http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages.aspxenhttp://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/14863.aspxWed, 10 Dec 2008 21:10:15 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:14863lilypondWhen visiting a foreign country, you can get into deep trouble if you are not familiar with the basic greeting formalities and the meaning of certain gestures. Learn how to behave correctly in Turkey. General Behaviour The Turks are a very hospitable people and well inclined toward foreigners who have come to visit their country. As tourism increas...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/15924.aspxFri, 21 Nov 2008 03:42:30 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:15924lilypondObserving correct dining etiquette in a foreign country opens doors&#59; not knowing what to do can make you enemies or cause offence. Formalities may vary depending on age and occasion, but it's better to be too formal than sloppy. Germany This article concentrates on dining invitations to the home, as restaurant table manners tend to be quite...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/15601.aspxWed, 19 Nov 2008 00:58:45 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:15601lilypondThe beginning and the end of life are surrounded by many rituals and traditions, based on religion as well as folklore. In Turkey they are still observed, particularly in Anatolia. Pregnancy and Birth The sex of the expected child is of course of great importance. It is believed that if the future mother eats sweet food, she will have a boy, but if...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/15466.aspxTue, 18 Nov 2008 03:48:55 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:15466lilypondWhen the Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2006, Turkey was firmly put on the map in regard to this aspect of its culture. However, the tradition of literature spans nearly 1500 years. Learn about great poets, different movements and styles. Early Traces The Turks were a nomadic people who, over the centurie...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/15143.aspxSat, 15 Nov 2008 02:38:53 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:15143lilypondSex slaves, lavish clothes, indulgence and general dolce far niente are the images the word "harem" often evokes in the Western mind. Learn about the reality of harem life and about three powerful women who clawed and tricked their way to the top. Structure and Hierarchy of the Harem The word harem is of Arabic origin and refers to the &quo...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/15017.aspxFri, 14 Nov 2008 05:22:55 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:15017lilypondTurkey's Black Sea region seems to be particularly rich in folklore. Learn about a dance, a festival, rituals and superstitions and - a very special bun! Horon Horon is a communal dance form, which, in many variations, is widespread throughout the Balkans. The Turkish version, from around Trabzon on the Black Sea, is performed by young men ...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/14733.aspxWed, 12 Nov 2008 05:38:41 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:14733lilypondTurkish humor is centuries old and ranges from shadow play to a witty judge, from camel wrestling to modern cartoons. Meet Karagöz, Hoca and Volkan Atalay. Camel Wrestling Camel wrestling does belong in the category of entertainment, because the spectators are as much a funny sight to behold as the sometimes reluctantly wrestling beasts. Today...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/14640.aspxTue, 11 Nov 2008 18:31:47 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:14640lilypondThe centuries old Turkish tradition of making the finest lace, embroidery and producing brilliant silks and brocades is very much alive today. Even modern Turrkish fashion designers like Zuhal Yorgancioglu, Birnur Garland and Hussein Chalayan are influenced . Oya and Nallihan The art of decorative edging called "oya" originates from Anato...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/12578.aspxTue, 11 Nov 2008 18:13:31 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:12578lilypondPolitical controversy aside, the headscarf or hijab forms an essential part of today's Turkish women's dress code. Learn how it's tied, about the advantages of baggy trousers and the love for color and sequins in traditional as well as modern clothing. A multicolored silk square is at the center of a controversy which nearly toppled the...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/14574.aspxTue, 11 Nov 2008 01:25:06 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:14574lilypondThe Turks are a poetic people and that quality extends to naming otherwise simple dishes. Learn what's behind the poetry, and imagine the tastes. Who could resist being tempted by a Lady's navel or trying to find out why the Imam fainted? Imam bayildi is the Turkish name of the dish which caused the Imam to lose consciousness. It consists of la...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/14464.aspxMon, 10 Nov 2008 12:31:29 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:14464lilypondThe magic carpet may not be literally flying around, but the long tradition of Turkish carpet weaving and the brilliant images produced by skilled artists past and present give rise to a flight of imagination. Three things spring to mind when thinking about Turkey: sweets, gold and carpets. Bazaars are overflowing with today's products. Some very v...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/14399.aspxSat, 08 Nov 2008 23:38:19 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:14399lilypondNo trip to Turkey is complete without a visit to a Turkish bath or hamam. Learn about bathing rituals and essential features of hamams in Turkish culture and history. Functions of the Hamam The Turkish bath, the "steamy sister" of the dry sauna, has played a long role in Middle Eastern and particularly Turkish history. Like so much else i...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/13859.aspxTue, 04 Nov 2008 04:12:26 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:13859lilypondAfter their heyday and popularity during the Ottoman Empire, male belly dancers, known as köceks, are making a come back in modern Turkish dance culture. However, many still consider the dance as a domain for women and an expression of their power and beauty. Turkish dance form The origin of the Turkish form of belly dance, called ciftetelli, ...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/13858.aspxTue, 04 Nov 2008 02:57:49 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:13858lilypondThe value of recycling and repairing rather than just discarding old and used objects is a way of every day life in Turkey. The culture emphasizes waste not, want not, in the attitudes of the Turkish population. When traveling in Turkey, particularly in rural areas, you often encounter rather derelict but still roadworthy lorries, the trailers of w...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/13855.aspxTue, 04 Nov 2008 00:38:00 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:13855lilypondThere are over 100 festivals which are celebrated in Turkey each year. The occasions are plentiful, colorful and, sometimes, border on the bizarre. Learn about oil wrestling in Erdine, the Mesir festival in Manisa and the St. Nicolas festival in Demre. Oil wrestling in Erdine The month of June sees the beginning of the 600 year old Oil Wrestling Fe...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/13717.aspxSat, 01 Nov 2008 19:07:56 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:13717lilypondMany have seen images of the whirling dancers, white skirts spinning, hand raised to heaven, but may not really know what lies behind the ceremony. Learn about Mevlana, Sufi, Sema and the ancient Seljuk capital Konya, Turkey which each December hosts the annual festival. Mevlana Rumi The great philosopher, thinker and Sufi saint Mevlana Rumi is the...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/13007.aspxTue, 28 Oct 2008 22:25:22 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:13007lilypondTurkish art in its many facets is always elaborate and often colorful. We look at nazar beads, delicate goblets, objects handcrafted in silver and heavy gold jewellery. Nazar Bonjuk The nazar bonjuk or Turkish Eye bead is the ultimate good luck charm. It has no religious origin or background whatsoever, its significance is simply based on superstit...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/12491.aspxFri, 24 Oct 2008 21:59:00 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:12491lilypondLearn about Turkish Delight, Baklava and Sugar Sculptures as an integral part of Turkish culture through the centuries, beginning with the Ottoman Empire through today's Seker Bayrami holidays at the end of Ramadan. Confectionery in the Ottoman Empire The Turkish people, there is no doubt, have a sweet tooth. The art of elaborate confectionery ...http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/12138.aspxThu, 23 Oct 2008 02:46:10 GMTb133e95a-c263-4882-8f2a-b24547eff78e:12138lilypondGold, banknotes and the color red are the dominating elements of a Turkish wedding ceremony. No expenses are spared to make the occasion special for bride, groom and honoured guests. Images Turkey is a 99% Muslim country, but it's also a secular one. Many wedding traditions are therefore ruled by Islam, but there are also traditions for the civil p...