Millions of Muslims in Turkey and around the world are celebrating the end of Ramadan (Ramazan Bayramı in Turkish, or Eid al-Fitr in Arabic), which marks the end of fasting according to the Islamic lunar calendar and the beginning of several days of celebrations during which it is tradition to prepare succulent meals, visit relatives and cemeteries, give gifts and eat sweets, which is why in Turkey these holidays are also called the Feast of Sweets (Şeker Bayramı).
A common sight at this time of year is to see the markets crowded with people buying everything, from traditional sweets to celebrate the end of Ramadan, to new clothes and shoes to visit relatives and friends. Millions of people travel by road or air to meet distant relatives, and many flights as well as train and bus routes have been fully booked for days or even weeks, being common to see long queues of people travelling laden with gifts at major train and bus stations or at airports.
The end of Ramadan also leaves surprising images in large cities such as Istanbul, where apart from the mosques where many Muslim worshippers come to pray, the city seems much emptier and quieter as many of its residents travel to other provinces or even abroad to visit their relatives, or – why not – others prefer to spend their holidays in large tourist resorts on the Turkish Mediterranean or Aegean coasts. For those who stay behind or visit Istanbul as mere tourists, these days can be an opportunity to enjoy the magic of the Ramadan Festival… but also to explore the Turkish metropolis with an unusual quietness, at least beyond the big tourist sites such as Hagia Sophia or Istiklal Avenue.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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