The Calendar...

January...

All Month : Rainy and cold throughout the country. Eastern Türkiye is in the icy grip of winter; Ankara and the rest of the Anatolian plateau may be covered in snow. Camel wrestling at various locations in the province of Aydin, south of Izmir. Religious Holidays : The movement of the Muslim lunar calendar makes January and February a time of kandil festivities, brightening an otherwise dour season. In 1992, Regaip Kandili is on 10^th January; in 1991, it is on 18^th January. Mirac Kandili is celebrated on 31^st January 1992, and 21^st January 1993. 1^st January : New Year's Day is a public holiday. Decorations in shops, exchanges of gifts and greeting cards, make it a kind of surrogate Christmas, good for business. 15^th - 16^th January : Camel - wrestling festival in the village of Selçuk, next to Ephesus, south of Izmir.

February...

In February it rains almost everywhere and is chilly and cheerless. The only fun to be had is indoors or at the ski slopes on Uludag near Bursa. Another ski resort is in the Beydaglari mountains near Antalya. Religious Holidays : Regaip Kandili falls on 2^nd February 1990. Mirac Kandili is on 23^rd February 1990, and 12^th February 1991. Berat Kandili is on 18^th - 19^th February 1992 and 7^th - 8^th February 1993. The holy month of Ramazan begins on 23^rd February 1993, and lasts until 24^th March 1993.

March...

Still rainy in most of the country, though there may be some good periods on the south Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. It's still bitterly cold in the east. Religious Holidays : Berat Kandili occurs on 12^th - 13^th March 1990, and 1^st - 2^nd March 1991. March signals the beginning of the holy month of Ramazan these days. Ramazan is from 28^th March to 26^th April 1990, 17^th March to 15^th April 1991, 5^th March to 3^rd April 1992, and 23^rd February to 24^th March 1993. Kadir Gecesi, the "Night of Power", is 31^st March 1992, and 21^st March 1993. Seker Bayrami, the important three - day holiday following Ramazan, falls on 25^th - 28^th March 1993, so adjust your travel plans accordingly.

April...

April can be delightful throughout the country, except in the east, where it's still cold. There may be some rain, but there may also be virtually none, and in any case the wild flowers will be out on the Anatolian plateau. The waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean are approaching a comfortably swimmable temperature. The south - east (Gaziantep, Urfa, Mardin, Diyarbakir), so torrid and parched in high summer, is very pleasant now, but there may still be snow atop Nemrut Dagi. April is when the bus tours begin in earnest. Religious Holidays : The movement of the lunar calendar brings Ramazan in coincidence with at least part of April. Ramazan is from 28^th March to 26^th April 1990, 17^th March to 15^th April 1991, and 5^th March to 3^rd April 1992. Kadir Gecesi, the "Night of Power", is 24^th April 1990, and 12^th April 1991. The Seker Bayrami holiday will screw up your travel plans 27^th - 30^th April 1990; 16^th - 18^th April 1991 (but expect disruptions of your plans anytime in the period 13^th - 21^st April 1991); and 4^th - 6^th April 1992 (but expect disruptions 3^rd - 7^th April). 2O^th - 3O^th April : Manisa Power Gum Festival, when a traditional remedy called mesir macunu or kuvvet macunu (power gum), said to restore health, youth and potency, is concocted and distributed in Manisa, near Izmir. 23^rd April : The big national holiday is National Sovereignty Day, when the first Grand National Assembly, or republican parliament, met in Ankara in 1920; it's also Children's Day. An international children's festival, with kids from all over the world, is held in Ankara. Late April to early May : Tulip Festival in Emirgan, the Bosphorus suburb of Istanbul.

Click here for the "Country Guide" - Link # 1...

May...

May usually brings perfectly beautiful weather throughout the country, with little chance of rain, though it's still chilly out east. May is a good month to visit the hot, dry south - east. This month begins the tourist season in earnest, and also includes important civil holidays. Bus tours are everywhere. Sound and light shows begin at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and last until October. In Konya, the javelin - throwing game of cirit (jirid), played on horseback, takes place every Saturday and Sunday until October. First Week Selcuk Ephesus Festival of Culture & Art at Selcuk, south of Izmir; folk dances, concerts, exhibits, some in the Great Theatre at Ephesus. 19^th May : Youth & Sports Day, held to commemorate Atatürk's start - up period (1919). 29^th May : In Istanbul, celebrations remember the conquest of the city from the Byzantines in 1453. Last Week : Festival of Pergamum at Bergama, north of Izmir - drama in the ancient theatre, folk dancing and handicrafts exhibits. In 1993, the important holiday of Kurban Bayrami beginned on 29^th May.

June...

The weather is perfect throughout the country, but getting hot. There is little chance of rain except along the Black Sea coast. Bus tours drop off as the height of the tourist season approaches. Sound and light shows take place at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul all month. Religious Holidays : Kurban Bayrami, the most important holiday all year, will disrupt your travel schedule as millions of Turks head for the beaches, the mountains, and Grandma's house. The holiday tends to shut down the country for most of a week. Dates are 24^th - 28^th June 1991 (but expect disruptions from 23^rd to 30^th June); 12^th - 15^th June 1992 (expect disruptions from 12^th to 16^th June); and 1^st - 4^th June 1993 (expect full buses and hotels from 29^th May to 6^th June 1993). First week : The International Mediterranean Festival takes place in Izmir usually at this time. 4^th - 5^th June : Traditional Rose - growing Competition at Konya, when roses grown in the region are judged. 7^th - 13^th June : Music & Art Festival at Marmaris - musical performances, folk dances, exhibitions. Second Week : Traditional Kirkpinar Oiled Wrestling Competition at Edirne; Festival of Troy at Canakkale, on the Dardanelles near Troy. Late June to Mid - July : The world - class Istanbul International Festival, with top performers in the arts and special exhibitions.

Click here for the "Country Guide" - Link # 2...

July...

The weather is hot, the sky is always blue, the sea water is warm, and everything is crowded with holiday - makers, both Turkish and foreign. In Istanbul, sound and light at the Blue Mosque continues, as does the Istanbul Festival. These are the two highlights of the month, but watch out for Kurban Bayrami, which runs from 4^th to 8^th July 1990. 1^st July : The first day of the month is "Denizcilik Günü" (Navy Day), when mariners, ships and various maritime pursuits are celebrated. It commemorates the day when Türkiye regained the right to operate its own ships along its own shores. (Under what are called the Capitulations, Ottoman sultans had granted this right of cabotage exclusively to foreign shipping companies.) You'll see decorations, hear speeches, and share in a moment of silence (except for ships' sirens and car horns) at 10 am. No public holiday, though. 5^th - 10^th July : Nasreddin Hoca Celebrations, in honour of the semilegendary humorous master of Turkish folklore legends and tales; held in Aksehir, his traditional birthplace. (Dates may be changed in 1990 due to the conflict with Kurban Bayrami). 7^th - 12^th July : At Bursa, the Folklore & Music Festival is one of Türkiye's best folk - dancing events of the year; the Bursa Fair (trade and tourism) starts about the same time. 29^th - 31^st July Music, Folklore & Water Sports Festival in Foca, north of Izmir.

August...

It's hot and sunny all month, and crowded too. This is the best time to be in eastern Türkiye, when the weather is fine and crowds are smaller than along the western beaches. In Istanbul, sound and light continue at the Blue Mosque. Similar shows begin at the Anitkabir, Atatürk's mausoleum, in Ankara. 15^th August : A special mass celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, at the House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana) near Ephesus. The Catholic Archbishop of Izmir says mass. 15^th - 18^th August : Çanakkale Troy Festival at Çanakkale, near Troy - folk dances, music, tours of Mt. Ida and Troy. 20^th August to 9^th September : The biggest festival is the Izmir International Fair; for a month the city's hotels are packed and transportation is crowded. The fair has amusements, cultural and commercial - industrial displays. 26^th August : Armed Forces Day with speeches and parades. 30^th August : "Zafer Bayrami" (victory), commemorating the decisive victory at Dumlupinar of the republican armies over the invading Greek army during Türkiye's War of Independence in 1922. Several foreign countries, including Greece, invaded Anatolia after WW - I. Towns and cities celebrate their own "Kurtulus Günü" (Day of Liberation) on the appropriate date when Atatürk's armies drove out the foreign troops during July and August 1922.

September...

Weather is still hot and fine, moderating a bit toward the end of the month. Swimming is still wonderful, crowds are still fairly heavy, and the bus tours begin to make a comeback. Sound and light shows continue at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and at the Anitkabir in Ankara. The Izmir Fair goes on until 9 September. Religious Holidays : The Prophet's birthday is celebrated on 21^st September 1991, and 10^th September 1992. 1^st - 9^th September : Bodrum Culture & Art Week, Turkish classical music concerts in Bodrum Castle, art exhibits and water sports shows. 2^nd - 4^th September : Kirsehir Ahi Evran Crafts & Folklore Festival at Kirsehir, when Turkish handicrafts are displayed and modelled in shows. 9^th September : In Izmir it's "Kurtulus Günü", or Liberation Day. In 1922, Ataturk's armies pushed the Greek invaders into the sea. Lots of parades, speeches and flags. 11^th - 12^th September : Corum Hittite Festival, crafts shows, musical performances, tours of Hittite archaeological sites at Corum near Ankara. 15^th - 18^th September : Cappadocia Tourism Festival, a grape harvest and folklore festival highlighting the "fairy chimneys" and underground cities of Cappadocia. 15^th September to 5^th October : Textile & Fashion Fair at Mersin with fashion shows, handicrafts exhibitions, musical and folk - dancing performances. 22^nd - 30^th September : Konya hosts a culinary contest. 26^th - 29^th September : At Diyarbakir, the Watermelon Festival. One year when I attended, everybedy was disappointed because the prize - winning watermelon weighed in at a mere 32 kg. A bad year, they said - no rain.

October...

The weather is perfect again, and crowds are diminishing, though bus tours begin again in earnest. The rains begin sometime in mid or late October, and it can rain for a week or two nonstop. There may also be freak snowstorms on the Anatolian plateau. There will be a census carried out on one Sunday in October, 1990, and there will be an all - day curfew on that day. Foreigners are supposedly excluded from the curfew, but most of the country will be closed up tight sot here will be little to see or do. Plan to be in a hotel with dining facilities, or buy some food. The curfew usually ends in late afternoon or early evening. If you do go out, carry your passport. Sound and light shows are supposed to continue in Istanbul at the Blue Mosque, but check in advance. Religious holidays : The Prophet Muhammed's birthday, Mevlid - i Nebi, falls on 2^nd October 1991; kandil - like celebrations and illuminations. 1^st - 9^th October : The "Golden Orange" Film & Art Festival in Antalya, with a competition for best Turkish film of the year; other exhibits. 21^st - 29^th October : Turkish Troubadours' Week at Konya - bards who continue the traditional poetic forms hold contests in repartee, free - form composition and riddles. 29^th October : "Cumhuriyet Bayrami" (Republic Day) commemorating the proclamation of the republic by Ataturk in 1923; biggest civil holiday, lots of parades and speeches.

November...

Weather is very pleasant, with cool to warm days and chill nights, but one must play cat and mouse with the rain, which may or may not become a bore. if your luck holds, you can have a marvellous late - year beach holiday. 10^th November : The most important day of the month, it is the day Atatürk died in 1938. At precisely 9:05 am, the moment of his death, the entire country comes to a screeching halt for a moment of silence. Literally everything stops in its tracks, just for a moment. Car horns and sirens blare. In schools, in the newspapers (the names of which are normally printed in red, but are all in blackon this day), on radio and television, the national hero's life and accomplishments are reviewed.

December...

Weather is chilly throughout the country, though milder along the Mediterranean coast. You must expect some rain, perhaps heavy rain. There are few visitors. In rare years, the warmth and pleasantness of a good November will stretch into early December. All Month : Camel wrestling at various locations in the province of Aydin, south of Izmir. 6^th - 8^th December : St. Nicholas Festival, when commemorative ceremonies are held in the 4^th century church of St. Nicholas, the original Santa Claus, in Demre near Antalya. 14^th - 17^th December (approx.) : The Mevlana Festival, honouring Celaleddin Rumi, the great poet and mystic who founded the Mevlevi order of Whirling Dervishes, is held in Konya. Hotel space is tight, so try to pin down a room in advance, or be prepared to take a room below your normal standard.