Translation+project(Evrim)(traditions+in+Turkey)


 * FINAL PROJECT **

I chose four aspectfor specific features of Turkey.These are traditions, the cultural artifacts, the sightseeing places and various historical places. **First of all**, I want to introduce the ** traditions **. There are many traditions in Turkey. I will emphasize on some of them. Home visits, body language, food habits and marriage are some of them. Home visit is very important for them. When entering a Turk’s home, shoes are taken off. Actually, it is a custom of small settlements. In general, Turks wear slippers at home. Housewives give an importance to the cleanness.

Kissing the hands of older family members is an obligatory ceremony of Bayram. The elders give candy or money to those youngsters kissing their hands. Among Turks, kissing the hand of an elder is a sign of respect shown to elders. When we come to the body language, Turks like to communicate with their hands and arms. If you want to get along with a Turk, you don’t have to know a word in Turkish. If you raise your head backwards, it means ‘No’. They generate strange sounds ‘hııı’ or ‘hı hı’ for yes. They use ‘cık’ sound for ‘no’. If you point to your head with your index finger, it means ‘Are you an idiot? Or Are you a crazy?’. They have different gusto and Turkish breakfasts consist of cheese, olives, butter, jam, loaves of fresh bread. Tea is also inevitable for Turks. Turks prefer to have their tea served in glass cups. Nothing can take the place of a good cup of tea. Nescafe is quite common. Vegetables have an important place in Turkish cuisine. The star of the kitchen is a different sort of rice, called **pilav** (pilaf).A good pilaf is the proof of a housewife's cooking skills. A Turkish marriage has four essential stages. These are the meeting stage, promise stage, engagement and wedding ceremony. One night before wedding, they order henna night. In Turkish wedding henna night (kına gecesi) is traditional. This night hold on one night before wedding. On this night there can be only females and they come together in the bride's house or somewhere else and they listen music and dance. And they spread henna in bride's palm of the hand. This is only one tradition. There are lots of wedding traditions in Turkey. But I don’t know all of them.

I wanted to make specific my topic and **made an interview** with one of my older family members from Konya because I am from Konya and I would like to introduce the traditions of Konya. She talked about food habits and marriage in Konya (I wrote and prepared both in Turkish and in English. I have the transcript of the original interview).

(Groom’s house in Konya J )


 * Evrim: ** Sizden Türkiye’nin tarih ve kültür kenti olan Konya’nın adet gelenek ve göreneklerinden biraz bahsetmenizi istiyorum. Mesela; eskiden günleriniz nasıl geçerdi? Yiyeceklerinizi nereden ve nasıl sağlardınız?

**Older family member (** ** Hatice Teyze): ** Yavrum, bizim eskiden 4 mevsimde de ayrı yapılacak işlerimiz vardı. Eskiden öyle şimdiki gibi market büyük alışveriş merkezleri yoktuki. Eskiden yaptığımız işleri buranın yerlisinde görmek mümkün. İlkbaharda Nisan ayından sonra ev işleri artardı. Sobalar sökülürdü temizlenirdi. Kışın serilen halılar baharda komşuların yardımıyla çırpılır, yıkanır, kaldırılırdı. Yerine yaz halıları serilirdi. Eskiden insanların yardım istemeye yüzü olurdu. İnsanlar birbirlerine yardım ederlerdi. Şimdi insanlar birbirlerine selam bile vermiyorlar. Halılar kilimler bahçede veya sokakta çırpılırdı. Yatakların minderlerin yünleri dökülür, değneklerle dövülürdü. Odalardan kışlık serecekler kaldırılırdı. Bu olaya biz ‘göç’ diyorduk. Bahar temizliği bittikten sonra sıra sebzelerin kurutulmasına gelirdi. Taze nane alırdık. Onları iyice yıkadıktan sonra gölgede kuruturduk. Meramdan bağ evlerine göçülür yaz boyunca oralarda oturulurdu. Konya’nın yerlileri yağ, peynir, yoğurt ihtiyaçlarını köylerde besledikleri hayvanlardan çıkarırlardı. Güz aylarından bahar aylarına kadar ahırlardaki hayvan gübreleri kadınların yardımıyla toplanır ve kış için yakacak tezek hazırlanırdı. Yazın bahçelerde ne varsa ağaçtan toplanır işte vişne, kayısı, erik, armut, elma..bunlarla reçel yapılırdı. İçine de karanfil atılırdı. Sonra kendi domates salçamızı kendimiz yapardık. Hala yapıyoruz gerçi köyümüzde. Komşularla yardımlaşarak bulgur kaynatılırdı. Üzüm bağları olanlar pekmez kaynatırlardı.

**Evrim:** Peki düğünleriniz nasıl olurdu? Düğün adetleriniz nelerdi? Hatice Teyze: İşte kız isteme, nişan, sonra da düğün olurdu. Öyle şimdiki gibi değildi. Anne baba kız evine dünürcü gönderecekse kimseye söylemezdi sonuçlanmadan. Kadınlar tarafından yapılırdı. Oğlanın annesi ve kız kardeşi önce kız evine giderlerdi. Kızın güzelliğine, terbiyesine ve vücuduna bakarlardı. Eğer kız beğenilirse önce kız anasının ağzı aranırdı bu işleri bilen biri vasıtasıyla. Oğlanın durumu anlatılırdı. Aracı olan kişi eğer kızın ailesi uygun görürse dünürcü geleceğini söylerdi. Kadın dünürcülere fazla hürmet yapılırsa kız verilecek demektir. Ayakkabıları çevrilmişse bu işin olacağına, çevrilmeyip dışarı konulmuşsa olmayacağı anlaşılır. Sonra erkek dünürcü kız evine gider. ‘Allahın emri Peygamberin kavli ile kızımızı oğlumuza zevceliğe istemeye geldik’ diyerek dünürlük edilir. Kızın babasının vermeye gönlü varsa, ‘Sizin ve mahdumumuz için bir şey diyemem, Allah yazdıysa bir şey diyemem. Bana birkaç gün müsaade edin bir düşünüyüm’ der. Vermeye niyeti yoksa ‘Kızım küçüktür’ der. Nişan kadınlar arasında yapılırdı. Gelin oğlanın bir akrabası tarafından salona getirilirdi. Yüzüğü oğlanın annesi takardı. Gelin orada bulunanların ellerini öper, akrabalar altın takardı. Oğlan tarafının getirdiği hediyeler gösterilirdi. Bu adetler köylerde hala yapılır. Nişan genellikle Perşembe günleri olurdu. Düğünler de Perşembe ve Pazar günleri yapılırdı. Düğünden birkaç gün önce yemek hazırlıkları yapılırdı. Gelin hamama götürülürdü yakın arkadaşlarıyla. Oğlan tarafı at arabası ya da traktörle gelini almak için kız evine giderlerdi. Kız tarafı kayınpederden bahşiş aldıktan sonra kapıyı açardı. Gelin çıktıktan sonra traktöre ya da at arabasına yerleştirilirdi. Oğlan evinde damat gelinin başına parayla çerez saçardı. Damat gelini odasına götürdükten sonra sağdıçla beraber evden ayrılırdı. Akşam döndüğünde gelinin duvağını açıp yüz görümlüğü takardı. Birkaç gün sonra da gelin ve damat akrabaları ziyaret ederdi el öpmek için. Eli öpülenler ‘Allah başa kadar sürdürsün’ derdi. Kızım şimdilik aklıma gelen bunlar.. **Evrim:** Tamam Hatice Teyzem..Bu bilgiler bana yetecektir..Ben size çok teşekkür ediyorum bana yardımcı olduğunuz için..Size saygılarımı sunuyorum.


 * English Version of Interview **
 * Evrim: ** I want you to talk about the traditions of Konya which is the city of culture and history. For example, in the days of old, how do you pass your times? From where and how do you meet your needs?
 * Hatice Teyze: ** In the days of old, we have different things to do separately in four season. There isn’t any market or hypermarkets like present day. It is possible to see things in local people that done in past days. House works increase in spring after April. Heating stoves are removed and cleaned. Carpets laid in winters are shaken, washed and removed. Instead of them, summer carpets are laid. In early days, people have cheek to ask for help. People help each other. Now, people don’t greet each other. Carpets are shaken in the streets and gardens. The wools of the beds and mattresses are emptied and pestle with stick. Things suitable for the winter are removed. We call this event as ‘göç’. After we finish the spring cleaning, it turns to come drying of vegetables. We buy fresh mint. After we wash them completely, we make dry them in the shadow. We move from Meram to vineyard house and we inhabit there during summer. Local people of Konya meet their fat, cheese and yoghourt needs from animals that they feed in the villages. Ordure of animals in barns is gathered by women and firing is prepared for the winter. Cherry, apricot, greengage, pear and apple are gathered from trees in the gardens and made jam with fruits which include cinnamon. We make our own tomato sauce. We are still making it in our village. We boil wheat by helping neighbors. People who have vineyards boil grape molasses.
 * Evrim: ** How is your wedding ceremony? What are your wedding traditions?
 * Hatice Teyze: ** It consist of promise stage, engagement and wedding ceremony. It is not like the present day. If father and mother-in-law send an envoy to the girl’s home, they don’t say anything to anyone. It is made by women. The mother and sister of the boy visit the girl’s home. They look at the beauty of girls, her manner and her body. If they like her, person who know these affairs sounds out girl’s mother. Boy’s position is told. Person who is an agent say that father and mother-in-law visit girl’s home. If girl’s family shows much respect to women, it means that they give a girl in marriage. If the shoes of father and mother-in-law are turned over, it means that this affair occurs. If they aren’t turned over and put out, it means that it doesn’t occur. Afterwards father goes to the girl’s home. He says that ‘Allahın emir Peygamberin kavli ile kızımızı oğlumuza zevceliğe istemeye geldik.’ (According to the command of God and the word of the Prophet). If girl’s father wants to give his girl, he asks for enough time to think about it. If he doesn’t intend to give his girl, he says: ‘Kızım küçüktür’. An engagement ceremony is held with the women in attendance. Bride is brought by one of the relatives of the groom to the hall. Mother-in-law sets in her ring. Bride kisses people’s hands there and relatives give gold jewellery. Gifts brought by the side of groom shown to the relatives. These traditions still go on in the villages. An engagement ceremony is generally held in Thursday. Wedding ceremony is held on in Thursday and Sunday. Food preparations are made a few days ago before wedding ceremony. Bride is brought to the public bath with her friends. In order to take the girl, side of the groom goes to the girl’s home with carriage or tractor. The side of the bride doesn’t open the room of bride without taking tip. After bride goes out, she is put in carriage or tractor. Groom throws money and appetizer to the bride’s head at his home. After Groom brings the bride to their room, he leaves with best man. When he comes back to the home in night, he open’s bride’s veil and sets in price for seeing the bride’s face. That’s all. Any other thing doesn’t come to my mind.
 * Evrim: ** Ok Hatice Teyze. These information are enough for me. Thanks for your participation. Sincerely yours.


 * Secondly **, I want to talk about ** the cultural artifacts of Turkey ** . All kinds of animal and plant fossils, human skeletons, all kinds of bone or metallic tools, volcanic glasses, china, ceramic and similar pots and kettles, statutes, figurines, defensive and offensive weapons, tablets, icons, glassware, rings, earrings, needles, hooks, seals, bracelets and the like, masks, stones, documents written or designed on leather, cloth, papyrus, parchment or metal, weighing instruments, coins, decorations, sealed or inscribed plates, china, medals, manuscript or illuminated books, miniatures, oil or watercolor paintings bearing artistic value, earthen, glass, wooden, cloth and similar movable goods. We have to protect them. Many travelers to Turkey purchase replicas of antique items, such as small statues and the like.

Weaving is very famous in Turkey. There are a lot of weavers that weave hand made carpets, curtains etc. in Turkey. It is a very difficult part of arts and crafts that very special to Turkey and its culture.

Another very famous piece of art and crafts that the Turkish culture includes is pottery.

Despite its name, the evil eye is not evil. It is actually quite the contrary; it actually protects you from an evil eye. Because in the Turkish culture we believe that if someone is jealous of you or envies you, something bad will happen.


 * Thirdly**, I want to talk about ** the sightseeing places in Turkey **. There are a lot of places in turkey to visit. For example: **Cappadocia**


 * Hierapolis and** **Pamukkale (SACRED CITY)**


 * ISTANBUL**


 * EPHESUS**


 * SUMELA MANASTERY**

[]
 * Lastly**, I want to talk about ** various historical places in Turkey **. For example: Ayasofya (Haghia Sophia), Topkapı Sarayı (Topkapı Palace), and Rumeli Hisarı (Rumelian Fortress).

İstanbul'da Bizans devrinden kalan en ünlü kilisedir. 1453'te Fatih Sultan Mehmed'in İstanbul'u almasıyla camiye çevrilmiş, 1935'te müze oluncaya kadar bu amaçla kullanılmıştır. It is the most important church which is the remainder of Byzantine period. It was converted into mosque when Fatih Sultan Mehmed conquered İstanbul in 1453. It was used for this purpose until becoming museum. İstanbul'da Sarayburnu sırtları üzerinde, Fatih devrinden Abdülmecid'e kadar Osmanlı padişahlarının oturduğu Topkapı Sarayı şehrin birinci tepesinde, Zeytinlik adı verilen bölgede kuruldu. 1478 yılında yapılan 1400 metrelik surlarla çevrili olan Topkapı Sarayı'nın Marmara tarafındaki Otluk kapısı ve Haliç tarafındaki Demirkapı'dan başka küçük ölçüde beş koltuk kapısı olan Suru Sultani adı verilen surun ana girişi, Ayasofya arkasındaki Bab-ı Hümayundur. It is on the crest of the Sarayburnu called Topkapı Sarayı which hosted sultans of Ottoman from period of the Fatih to Abdülmecid and Topkapı sarayı, which was built in the area called Zeytinlik, is the first crest of the city. Topkapı sarayı which has Otluk door in the side of Marmara and Demirkapı in the side of Haliç was built in 1478 that is surrounded with vallation of height of 1400 metric. İstanbul'un Avrupa yakasında aynı adlı semtte bulunan, Bopazkesen Hisarı olarak bilinen kale. Boğazın en dar noktasında ve Anadolu Hisarı'nın tam karşısındadır. 1452 yılında II. Mehmet tarafından İstanbul'un fethini kolaylaştırmak, Boğaz'dan gelecek yardımı kesmek için yapılmış ve inşaatı sadece 4 ay sürmüştür. It is a castle in the side of Europe that known as Boğazkesen Fortress. It is in the narrowest stage of the strait and across the Anatolian Fortress. It was built in 1452 by II. Mehmet in order to ease the conquest of İstanbul and its architecture takes four month.
 * Ayasofya**
 * Haghia Sophia **
 * Topkapı Sarayı **
 * Topkapı **** Palace **
 * Rumeli Hisarı **
 * Rumelian Fortress **

Lastly, I want to talk about various historical places in Turkey. One of those ‘must see’ a city is Konya. Famous for the burial site of Mevlana, but otherwise also a rich city. It has great mosques. Many of them are from the Selcuk period. Also it has some wonderful museums.


 * Konya’s **** Mevlana **** Museum **


 * Independence War Museum **


 * Karatay **** Ceramics Museum **


 * Konya Archeological Museum **

I have a **video** from YouTube about Konya. It introduces Konya. It talks about cultures and history about Konya.

[] (Turkish version: Konya tanıtım filmi) I translated this video in English. Topraklarında yeşeren her medeniyetin ruhundan derin izler taşır bu şehir…

This city bears deep trace from the spirit of each civilization which becomes green in their lands. Ears loaded with plentiful make the most of civilization..Split lands of desert are plasticized in hands of craftsman who is in love. Each corner is built with affection and indulgence. Country of Mevlana.. Nice sound of the different cultures surrounds the streets gradually. Ceramics decorated in the Hadra tell you its great history. Everyday a new sun rises summit of Alaaddin and it goes to the life from Karatay to Selçuklu to Meram.. Here is Konya. Konya is the eternal capital city of our culture and history. It is a story of magnificence from past to future that rebounds in Konya. From Çatalhöyük to Yüksekova, from Hittites to Phrygians, from Kimmerians to Lydians to Persians, from Alexander the Great to Seljuks to Ottoman it spreads the nice sound of civilization which bears the deep trace in the each person.. Street street.. Ikonya is the neighbor of Byzantine and the shining city of Roma in the East. The name of Konya comes from here. Turks who separate from Central Asia and create a new civilization in the plentiful lands of Anatolian start with a clean slate at the history of Konya. In Konya, Anatolian Seljuks manufacture the safest city of the world affectionately, hopefully and determinedly. In those times the world groans under the cruelty. It does not feel so much free in any period of history. Konya is the most prosperous city of the medieval age with mosques, churches, caravansary, madrasa, public houses and public baths. This city is the city of heart that orphans and milds refuges. Invitation of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, who is the greatest representative of affection and mercy from those days to these days, spread from Konya to the whole world. Konya which has a cultural heritage comes from history grows quickly by republic period. Today it is like an open air museum and retains its identity of being an important center as the city of world by developing industry and modern scene.
 * Introductory Film of KONYA **

===** I really like your project because it is like an overall introduction of Turkey. You have identified four major areas to introduce our country, which are traditions, the cultural artifacts, the sightseeing places and various historical places. I like the way you choose some traditional photos, which are helpful to attract tourists who haven't been in Turkey before. You have a nice and quite long interview with one of your family member, which shows us a very beautiful depiction of some of Turkey's traditions; such as wedding ceremony. Also, I like your video as an introductory film of Konya. Since it is an audio-visiual source, your project has gone beyond the words. Thank you for this project :) **===

** Ezgi Hazal KÖK **
==** Evrim I like so much your project since this my hometown. When I read the things that I have experienced before affect me. You gave very brief but the key points about the traditions of the city. A tourist can learn may things in terms of traditions, cultural things and historical places from your project. I like you way of presenting the photos. They are attractive. If I were a person who did not come to Konya before I would definitely want to visit it after read your project. Your interview is also informative. Translations are okay. Video gives many information about Konya. You did great job. Thanks for your effort and the project. **==


 * MERYEM LULECI **