10 surprising cultural habits from Turkish people you need to know
In the third article of this series, our Turkish editors told me all about their culture!
In this article, you’ll learn about the fascinating culture of Turkey. I interviewed our lovely editors Nil, Furkan and Gülnihal and they were very excited to talk about their habits to the rest of our communities.
So, I’d like to invite you to join me on a trip to understand how beautiful Ottoman culture is. Check out 10 surprising cultural habits from Turkish people below.
1. Smooth as water
I found this habit very sweet! In Turkey, when a beloved person is going on a trip or leaving on a journey, then you usually pour a glass of water in front of a mirror for them. You can also put the glass of water on the road as soon as they leave by car. This beautiful habit means you wish their journey to be smooth like water and that they’ll return soon and in good health.
2. Trading food
Do you know when a neighbor gives you a plate with some food they have made? In Turkey, if you get one of these, you should never return their plate empty. You’d usually wait until you cook something and when you give the plate back to them, you’ll return the favor. That’s a perfect example of the politics of a good neighborhood!
3. Breakfast of champions!
In Turkey, breakfast is the main meal of the day. We know that this can vary from culture to culture (in Brazil, for example, it’d be lunch, or perhaps dinner in other countries) A typical Turkish breakfast will usually have a good variety of cheeses and olives, eggs, bread, tomatoes etc. I’ve just added “try a Turkish breakfast” to my bucket list!
4. Hand sanitizing visionaries
Did you know that, in Turkey, they always offered cologne water to guests? The main purpose of this habit, dated back to the 19th century, was to refresh their hands. Obviously, it was also used as a sanitizing measure. This habit was not very common in the last decades, however with the pandemic it was adopted once more. I’d call the Turkish visionaries after that!
5. Defeating your hangover with soup!
Most of us have already experienced a heavy night drinking, right? In these situations, it could be very nice to end your night by grabbing a bite to eat. In Turkey, this late-night snack is usually soup. There are soup places open at 3am that sell soups for the heavy drinkers. The most famous one is called “Tripe Soup”, made with a sauce with vinegar and garlic. Turkish people swear this works like a miracle! Your head will thank you the day after.
6. Hugs and kisses everywhere
Turkish people tend to be very touchy. When greeting someone, they hug and kiss their cheeks several times. This is probably because of their warm-blooded nature and I have to say I definitely relate to this one. In Brazil, it’s exactly the same! Obviously, that could be misunderstood by other cultures. Well, at the moment, due to the pandemic, it’s best to just avoid this one.
7. Turkish evil eye
This habit is pretty famous all over the world, and a big one for Turkey! Whenever someone buys a new house or has a baby, then they’ll give them a souvenir called a Turkish evil eye, or in Turkish, Wnazar boncuğu. The objective of it is to bring protection and luck and also to repel evil spirits. It can also be used as a charm in necklaces or bracelets.
8. The shoe is too clean to be true!
This habit is kind of fun! Whenever you see a friend with a new pair of shoes, you’d usually step on it to make it a little bit dirty. Then, you’d say Siftah benden, meaning something like “I made the opening”. It’s a very common habit in Turkey, but personally, I’d prefer the evil eye for luck!
9. Kolay gelsin
In Turkey, they have created the expression Kolay gelsin to wish someone all the best in achieving their objectives without any difficulties. The literal translation would be “May it come easy”. It’s used on all occasions and to everyone. It’s a mix of “Good luck” and “Best wishes”, but according to Turkish people, these two expressions don’t do justice for the true feeling of Kolay gelsin.
10. Street cats
If you’re a cat person, then be careful to not adopt all of the cats and kittens you’ll find in the streets of Turkey. It’s very common to see a lot of chubby cats over there, especially if you’re near a butcher shop. In some stores and pet shops, there is a sign written “For our homeless friends”. That’s when people buy cat food and put it in some of the places these cats usually stay.
I’m absolutely thrilled with everything I learned about Turkish cultural habits. I hope you have enjoyed learning more about this country with such a beautiful culture, people and landscapes. Next time I go to Turkey, I’ll definitely remember all of these habits.
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