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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Turkey Series at TurkishClass101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Turkish holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 18. Father's Day. In Turkish, it’s called Babalar Günü. |
| As in a few other countries, in Turkey Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. Despite the strong father, or in Turkish, baba, and ancestor, or ata, centric views within Turkish culture, Father’s Day is not as popular as Mother’s Day. |
| In this lesson, you will learn about how Father’s Day is celebrated in Turkey and the significance and responsibilities of fathers within the Turkish family from past to present. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question- |
| Do you know the Turkish saying that summarizes the reason that Father’s Day is not very popular? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| Traditionally, fathers symbolizes masculinity, or erkeklik, and power, or erk, and are the heads of the family. When a daughter or a son gets married and has a family, they are considered to have left the “father’s den”. It might be useful to separate rural family types from those found in urban areas. In rural areas, sometimes men are still the head of the family, and have absolute authority, or otorite, over their wives and children. In modern families, on the other hand, though the father still has authority, role-sharing within the family is much more common. |
| The concept of fatherhood is linked to the concept of a person’s ancestors, or ata, and is used when referring to people whom one respects. One of the most famous examples is Ataturk, as, especially in the context of traditional Turkish culture, becoming a father is considered to be a process of experience and wisdom, or bilgelik. In rural areas of Turkey people often address the elderly as baba, which means father. |
| Generally on Father’s Day children buy their fathers presents such as cologne, neckties, and books or something related to their hobbies. On that day, young and energetic fathers may prefer to do something active with their children, such as engaging in some outdoor activity. At the end of the day, families usually have a nice dinner together, while those who have lost their fathers pay a visit to the cemetery. |
| However, since some Turkish fathers view Father’s Day as a commercial trap and are wary of the family budget, or aile bütçesi, they may tell their children days beforehand to spend little or no money on them. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Do you know the Turkish saying that summarizes the reason that Father’s Day is not very popular? |
| This witty saying is as follows: “The father donated a vineyard to his son, the son didn't give a single bunch of grapes to the father.” This proverb is to say that fathers make large sacrifices for their children’s welfare, but the children only think of themselves, and are unwilling to make sacrifices in return. |
| So listeners, how was this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| How do you celebrate Father’s Day in your country? |
| Leave us a comment letting us know at TurkishClass101.com. And we'll see you in the next lesson! |
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