Today It’s Happy Independence Day to my American Friends –
and a sweet Iyi Bayramlar to my dearest Turkish friends and followers starting Tuesday 5th July until the 8th..and for some it is an extended holiday!

What is Ramazan Bayrami: After a month of fasting, in this incredible heat and humidity, to night marks the breaking of the fast once the sun sets. From Tuesday 5th July there is a celebration for at least 3 days know as the “Seker (sweet) Bayrami” where sweets are shared or eaten…
There is an air of festivity, celebration and calm as my neighbours appear bringing with them gifts of deep fried, sweet warm dough balls dipped in honey..
Children go from house to house in our village as they wish their neighbours “Iyi Bayramlar” (Happy Holdiay, similar to our Easter/Halloween in Blighty)

Neighbours generously give the children sweets, chocolate or even a little money. The children skip away, delighted, giggling as they show each other what they have received. Everyone is happy to eat sweet things after thirty days of fasting over Ramadan.
Either on the eve of or the first day of this Seger Holiday it is customary to visit the graves of those who are no longer with us or hospitals to visit the sick and ailing.

Families and friends visit to spend special time, be together to break bread or simply head to their nearest beach. There the women prepare food while the men are in charge of cooking whatever is thrown onto the bar-b-que in between swimming and lying under the shade of the cool whispering breeze of the trees. A deserved holiday of celebration for all- and a great excuse for SuperHero and I to eat scrummy Ceviz Baklava! Enjoy the moments of the next days.