Page 52 - Ramadan 2022

53 LG RAMADAN 2022

Traditional Turkish Shadow Puppetry:

Hacivat and Karagöz

Karagoz and Hacivat gained a new The white curtain on which
dimension and the traditional Karagöz is played is named as
Turkish shadow puppet theater Ayna (mirror in Turkish), and the
was born. Their monumental light behind it as Sema (candle
tomb stands in Bursa city today. light). There is just one puppet-
Karagoz & Hacivat plays were eer, known as Hayali (imaginary),
the most enjoyed entertainment assisted by an apprentice, who
of the Ottoman period and was installs the curtain and brings the
widely performed for the public puppets in order of appearance.
and in private houses between the The main characters of the play
17th and 19th centuries especially are of course Karagoz and Haci-
during Ramadan, and at circumci- vat. Karagoz represents the public
sions, feast festivals, coffee hous- morals and common sense, the
es and even in gardens. Karagöz ordinary man in the street, and is
play is played depending on the straightforward and reliable. He is
talent of an artist. Moving the almost illiterate; usually unem-
design on curtain, voicing them, ployed and embarks on money
dialects or imitations are all made earning projects that never work.
by the artist. He is often kind of rude. You can
The subjects of Karagöz plays recognize him by his turban, his
are funny elements with double bald head and his black beard. His
meanings, exaggerations, verbal left arm is longer than the other
plays, and imitating accents. one. His friend Hacivat instead is
There is always satire and irony. the opposite of him; he is educat-
ARAGOZ & Hacivat is that this play came into Anatolia a result it made the sultan very These puppets with jointed ed in a theological school and uses
a Turkish shadow play after Yavuz Sultan Selim, who had angry and anxious about wheth- limbs are 35-40 centimeters poetical and literary language.
taking its name from conquered Egypt in 1517, had er Karagoz and Hacivat could (14-16 inches) sized and they are He’s very clever as well.
Kits main character brought the shadow play artists to encourage rebellion in others, so generally made from the skin of Today a limited number of art-
Karagöz. The origin of the shadow his court. According to a legend, they were executed. The construc- camel or cows. The skins are made ists continue the studies related
plays is accepted as southeastern they were working as construction semi-transparent and painted to the art of Hacivat & Karagoz
part of Asia around Java. Turkish workers in a mosque in Bursa. tion of the mosque was completed with Indian ink or root paints. and they’re conducted by the
traveler Evliya Çelebi said that Although their satiric jokes enter- without them, but their comrades Then they are embroidered with Presidency of Turkey National
the play was first performed at tained other workers it also held did not forget them and kept their sharp painted blades and the Center of International Puppet
the Ottoman palaces in the late up the building of the mosque by jokes alive, telling them over and pieces are tied with ropes. This is and Shadow Play Union (UNIMA)
14th century. Some others say their constant joking together. As over. In time, the adventures of truly an art. and the Ministry of Culture.

The unique tradition of Ramadan in Turkey

URKEY is one of the THE SHOPS ARE OPEN UNTIL build togetherness and sharing Ramadan dishes namely Gozleme very thin, no wonder if the bread
countries with the larg- LATE AT NİGHT among Muslims. So there are no and Lavas Roti. Bread is a staple Gozleme and Lavas always sold out
est Muslim population One of the traditions of tur- Muslims in Turkey who are hungry food of Turkish citizens who are during Ramadan.
Tin Europe. Like most key residents during Ramadan when they break their fast.
other countries, Turkey also has a is the shops open until late at
unique tradition when Ramadan night. Turkish Muslims do a lot BREAKING
comes. Many unique activities of activities at night either just a THE FAST TOGETHER
and traditions are performed by meal or shopping. At nightfall the Open together is probably a
Muslims during the fasting month. city becomes crowded with people traditional Ramadan activity in
This is a unique tradition of Rama- walking and shopping. Indonesia. But in Turkey there is
dan in Turkey that is not found in also a tradition of open together.
other countries. THE TRADITION Turkish Muslims open together
OF BARTERING on the terrace around the mosque
WAKE UP THE MEAL FOOD WITH NEIGHBORS and on the streets around the city.
Turkish Muslims have a tradition One of the unique traditions of They march face to face and eat
of waking up the meal by drum- Ramadan in Turkey is to barter with other Muslims.
ming or drumming around the or exchange food with neighbors
house or city housing. before breaking the fast. This RAMADAN SPECIAL FOOD
This tradition is still done today tradition aims to strengthen Ramadan is not complete if there
as a characteristic when the month silahturahmi with neighbors. In is a typical food is not it? Turkey
of Ramadan takes place. addition, this tradition aims to itself has a tradition of typical