There are many reasons as to why people get married, and it is something that is evident in every civilization. In Turkey, it is something that is highly valued. First, in Turkish culture, marriage integrates both a variety of wedding traditions that are many centuries old and contemporary practices. Ranging from the engagement stage to the extensive gala receptions, the traditions of marriage in Turkey are indeed a colorful portrayal of the country’s rich culture. Be it conventional Turkish arranged marriages or liberal modern-day romanticism, the practices regarding marriage in Turkey have sociocultural and societal family insights within the culture.
This post is dedicated to the deep insight into Turkish weddings, the days and events that take place there, and how through time traditions and cultural practices have transformed or changed in this part of the world.
The Role of Family in Certain Turkish Marriage Customs
Family is the keystone of any culture, and it is also particularly true of the Turkish culture and its practices with respect to marriage. Certainly, a long time ago, arranged marriages in Turkey were widely practiced especially in the countryside. Families would help each other in searching for a suitable spouse – one who comes from a respectable family, good social standing and shares the same ethnic origin.
Today, in spite of the changes in society, arranged marriages can still be found in some regions of Turkey. In contemporary Turkish society, there are more and more marriages that are love-based and free of any external pressures, where the role of the families of both parties in finding a partner becomes merely supportive instead of prescriptive. Still, in very few cases, parental approval is not considered mandatory – even in case of love marriages.
In typical Turkish arranged marriages, the male relatives of the bride receive their guests in the house of the girl by performing a practice popularly known, ‘Görüşmeliyiz’. Main functions performed by the guests include greeting the host family and assessing the possibility of the degree match. This method of finding a partner has not disappeared but is not practiced as strictly as before.
The Engagement Process Within Turkish Culture and Marriage
After the families endorse the relationship, the engagement process popularly referred to as Söz Kesme or Nişan begins. This function is most often a ceremonial one where members of the two families come together to swap rings symbolizing the two people's wish to get wed. Such a ceremony is often punctuated with prayers and good wishes for the couple’s life together. In the Turkish traditions of marriage, there is no lack of symbols, one of the most important being in the period of the engagement – a ring exchange.
In the course of the engagement, the most critical aspect is that the bride has to serve what is known as Turkish coffee to the groom's family and the groom. It is also a custom for the bride to put some salt in the groom’s coffee to gauge the tolerance levels of the orientated male and his determination in love. If he can down the salty coffee without any grumbling, it symbolizes the hardships he is ready to take for the sake of his beloved.
There are also gifts exchanged between the respective families during the process of engagement. Such items may include gold coins, jewelry, and cooking ware which are bound to be needed by the couple once married. These presents in a way prop up the idea of starting a new life and also serve to promote the establishment of respect between the families.
Turkish Wedding Traditions: A Joyful Experience
Most Turkish weddings are extravagant celebrations characterized by music, dance and tons of food. The festivities, however, can stretch to more than a week, especially in the countryside where customs are still practiced with minimal changes. The wedding itself is referred to as “Düğün” and it is not just the families of the two people getting married that come rather, it is a multitude of friends and relatives.
It is said that one of the most important traditions of a Turk is the Kına Gecesi or the henna night, this is mainly because it comes at the ladies’ part. It is a pure female gathering that is held either a day or two before the wedding. It is a very sentimentalized occasion as the bride is saying her goodbyes to people that she’s known and loved her whole life, and by stepping into that, marriage, she’s leaving them as well. Throughout the events, henna is drawn on the bride’s hands. A red theatre veil and gown is the common attire among the brides having a number of significance which include chastity and breeding in Turkish society.
The Definition of Marriage in the Turkish Legal System
In Turkey, marriage is a contract that is legally recognized and must be registered. The only type of marriage recognized in Turkey is civil marriage, that is, no religious marriage is valid by law. This implies that for couples who want to enjoy the benefits of a religious wedding there is a need for a civil wedding, without which the legal status of the marriage may not be recognized by the government.
In Turkey, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18. Apart from that, the Turkish state clearly outlaws and completely prohibits polygamy and there are no two sides regarding that. Only monogamous marriages are recognized by the Turkish legal system as per its secular constitution.
Conclusion
As for marriage in the western part of Turkey, it combines the old customs and beliefs and modern aspects perfectly. Turkish weddings from the process of engagements to the elaborate dügün or the hearty feasts that follow weddings contain interesting customs and traditions that illustrate the role of family, people, and love in Turkey. Be it a traditional arranged marriage in Turkey, or the modern love marriage, the practices associated with marriage in this great country showcase the importance of marriage in this beautiful country full of culture.
