Experiencing the Christmas celebration in the beautiful cities of Türkiye
During the New Year, various ceremonies and fireworks are held in the cities of Turkey, and many people choose to travel to Turkey for Christmas. This article discusses all the features and ceremonies of Christmas in Turkey. By choosing Manolya Tour, you can easily buy the cheapest tour and plan your trip.
Christmas in Türkiye
Although Türkiye is a Muslim country, followers of other religions live here. Like Christians, Jews and Yezidis who have been living side by side for many years. Prior to the Ottoman Empire, most of the population of Turkey was Christian. It’s interesting to know that the beginning of their new year falls on the new year, and this is one of the places where the new year is very important. Christmas, the Christian birthday, is a common day in Turkey, but the New Year’s celebration, which starts in January, is very important.
Christmas in Turkey is associated with Christian neighborhoods, and elaborate Christmas celebrations take place in Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Izmir and dozens of other cities that have Christian neighborhoods and are close to large churches. If you are interested in celebrating the New Year in Turkey, we suggest you do not miss the tour for Christmas 2023!
Christmas atmosphere in Türkiye
The Christmas atmosphere in Turkey is a bit different from Western cities, but it’s good to know that from mid-December, Turkish cities are getting decorated and ready for the celebration. A large number of Christmas trees and Santa Clauses are set up, the largest concerts of the Turkish tour are held.
The churches of various Turkish cities, especially the city of Istanbul, the holy places of Christianity in Antalya and the ancient city of Ephesus, have a unique beauty. The ancient city of Ephesus is getting ready for the New Year with special decorations and lights. Experience Christmas in Turkey, a unique historical place and you can choose the historical city of Ephesus.
The history of celebrating Christmas in Türkiye
The history of the celebration of Christmas in Turkey dates back to the third century AD. In the 3rd century AD, Turkey was ruled under the control of the Roman Empire, and this was the same time as the Parthian and Sasanian periods of Iran.
According to the Turkish people, the Holy Bastille lived in the east, where today is the city of Kayseri in Turkey. He was considered an important saint in the Eastern Churches and many Greek Christmas carols mention the Holy Bastille in the Eastern Church. Remember that Christmas in Turkey has a very long history.
Christmas, which means the birth of Christ, is not considered a holiday in the national calendar of Turkey, but the New Year atmosphere of Santa Claus and Christmas trees can be seen in different cities of Turkey. The New Year celebration held in the Christian quarters is called Mutlu Noller, and Noel is the symbol of Santa Claus in the tradition of the Turkish people, who brings various gifts.
Ceremony on Christmas Eve in Türkiye
Although there is no Christmas in the Turkish national calendar, many Turkish-speaking Christian families celebrate this night. The Christmas Eve ceremony in Turkey is such that most families have a party and an elaborate roast turkey dinner.
And this is how they happily spend the night. The custom of grilling a turkey has been around for a very long time Of course, it must be said that most people eat turkey on New Year’s Eve, which means at the end of December, January 1 is also the beginning of a new year. It should be noted that in Turkey, since the beginning of December, many auctions are held on the eve of Christmas for several weeks, and the Turks start shopping in advance.
Christmas Eve in Türkiye
Apart from the concerts and the joy you will experience in the streets of Turkey on Christmas Eve in Turkey, it is good to know that most stores and malls have good discounts on New Year’s Eve and that is why it is considered very important. In areas such as Istanbul, Alanya and Antalya, in addition to delicious food, the restaurants have a detailed entertainment program, and if you are a traveler, it is good if you choose a restaurant with programs and entertainment that you like.
Anthony of Padua, the largest Catholic church in Turkey, has an elaborate ceremony on Christmas Eve and this is one of the places you can choose if you want to see a special Christian ceremony. Most Christian cities in Turkey host Christmas ceremonies and holidays.
The most suitable city in Türkiye for Christmas
Manolya Tour wants to introduce you to the city during the Turkish New Year celebrations in which you will have a good time, then this is undoubtedly the city of Istanbul, Turkey. One of the most suitable cities in Turkey for Christmas is Istanbul, because the Bosphorus passed through the city and the city is divided into two eastern and western parts, and fireworks on the Bosphorus River have indescribable beauty.
This strait is considered very important because it is the border between two continents. Many world-famous musicians also perform at St. Anthony’s Church, and you can enjoy a full Turkish concert by purchasing a separate ticket. On Taksim Square and Istiklal Street, you can see the most important and lively rehearsal of the Christmas ceremony and experience Christmas in Turkey.
New Year traditions in Türkiye
There are different customs in the Turkish New Year. Although Christmas is not a holiday in Turkey, New Year’s holidays are similar to Western countries. One of the New Year traditions in Turkey is that on the eve of the New Year holidays, Turkish women take a handful of salt from the kitchen and sprinkle it on the door at the end of the night, which, in their opinion, brings a blessing.
If you were in Turkey during the New Year holidays, you can see this. Another tradition very popular among Turks is that they give each other red underwear and believe that if they wear it on New Year’s Eve, they will bring great luck for the rest of the year. Some on New Year’s Eve throw a pomegranate from the roof of their house to bring good luck in other months of the year. On New Year’s Eve, most Turkish families celebrate the New Year at home, and many streets can be deserted. At least it’s nice to see Christmas in Turkey and New Year’s celebrations up close. In the middle of the night, different cities in Turkey set off fireworks and celebrate happiness, especially on New Year’s Eve.
The most important churches in Türkiye on Christmas Eve
Christmas in Turkey is a celebration in which important churches of Turkey have special ceremonies. The largest church in Istanbul is St. Padua Anthony and it is located on istiklal Street, and in this church, from 8 o’clock a mass is held, in which many Christians participate. If you are interested in anthropology and religious beliefs, you can watch this ceremony. This church is one of the oldest churches in Turkey, which was built in the 18th century and restored in the 20th century. In addition to attending the ceremony, you will also be able to see the old atmosphere of the church and the historic site.
One of the most important churches in Turkey on Christmas Eve is the Catholic Church of Santa Maria, which is located near the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. The original construction of this church dates back to the 16th century, and its reconstruction took place at the end of the 18th century and in 1769. In this church you can see the mass on Christmas Eve in Turkey. This ceremony will take place from eight o’clock.
The Ankara International Protestant Church in the Turkish capital is one of the places where Christians celebrate the great mass, and if your destination is Christmas Eve in Turkey, you can include this church in your visit plan.
Summary about Christmas in Türkiye
If you like celebrating the New Year, you can easily choose the Istanbul New Year Party. In addition, you can also choose an air ticket for traveling to Turkey. Tickets for traveling to Turkey are usually sold from October to November, and in December it may be difficult to purchase a plane ticket to Turkey. Manolya Tour team provides the best travel services to Turkey for Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Turkey.
As Manolya Tours, we organize Istanbul Private Tour Guide, Istanbul Old City Tour, Turkish Night Show Cruise, Istanbul Airport Transfer, hot Air Balloon Tour, Red Tour Cappadocia, Green Tour Cappadocia, Antalya Tour, Istanbul Tour, Antalya The Land of Legends Tour, Scuba Diving Alanya, Pamukkale Tour, Ephesus Tours and Green Bursa Tour.
