I live in Turkey, and today is an special day here: the beginning of the Ramadan Feast.
The Ramadan Feast
is a time for visiting relatives and paying one’s respect to older people.
Many people wake up early on the first day of the Ramadan Feast. They put on their best clothes, which they often buy specifically for the occasion, and have a large breakfast. This symbolizes the end of the
fasting period, which many Muslims observe during the preceding month of Ramadan.
The Ramadan Feast has an alternative name in Turkey, the
Sugar Feast (Şeker Bayramı), because people treat their guests to sweets and traditional desserts during the festival.
It is customary to visit one's relatives, especially older ones, and kiss their hand as a sign of respect. Children may go door-to-door, kissing hands of the grown-ups and receiving sweets and small amounts of money in return.
