Learn all about Muharram Month and Ashura 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 7 - Muharram Month and Ashura Day. In Turkish, it’s called Muharrem Ayı Kutlamaları ve Aşure Günü. |
| The Sacred Month of Muharram is the first month of the Hijri Calendar. In Islam, it's the second most sacred month after Ramadan. The tenth day of this month is the Day of Ashura in Islamic sects and the Jewish religion. |
| In this episode, we will learn more about the celebrations that take place on the Day of Ashura and its importance in religious and social life. |
| Now, before we go into more detail, we’ve got a question for you- |
| According to Islamic resources, what events are believed to have taken place on Ashura Day? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| All three monotheistic religions have different stories that may have taken place on the Day of Ashura. These range from Moses splitting the Red Sea to save the Israelites in Egypt, to Jesus’s sacrifice and ascension to heaven. On the other hand in Turkey, it's believed that the Day of Ashura marks the event when the Prophet Noah’s ark, in Turkish Nuh’un gemisi, came to rest following the flood. According to legend, Noah used all the remaining food in the ark to make a dessert called Aşure, which is a kind of pudding. |
| In modern Turkey, the Day of Ashura is celebrated by making an Ashura consisting of winter grains and dried fruits and nuts, including wheat, chickpeas, beans, apricot, figs, hazelnuts, and walnuts. Depending on the season, the Ashura pudding can be topped with pomegranate, walnuts, raisins or cinnamon. Some may even prefer to use crushed cloves on top. During the month this pudding is sold in many bakeries or fırın and patisseries or pastane throughout Turkey. People also make the pudding at home in big batches to share with their neighbors. The purpose of this is to strengthen relationships amongst neighbors and highlight the importance of sharing in social life. |
| During the month of Ashura, Alevis, a religious group, fast for ten days where they refrain from eating meat and drinking water. Also Sunnis, another religious group, believe fasting is a good deed. Today, the month of Ashura is considered to be the beginning of the Hijri Year or Hicri takvim, which is the year-numbering system used in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the Hicret, or emigration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina in 622 CE, and is enthusiastically celebrated by some Islamic sects. However, this date is nowhere near as festive as the New Year’s that is universally celebrated throughout the world. |
| So, listeners, during this month don’t be surprised if your neighbors in your apartment building, or apartman sakinleri offer you a plate of Ashura. But remember, in Turkey it is good manners to accept it with a smile and to return the dishware with some homemade dessert of your own. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| According to Islamic resources, what events are believed to have taken place on Ashura Day? |
| Today it's believed that Adam and Eve’s repentance was accepted, that the Prophet Jonah was saved from the belly of the whale and that the Prophet Mohammed completed his Hegira. |
| So listeners, how was this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| What are relationships between neighbors like 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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