Forgotten Ottoman Eid traditions make comeback in Turkey
Although Turks cannot agree on the name of the holiday, all agree to keep Ramadan traditions alive in modern times.
At the end of fasting for 30 days, Muslims everywhere enjoy Eid al-Fitr, the Arabic name for the celebration marking the end of Ramadan. Turks use the word Bayram, instead of Eid, to mean feast and celebration. The disputes within Turkish society are numerous. First, what is the proper name of the celebration? Conservatives insist on referring to it as Ramadan Feast, while seculars opt for Candy Feast, arguing that the month of Ramadan is over. Then there is the dispute about what day Ramadan ends, or celebrations start, all around the Muslim world, following the debate about the starting day of Ramadan.
In Turkey, most people follow what the Religious Affairs Directorate suggests. This year, to boost tourism, the government extended the holiday to nine days. The first day of Eid was announced as July 5. Based on the lunar year, Ramadan moves 10 days forward every year. Therefore, it is not set to a specific season, so it is difficult to identify certain tastes and decors with Eid celebrations in the Muslim world.
