|
The Islamic holy
month of Ramadan (called
Ramazan in
Turkey) is
a special time, and can affect
travelers' plans.
Being
an Islamic
holiday, Ramazan begins
11 days earlier each succeeding year. Here
are the estimated dates for the next few
years:
2008: 1-30
September
2009: 20
August -
19 September
2010: 9 August -
7 September
THE
NIGHT OF POWER
The 27th of Ramazan, Kadir Gecesi (Lailat
al Kadr), the Night of Power, commemorates,
among other things, the revelation of the Qur'an to
the Prophet Muhammed.
In
Turkey it's celebrated on these dates,
beginning—as the traditional Islamic day does—at sunset in the evening and
lasting until the following evening:
2008: 27/28
September (Saturday/Sunday)
2009: 16/17
September (Wednesday/Thursday)
2010: 5/6
September (Sunday/Monday)
SEKER
BAYRAMI
Ramazan is followed immediately by the three-day
national holiday of Seker Bayrami (Candy
Festival, Eid es-Seghir or Eid al-Fitr in
Arabic) which falls on these (estimated) dates:
2008: Half-day "preparation" (arife) holiday
on Monday, 29 September,
full-day holidays on 30 September,
1 and 2 October (Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday,
but people may extend travel through
the weekend to Sunday, 5 October)
2009: Half-day "preparation" (arife) holiday
on Friday, 18 September,
full-day
holidays on 19, 20 & 21 September (Saturday-Sunday-Monday),
but travel will begin on Friday, 18
September.
2010: Half-day "preparation" (arife) holiday
on Tueesday, 7 September,
full-day holidays on 8, 9 & 10 September (Wednesday-Thursday-Friday),
but Saturday and Sunday, 11-12 September,
will be busy travel days as well.
|
