Friday, September 18, 2009

The Sugar Festival

Seker Bayram, the "sugar festival" is a 3 1/2 day holiday celebrated by Muslims to mark the end of Ramazan, the month of fasting.  Muslims fast for 40 days from sunrise to sunset.

Bayram starts this Sunday and will last until Tuesday.  We're told that many places will still be open, but any official business is closed such as government offices or banking.  This is as big of a holiday here as Thanksgiving.

It is customary to go see family and close friends during this time.  People exchange chocolates and other sugary sweets.  Children get new clothes.

In our neighborhood we have had a drummer that walks the neighborhood an hour and a half before the sun rises which is a signal to those who are fasting to stop eating and drinking. It is possible that he will knock on our door during this holiday expecting a small tip, which is customary.

We don't have any family here in Turkey, and we're starting to make friends but don't have a lot yet.  So LC has decided to celebrate by eating her new favorite dessert........the waffle ice cream sandwich.  (It's delicious, and LC wishes she would have thought of it sooner)



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