Greetings
Greetings are important in Turkey and play an integral role in forming relationships. Turks typically greet others with an embrace, hug, and handshake. When first meeting someone, men may offer a light handshake and direct eye contact, and women may also provide a light handshake and embrace and kiss on both cheeks. It is considered polite to greet each person individually, even in a group setting.
Handshakes
In Turkey, handshakes are the most common form of greeting between any gender, relative strangers, and friends alike. When shaking hands, it is customary to maintain eye contact throughout the exchange. In addition, handshakes are often accompanied by a polite nod and a verbal greeting such as “merhaba” (Hello).
Depending on the occasion and social context, a man in Turkey may instead choose to lightly grasp both hands and hold them out in front of himself as if presenting a gift to society.
Greetings tend to have less physical contact in more significant business or formal contexts. Generally, verbal exchanges of merhaba or “iyi günler” (Good day) are enough to indicate friendliness and respect to another person. For example, when entering or leaving an office where a stranger works, acknowledgment towards that person might take the form of nodding the head in their direction rather than making physical contact through handshakes.
Kissing
Greetings in Turkey are essential. Greeting is a primary indicator of respect and status, and while forms of greetings vary across the country, kissing is a common form. Children will kiss both cheeks when they meet, while adults follow the same ritual with friends and family members.
Friends and close acquaintances may choose to shake hands or exchange a hug upon meeting each other. People often shake hands at formal occasions like weddings or business meetings to introduce themselves. It is customary to give two kisses on the right cheek when being introduced by someone else within Turk culture. However, some individuals still opt for shaking hands when meeting unfamiliar people in more conservative regions of Turkey.
When departing from someone else’s house, it is polite to kiss goodbye on both cheeks or give them a gentle embrace if you are comfortable doing so. The choice between the two should depend on the relationship between those involved; however, touching or embracing strangers in public settings is not considered acceptable unless the person desires it for religious reasons.
Body Language
In Turkey, body language is an essential component of communication. People often greet each other with hugs and kisses on the cheek, particularly in social settings. When meeting someone for the first time, it is best to observe that person’s body language before making a gesture of friendship. Generally speaking, shaking hands is common when women meet, while men will usually hug one another.
Eye contact during conversations should be maintained throughout, as looking away or downcasted eyes are considered signs of disrespect and lack of interest. Avoid placing your hands on people without permission or speaking too close to someone’s face, as this can also offend. As with most countries around the world, addressing someone using their title, such as ‘Seytan’ (Mr.) or ‘Bayan’ (Mrs.), along with their name, shows courtesy and respect for both genders.
In general, pointing and gesturing when talking should be avoided in Turkey as it can be seen as rude behavior, and physical contact between members of opposite sexes in public shouldn’t occur unless they’re related or very close friends/family.
Eating
Food is an integral part of Turkish culture and sharing meals is a big part. Eating together is an important social activity in Turkey, and we can greatly enjoy it. The food is generally served on a shared platter, and people eat from it together, traditionally from the same side of the platter.
Here is an overview of the eating customs in Turkey:
Table Manners
Etiquette and cultural norms around mealtimes in Turkey are important and can be quite different from other countries. Table manners may vary depending on the region or city where you’re eating. However, most of the same basic rules apply. For example, before a meal begins, it is polite to greet those at the table with a “Merhaba.” It is also customary to wait until everyone is served before eating.
When eating out, Turkish people usually show their pleasure by commenting on how good things taste with phrases like “Efendim leziz” (“It’s delicious”) or “Çok lezzetli” (“Very tasty”). Conversations at the table are generally lively and can revolve around special occasions or topics related to local culture.
Other general rules of etiquette include:
- Eating food in small bites.
- Avoiding talking with your mouth full.
- Not taking large amounts of food off another person’s plate.
- Not interrupting people while they are talking.
- Not leaning your elbows on the table.
Once you finish your meal, it is polite to thank everyone who cooked for you and say something like “Çok teşekkür ederim” (“Thank you very much”).
Food Etiquette
Turkey has a rich cultural heritage, so it’s important to follow some simple food etiquette guidelines when you visit. Special attention should be paid to the mealtime rituals, from the simple selection of bread and cheeses served first (known as a meze in Turkish) to the Turkish greeting for a meal, which is: “Afiyet Olsun” (“May You Enjoy Your Meal!“).
When eating in restaurants or homes, diners should always wait until everyone is served before they start to eat. All diners at the table will usually share one or two dishes. Using your hands is fine during the meal, although you may use utensils if you prefer. Always pass dishes using your right hand; it’s considered bad manners to reach across someone else with your left hand.
Most meals are likely to include meat dishes, such as kebab and doner kebab (which can easily be made into vegetarian options without any loss of flavor!), dips such as hummus and baba ghanoush, salads such as tomato salad, desserts such as baklava and rice pudding, and traditional drinks such as raki and Turkish tea or coffee.
If invited into a home for dinner, it’s polite to bring flowers for the hostess or something small like chocolates or pastries for dessert – however, these are not necessary offers! Table manners are similar around Turkey; there will usually be numerous dishes that diners share collectively, along with either handmade pides (flatbread) or lavash (thin cracker-like bread), which may be used instead of utensils. It is also customary that women do not need to contribute money when paying restaurant bills unless they wish – this rarely happens outside central Istanbul Tourist areas!
Traditional Dishes
From baklava to menemen, Turkey is a nation renowned for its unique and exciting cuisine. Its traditional dishes are highly varied and have been influenced by the strong cultural heritage of the region, as well as external historical influences. From enjoying delicious meze platters in Istanbul to trying delicious herb-filled stews in Diyarbakır, here is a quick guide to some of the country’s most beloved traditional dishes.
- Meze: A meze platter refers to a selection of small dishes served alongside drinks or as part of a full meal. Typical dishes include hummus, spicy eggplant salad, artichokes, Pilaki (a dish made with beans), and Ezme (a spread made with tomatoes and onions).
- Kebabs: Kebabs are one of the country’s most beloved meals and come in various forms. They can be grilled over charcoal or served raw; they can also be shish kebabs or even lahmacun – flat pizzas covered with minced meat and vegetables.
- Gözleme: Gözleme is a savory pastry filled with spinach, cheese, or potatoes and is pan-fried before serving. It’s often served for breakfast alongside boiled eggs and feta cheese along the Black Sea coast.
- Kunefe: Kunefe is a lovely dessert made from shredded filo pastry filled with sweet cheese curds like Akkaş unless salty kashkaval cheese is used instead. It’s then cooked in butter or oil before being garnished with syrup or honey and topped with pistachio or walnuts.
- Turkish coffee: Turkish-style coffee has been famous throughout history and enjoyed by emperors like Suleiman the Magnificent, who was known to enjoy it during breaks from his studies; it remains popular today among locals and visitors alike due to its smoothness, rich flavor profile, and thick foam top. It’s made by roasting finely ground Arabica beans carefully blended into small metal cups on an open flame before boiling water is added. The final result should look almost like mud!
Dress
The dress code in Turkey reflects the country’s traditional Islamic values. Men generally wear trousers and shirts, while women should avoid exposing their arms, legs, and lower back. It is vital when visiting religious sites. It is appropriate to wear modest clothing such as long skirts, long-sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes. Casual clothing such as jeans and t-shirts is also acceptable in an informal setting.
Traditional Clothing
Turkey’s clothing usually follows the Far East’s traditional and traditional styles. Although styles may differ depending on the region or region, clothing for both men and women is modest yet functional. Both men and women typically dress in layers and loose-fitting fabrics due to Turkey’s hot climate.
Turkish men tend to wear more subdued and darker colors, while women may wear popping prints with more ornate accents, such as flowery patterns or coins, traditionally known as ‘badyna.’ Brightly colored fabrics are seen throughout traditional garb, often with silks that twinkle in emblazoned patterns. Women typically don wrapped-style dresses cinched around the waist with a belt, called a ‘fes,’ which is common throughout the Middle East. The traditional Arabian-style harem pants with baggy lower legs are also popular among many Turks. Long skirts in lighter material such as chiffon are prevalent too – often paired with long-sleeved shirts and waistcoats left open at the front. Traditional headscarves or hats – like fur caps called ‘tupi’ – complete this attire for both genders.
Although the traditional dress is still worn sporadically across rural areas in Turkey today, its presence has diminished over time as Turkish culture has become increasingly westernized over recent years due to its geographically close to Europe. Nevertheless, it is still not uncommon to see such outfits, particularly during festivals or national celebrations. Still, it is far less frequent than before when wearing such attire was widespread throughout rural and urban parts of the country during past generations before modern times began today.
Business Attire
Generally, Turks prefer formality in attire, especially when it comes to business attire. Men are expected to dress conservatively and wear a suit and tie. Shirts should be of solid color (preferably white) and have long sleeves. Women should also dress conservatively in solid colors of pantsuits or skirts combined with either trousers or blouses for business meetings. Revealing clothing such as low-cut tops and short skirts is considered inappropriate for business meetings, as are jeans and trainers.
For more formal occasions such as religious ceremonies, men may wear dark suits with a white shirt and traditional headgear; women should choose traditional clothes that cover their arms, legs, and toes.
Beachwear
Turkey is a diverse and multicultural country, so beachwear varies from place to place. Some areas like Antalya, Fethiye, and Istanbul have beaches with solid western influence, which makes them appropriate for wearing swimsuits or bikinis. However, on most local beaches, bikinis are not appropriate.
On public beaches, swimming tops must be worn with pants or shorts by both women and men alike, although some smaller resorts might permit just a top for men. As a result, it’s common to see Turkish women wearing bathing suits outside the water while their male counterparts may be shirtless without any issue.
Compared to other places in Europe like Spain, where swimming trunks are typical attire even away from water, this is generally frowned upon in Turkey and is liable to draw unwanted attention in conservative parts of towns or places such as small villages and other rural areas.
Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country, so visitors should always avoid overly revealing clothing. Although in major cities, you can find swimwear more focused on fashion due to the more significant influx of tourists from around the world, it’s important to still abide by traditional Turkish customs when it comes to dressing code, even at the beach.
Socializing
Socializing is an essential part of Turkish culture and a way to build relationships with others. It’s important to show respect when engaging in conversation, as well as showing respect to elders. Turks generally greet each other with a hug and kiss on the cheek, and the conversation often begins with small talk.
Eye contact is essential, and it is considered rude to look away while someone is speaking.
Invitations
In Turkey, invitations are either verbally extended or sent as a card, depending on the type of event. Never arrive at someone’s home without calling beforehand, even if you have an invitation; it is more than likely that people will not be expecting you and will not be adequately prepared to receive visitors.
It is customary for Turkish people to invite friends to join them for dinner or breakfast, or lunch at regular intervals throughout the year. When asked to someone’s home, it is polite to bring a gift such as flowers, fruit, or chocolates; if you are visiting family, you should get a small gift related to their interests. If attending meals at a restaurant, each person pays for his/her tab unless it is clear that all were invited as guests. It is customary in Turkey for couples to split the bill on dates. Always accept an invitation graciously when extended; politeness and respect go a long way in obtaining friendships while visiting Turkey!
Gift Giving
When invited to a home, always arrive on time with a gift for the hosts, such as flowers or small items for the kitchen. A box of high-quality chocolates or a bottle of Turkish spirits, such as rakı, are also good choices. If you come from another country and want to bring something unique from home, do not make it too much value because that would put scrutiny on your hosts when they have to reciprocate the gesture. A nice idea would be to bring something that reflects your culture and is symbolic of your relationship with that particular host family/person.
The general rule is that it is polite to reject a gift at least twice before accepting it – so if you give someone a gift, don’t be offended if they refuse it three times!
When receiving gifts, express appreciation by thanking the giver and admiring the present. Some gifts may require immediate unwrapping – this usually happens when food items like fruits and nuts -– but oversized or luxurious items should not be opened unless instructed by the giver.
Conversation Topics
Turkey, like many countries in the world, has a rich culture and etiquette regarding socializing. Different topics of conversation depending on who you are talking to, their status within the community, and the situation can vary drastically. Here are some tips for engaging in polite conversation:
- Be sure to greet the most senior person present first before speaking with others.
- Make inquiries about family first and be sure to inquire about their well-being – the disease is still a sensitive topic, so general questions are more appropriate.
- General topics such as sports, music, books, recent news, etc., are acceptable but be aware of current events happening in Turkey and abroad. Avoid discussing political opinions or issues with someone you don’t know well or those of different backgrounds than yours.
- Do not discuss negative topics such as death or other family issues; it’s best to avoid asking too many personal questions that could be seen as intrusive.
- Compliment people on their appearance or clothing when appropriate; Turkish people take great pride in their appearance, so it will usually put them at ease initially if you comment on something favorable about them. However, don’t associate anyone negatively with physical features (e.g., weight).
- Be mindful not to talk too loudly and avoid interrupting others; allow for equal airtime for all participating in the discussion so everyone is comfortable communicating without feeling rushed or ignored by another individual’s overbearing presence during a conversation.
Religion
Religion plays a vital role in Turkish culture, and most of the population identifies as Muslim. Most Turks adhere to the teachings of the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam and follow a few of the practices of both the Sufi and Shia branches. There are also minority religions in Turkey, such as Christianity, Judaism, and Alevism.
Customs associated with religion need to be respected when in Turkey.
Islam
Islam is the majority religion in Turkey and has been practiced since the 11th century. As of 2016, 99.8% of Turks identified as Muslim, with most identifying as adherents to the Sunni branch of Islam. While some traditions vary among Muslim communities in Turkey, there are certain core beliefs and practices that all Muslims share.
At the heart of Islam lies five essential pillars:
- The shahada (declaration of faith)
- Salat (Prayer)
- Zakat (almsgiving)
- Sawm (fasting during Ramadan)
- Hajj (pilgrimage to Meccah)
Muslims practice these pillars and other aspects of Islamic laws, such as fasting, obedience to Allah and His revelations, respect for nature, honoring family ties, charity, humility, and modesty in all aspects of life.
Islamic holidays celebrated in Turkey include Eid-al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice), Fatih Cuma or Regaip Kandili (The Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday), Kurban Bayrami or Eid-al-Fitr (Feast at the End of Ramadan), Yıldız Gecesi or Hıdrellez Bayramıand also Ramazan Bayrami (Eid al-Fitr).
In public spaces such as restaurants or malls, modest clothing should be worn to respect local customs; for women, this means covering your arms and legs if you can. When invited into a Turkish home, one should take off one’s shoes before going inside – depending on the family a headscarf may also be necessary upon entering some homes.
Christianity
Christianity has been practiced in Turkey since the 1st century and is still the largest non-Muslim faith in the country today. It is estimated that approximately 0.2-0.5% of the population of Turkey is Christian, and almost all of them are ethnic Greeks, a reminder of the turbulent history between the east and west.
Due to their small population, many Christians have assimilated into Turkish culture, speaking Turkish and displaying primarily Islamic customs out of necessity. As a result, it makes it difficult for visitors to distinguish native Christians from other Turks who practice Islam or any other religion.
Most Turkish churches were built long ago, and there aren’t many left today due to religious persecution in past centuries. Many are poorly maintained, given the low numbers attending services. Despite this, their mixed-sex congregations are made up mainly of elderly parishioners. Still, more younger people have started to participate in recent years as religiosity has become more accepted again in society after decades of state-sponsored secularism following the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1923.
In terms of observance at home, religious holidays such as Easter Sunday and Christmas are celebrated amongst many families, although not as widely nor with as much vigor compared to Muslim festivals like Eid al Fitr or Eid al Adha, which dominate public life during these times each year. Furthermore, Christmas decorations can be seen displayed slightly less prominently than those found during Ramadan or other Muslim holidays, with Nativity scenes being particularly rare sights even though they can be found scattered around larger cities from time to time.
Judaism
Turkey’s vibrant Jewish community maintains good relations with this religious minority. Judaism is the third-largest religion in the nation, followed by some 26,000 people. While much of the Jewish community resides in Istanbul, other traditional Jewish life centers in Turkey are located throughout Izmir, Bursa, Edirne, and Canakkale.
Turkey is an officially secular state, and Turkish Jews have equal rights and freedom under Turkish law and enjoy total freedom to practice their faith. While some practice orthodox Judaism, most choose a more modern lifestyle.
There are also many social clubs in various cities where members can connect to discuss related topics or meet for friendly gatherings. Celebrations include major holidays, including Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Passover (Pesach). During these special times of the year, it’s not uncommon to see Jews from all over the world who have traveled back to Turkey to celebrate with friends and family.
The Jews of Turkey have made significant contributions over the years in fields such as finance, agriculture, architecture, science, and art, as well as literature, theatre, and dance. As a result of these accomplishments, along with their commitment towards interfaith dialogue through mutual respect for traditions both old and new within the Catholic-Orthodox-Muslim communities within Turkey’s borders, create an understanding between all religious peoples living together.