Learn all about Mother's Day
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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 17 - Mother's Day. In Turkish, it’s called Anneler Günü. |
| Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates in many countries, but along with America, Germany, China, Canada, and many others, Turkey celebrates it on the second Sunday of May. |
| In this lesson, you will learn about the importance of Mother’s Day in Turkish culture and how it is celebrated. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question- |
| Do you know the wise words uttered by the Prophet Muhammed, or Hazreti Muhammed, about mothers that are widely used in everyday life in Turkey? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| Even though nowadays Mother’s Day is considered a commercial tradition, and an imitation of the western tradition, in traditional Turkish culture mothers are considered saintly. For that reason, in Turkish there are countless maxims, sayings and proverbs about mothers. The saying that states: Ağlarsa anam ağlar, gerisi yalan ağlar, meaning “Only my mother would really cry for me, the rest would just cry crocodile tears”, suggests that mothers are the only ones who truly feel their children’s pain. |
| Family or aile, has a very special place in Turkish culture and mothers are the building blocks of this institution. Traits such as self-sacrifice, moral strength, and the instinct to protect are all considered motherly. Traditionally mothers or anneler in Turkey take care of the house and children, who will live with their parents until they get married. Despite this, nowadays there are many working mothers who nevertheless are their families’ centerpiece. |
| Nowadays on Mother’s Day, people wake up early. Children usually buy a present, or hediye, such as a bouquet of flowers, jewelry, or bags, or prepare breakfast for their mothers. Generally on this day the entire family goes to a restaurant for either lunch or dinner. If children are too young to buy presents, the husband usually takes responsibility for the arrangements. Those whose mothers are deceased pay a visit to the cemetery. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Do you know the wise words uttered by the Prophet Muhammed about mothers that are widely used in everyday life in Turkey ? |
| It is believed that the Prophet Muhammed commanded: “Paradise lies at the feet of the mothers”, or Cennet annelerin ayaklarının altındadır. What he suggests here is that children should respect, obey and love their mothers. According to these ideals, only people who treat their mothers with respect are worthy of having the key to heaven. |
| So listeners, how was this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| Are there any sayings about mothers in your native language? |
| Leave us a comment letting us know at TurkishClass101.com. And we'll see you in the next lesson! |
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