Our Ramadan traditions in Manisa

Our Ramadan traditions in Manisa

Those who are 50 years old and above have many memories of the month of Ramadan that they can remember with longing. For our Manisa residents who are 80 years old and above and live with their memories, the taste of the month of Ramadan is different.
No matter how old a person gets, they can never forget the bittersweet memories they had in their childhood and early youth. I think it is the duty of every citizen to listen to our elders and even record what they say and put it on paper in order to protect the cultural heritage of the city.
It is not possible to talk about nations that cannot keep their cultural traditions alive and pass them on to future generations, preserving their national identities!
All our institutions must do their part to keep culture alive and make it attractive with arguments that can keep up with the changing technological conditions of the modern age. It is a waste of time to talk about the culture of nations that do not live and cannot keep their traditions alive.

Our Ramadan traditions are one of the most important traits we acquired in our childhood that has left a place in our subconscious of our national identity.
During the month of Ramadan, wealthy families would host iftar meals in their homes and mansions and would bid their guests farewell by giving them tips and gifts called 'tooth rent'. The expression 'tooth rent', which is also mentioned in the work Kutadgu Bilig by Yusuf Has Hacip (1017-1170), one of the most important figures in Turkish history, became widespread in Istanbul during the reign of Mahmut Pasha, one of Fatih's viziers.
Yusuf Has Hacip explains the importance of tooth rent with the following words: “Give a gift; if you can, give silk fabric; if possible, give tooth rent so that the mouths of those who come will be stopped.”

Let's finish our article about Ramadan traditions in Manisa by quoting some quotes from our esteemed elder Faruk Saydam's childhood memories (Interview: January 7, 2025).

Crispy Night

There were lanterns made of handmade cardboard. These lanterns would be lit. They were affordable. They would be hung on balconies or visible places. They would have two or three balconies and candles on the ends. Kandil simit and halva would be distributed. It was crispy (100) para... It was phosphorus placed inside paper. It would light up when we rubbed it on the ground. It would make noise.

During Ramadan, mostly in the summer months, we would have children fast. Tips would be paid to the children who fasted. We would receive fasting tips.

There were also traveling hafiz in homes. I remember someone called Kör Hafiz. He would recite the Quran and invite people to iftar. We would listen to him. Blind Hafiz would recite the Quran in homes after iftar. Hafiz were traveling. Most of them were ama. He would come to Manisa from neighboring cities and recite the Mukabele in mosques. He would invite those who were well-off to their homes.

Tarawih prayer was important. It seemed long for children. However, after the prayer, the Quran and hymns would attract our attention.

After the prayer, the Karagöz play would be performed in the coffeehouse across from the Stock Exchange. We would watch it with our fathers and uncles.

In the last days of Ramadan, the beard of our Prophet would come and the Quran memorizers would recite the hymns. Everyone would be in ecstasy and the imam would kiss the beard inside the shiny glass inside the forty-fold bundle and pray. A two-rakat prayer of gratitude would be performed.

During Ramadan, stuffing was prepared at home. It was baked in ovens. Stuffed pita was made. Watermelon was important. It was stored in wire cabinets in wells on hot days.

Children would eat Ottoman Paste and Cotton Candy. We would buy it for 100 para (2.5 kuruş). At that time, I would get 1 kuruş as a daily wage.

In Ramadan, fairs were set up in Sultanönü. Ferris wheels would creak. Swings... later there would be a tent theater. Kantos would come. It would be in front of the Sultan. The entrance fee would be 5 kuruş. There would be musical entertainment.

You would go to those who performed the tarawih prayer quickly. Velioğlu, Hatuniye, Sultan and Yarhasanlar, Yeni Cami were famous for this. I was a primary school student at the time. Imam Hafız Emin Hoca was tall.

He used to give Quran lessons to me and the son of Hafız Emin Hoca at Taşçılar Mosque. He used to go to Manisa for Quran lessons during the summer months. The children were in primary school. I was the apprentice of Hüseyin Dede, the Bootmaker and Confectioner.

I used to read Karagöz, Köylü and Yeni Asır newspapers since middle school.

Eid morning
He would buy shoes the day before Eid. We would put our shoes under the pillow. New shoes would hurt our feet.
On the morning of Eid, we would go to the Hatuniye Mosque with the elders for the Eid prayer. There was a muezzin with a high-pitched voice.
After the Eid prayer, the celebrations would start in the mosque and continue at home. Pocket money would be taken. Money would be put in a handkerchief from relatives' houses. Handkerchiefs were a tradition. Houses that gave money were visited more.
At that time, Mesir Paste was made at home. Our mothers would make it on March 12. Since Mesir ceremonies were forbidden, it was made at home.