|
These minor Islamic
festivals are not public holidays,
and they won't affect your travel
plans much except to make your time
in Turkey more interesting and enjoyable.
Note the dates so
you can explore—and
perhaps participate in—the
meaning and delights of the festivals,
and remember that these Islamic festivals
begin in the evening and last until
the next evening:
Aşure Günü:
Martyrdom of Imam Hüseyin
Mevlid-i Nebi: Birthday
of the Prophet Muhammed
Regaip Kandili: Prophet
Muhammed's conception
Miraç Kandili: Prophet
Muhammed's ascent to heaven
Berat Kandili: Day
of Forgiveness
AŞURE
GÜNÜ
Aşure Günü (AH-shoo-REH gew-new), the
10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Muharrem,
is estimated to fall on:
2010: 16
December (Thursday)
2011: 5 December
(Monday)
2012: 24 November
(Saturday)
2013: 13 November
(Wednesday)
It's
not a public holiday, but is commemorated
in Turkey as the date that: Adam repented
his sin, the Prophet Abraham was
born, Jonah emerged
from the whale, and Noah's
ark rested on dry land. For Shi'a
Muslims, it has extraordinary importance
as the day that Imam Hüseyin,
the grandson of the Prophet, was
martyred on the battlefield of Kerbela
(Karbala) in 680 CE/AD.
It
will also reputedly be the Day
of Judgement—when
that comes!
Turks
commemorate it by serving a special
sweet pudding called aşure (AH-shoo-REH)
made with cereals, raisins and nuts.
MEVLİD-İ
NEBİ (Mevlid Kandili)
Mevlid-i Nebi (mehv-LEED ee NEH-bee), the Prophet
Muhammad's birthday, is fixed as the 12th day
of the 3rd month (Rebi' ul-Evvel/Rabi' ul-Awwal)
of the Hijri calendar. It's celebrated with mosque
illuminations and special foods, and is estimated
to fall on:
2011: 14/15
February (Monday/Tuesday)
2012: 3/4
February (Friday/Saturday)
2013: 23/24 January
(Wednesday/Thursday)
REGAİP
KANDİLİ
Regaip Kandili (reh-gah-YEEP kahn-dee-lee), the "Beginning
of the Three Moons," 4th of Recep (Rajab),
celebrating the night of Muhammed's conception, is
estimated to fall on:
2011: 2/3 June (Thursday/Friday)
2012: 24/25 May (Thursday/Friday)
2013: 16/17 May (Thursday/Friday)
Celebrations
include mosque illuminations (pretty
and photogenic).
MİRAÇ KANDİLİ
Miraç Kandili (mee-RATCH kahn-dee-lee),
27th of Recep (Rajab), celebrates the Prophet Muhammed's
ascent into heaven. It's estimated to fall on:
2011: 28/29 June (Tuesday/Wednesday)
2012: 16/17 June
(Saturday/Sunday)
2013: 5/6 June (Wednesday/Thursday
BERAT
KANDİLİ
Berat Kandili (beh-RAHT kahn-dee-lee), the "Day
of Forgiveness," (14th of Saban) is celebrated
on:
2011: 15/16 July (Friday/Saturday)
2012: 4/5 July (Wednesday/Thursday)
2013: 23/24 June
(Sunday/Monday)
...lighting
up the mosques.
|
