Colors of Kusadasi - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Kusadasi is a beautiful old city with its interesting features and traditions. Its name can be literally translated as "Bird Island", pigeons have been its main symbol for hundreds of years. They settled the picturesque island many years ago, mother nature itself created ideal conditions for these birds here. For local residents, they have become a kind of symbol. In contrast to many modern cities, no measures are taken here to reduce their population.

On the contrary, locals take care of the birds and never hurt their unique "pets". The city has several dozen pigeon houses, some of which were built more than a hundred years ago. Walking through the city streets, the images of pigeons can be seen at every step. There are many thematic sculptures; the images of pigeons adorn street lamps and facades of some buildings.

An important part of the city's culture is traditional crafts, to which locals have been committed for many years. Kusadasi is a major textile and leather center, the city has many workshops and specialty shops selling locally produced goods only. At any time of the year, one can buy high-quality clothing, shoes, and accessories made of genuine leather. In addition to fashionable clothes in a modern style, some workshops offer very interesting handmade leather accessories. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

On the island, they also produce excellent ceramics, the diversity of which can be appreciated during a walk through the local markets. It is also made by hand. Over the past hundred years, the techniques of making ceramic tableware and accessories haven't been changed at all. It is also customary to decorate ceramics entirely by hand, so each product is considered unique.

Vibrant local markets are considered some of the most colorful places in town where locals love to walk and meet. People come here to see their relatives and friends, have a cup of fragrant coffee in one of the old restaurants, and take a break from daily routine. While exploring the markets, tourists should observe some important rules.

Here it is absolutely necessary to bargain with sellers, and not just to reduce the price for the goods you like. Bargaining is an important component of the local culture so if you agree to the price offered by the seller at once, he or she may be offended. Among the variety of souvenirs preserved on the market, there are special ones that cannot be found in other Turkish towns. Pigeon-eyed souvenirs are considered the most valuable - locals believe that they can be a reliable talisman against the evil eye.

Of course, it would be interesting to visit Kusadasi during the days of major national and religious holidays. It must be said that relatively few holidays are celebrated here throughout the year, but each one is special and necessarily includes an interesting entertainment program. Every year on April 23, the Independence Day is celebrated at the resort. This holiday is aimed to commemorate gaining independence from the Ottoman Empire. On this day, solemn processions, music and dance performances are held on the main streets and squares. It is noteworthy that on April 23, they also celebrate Children's Day so the entertainment program always includes special children's shows.

One of the youngest holidays for the city is Labor Day, which was organized for the first time in 2009. Since then, May 1 is considered an important public holiday, which is also never complete without performances by folk bands and festivities. Many tourists are eager to visit Kusadasi on the New Year to enjoy a bright holiday program and try special foods.

All the religious holidays are celebrated here only on the lunar calendar so there are no fixed dates for them. Religious celebrations require due respect for all the important traditions. On such holidays, alcohol consumption is always restricted, not to mention some dates when even food is not accepted. As a rule, this kind of rules doesn't concern foreign tourists, while local people follow them strictly.

In August, the national holiday Kurban Bayramı is celebrated here. Its name can be translated as the “Festival of the Sacrifice”. The holiday marks the last day of the holy month of Ramadan. Kurban Bayramı is one of the few holidays when is customary to cook hearty meat dishes. A few weeks before this day, local residents observe strict fasting, and on a festive day, they always prepare traditional dishes from lamb.