Kandil
It is necessary to add that Turks have a personal way
of following Islam. A great number of Muslim Turks will enjoy a nice
alcoholic beverage, smoke cigarettes and make the most of the "good
things in life", though taking care not to do these during religious
occasions such as Ramazan (Ramadan) or the Kandil. This is, of course,
an unofficial declaration on your researchers part. Ramazan is the
holy month when for thirty days a good Muslim lets nothing pass his/her
lips during daylight hours; no eating, drinking, smoking or even licking
a postage stamp. Some restaurants and nightclubs are closed during
the month of Ramazan.
Mosque festivals are called Kandil, which means Candle. It is so called
because all the mosques are illuminated and those are the nights on
which Muslims pray for forgiveness and wish to see the right way of
things to be done according to their religion.
The story of Kandil
The five holy evenings on the Muslim calendar are called Kandil. During
the Ottoman Empire Sultan Selim II of 16th century lit candles on
the minarets of the mosques in order to announce these holy nights
to the public. Since this calendar is calculated with the revolution
of the moon around the earth the dates of the Kandils differ every
year.
Mevlid Kandili - The birth of Prophet Mohammad (May 1, 2004)
Regaip Kandili – The beginning of the pregnancy of Prophet Mohammad’s
mother (August 19, 2004)
Miraç Kandili – Prophet Mohammad’s rising to sky
(September 11, 2004)
Berat Kandili – The forgiveness of the sins (September 29, 2004)
Kadir Gecesi – The Koran’s first appearance to Prophet
Mohammad (November 9, 2004)
These nights Muslims usually worship and sing Mevlit, a poem written
for the birth of Prophet Mohammad. Kandils were holy days when young
members visited the older members of the family, however today the
Kandil greetings are made with phone calls. Some restaurants serving
alcoholic beverages may be closed at Kandils. Most of the pastry
shops and bakery sell Kandil Simidi (special small crispy bread
ring strewn with or without sesame seeds). In some apartments the
neighbors hand out helva (a special Turkish dessert made of semolina
or flour) or lokma tatlisi (again a special Turkish dessert made
of fried dough with syrup).
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