Ramadan Celebrations

Ramadan festivities are wonderful celebrations held to make this special month even more joyful, colorful, and filled with love. Like a festival, every corner glows with light and people embrace one another.

What Are Ramadan Festivities?

The month of Ramadan, known as the “sultan of eleven months,” is spent together through activities that combine fun and learning—these are called Ramadan festivities. Thanks to these events, streets come alive, markets buzz with energy, and every place is filled with holiday spirit.

Why Do We Celebrate?

Because Ramadan means unity, togetherness, and mutual support. Through these activities, people get to know each other better, enemies reconcile, and we all remember together how beautiful sharing truly is.

What Did People Do in Traditional Ramadan Festivities?

• Gatherings After Tarawih Prayers: People would first go to mosques to perform Tarawih prayers and then flock to festive areas after the prayers ended.
• Entertainments Between Columns: Direklerarası, Istanbul’s most famous entertainment hub, would be packed during Ramadan nights. Tea houses and coffee shops would overflow with visitors.
• Shadow Plays: The most beloved part of Ramadan festivities were shadow plays like Karagöz and Hacivat. These humorous figures, projected behind a screen, delighted both children and adults alike.
• Ortaoyunu and Meddah: Theater performances staged in the center of open spaces (ortaoyunu) and storytelling shows by a single performer (meddah) were among the greatest entertainments of the time.
• Semazen Performances: In some places, people would watch dervishes in pure white robes spinning gracefully to soothing music.

What Did People Eat and Drink Back Then?

• Traditional Delicacies: While chatting, people would drink coffee and sample the famous Ramadan macun sweets.
• Food and Drink Offerings: In keeping with Ramadan’s spirit of mutual aid, food and drinks were generously offered everywhere, and lavish tables were set up.

Why Are These Festivities Important?

• Unity and Togetherness: These festivities were not just for laughter—they brought neighbors and friends together, helped reconcile those at odds, and allowed everyone to share joy in one place.
• Sharing Spirituality: The serene and peaceful atmosphere of Ramadan, combined with these joyful events, left unforgettable memories in people’s hearts.
• Science and Technology Workshops: Today, festivities are no longer limited to games—robotics coding, artificial intelligence, and design workshops are now held for children. In fact, visitors can even experience flying in aircraft simulators like KAAN and try their hand at being a pilot!
• Large Iftar Tables and Offerings: Massive iftar tents are set up in the city’s largest squares, such as Üsküdar and Eminönü. Mobile buffets and traveling vehicles also deliver hot meals and offerings to those on the road or working in hospitals during iftar time.
• Book Fairs and Cultural Stops: At large book stalls set up during festivities, you can find books by your favorite authors and attend book signing events. These spaces also host traditional art workshops such as painting and ebru (marbling).
• Modern Performances: Stage events feature theater plays, poetry readings, and Sufi music concerts. Additionally, modern storytellers (contemporary meddahs) tell the most beautiful tales to children.

Why Do We Attend These Festivities?

• To Share Joy Together: Leaving our homes to share Ramadan’s peaceful atmosphere with everyone, learn new things, and make friends—these festivities offer a wonderful opportunity.
• The Spirit of Mutual Aid: Through these events, we see how important sharing truly is. We experience the joy of sitting at the same table with someone we have never met before and breaking bread together.