Turkey over 20 years and am married to a Turk.We have never heard about any of these traditions!! Ps ´ do yo mean turn on faucets´

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