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Turkey
Multicultural Festival -- Turkey
The Multicultural Festival is a three day celebration, which kicks off the month of April in which the students will be educated about different countries, by showing cultural differences, and how we are the same. Turkey is one of the four countries featured in this year's festival.
Games and Activities of Turkey
Camel wrestling
Soccer
Archery, basketball, wrestling, weight lifting, body building, fencing, handball, karate, judo, table tennis, volleyball
Mountaineering, white water rafting, skiing, yachting, swimming, underwater sports
Shadow puppet theatre
Manners and Customs in Turkey
1. How do young people greet older relatives and adults? Hand-kissing older relatives and adults is a sign of respect. This is done by holding the elder's hand with two hands, kissing the top of the hand, and placing it on forehead before releasing it.
2. What is the traditional way in Turkey to say goodbye to friends who are leaving on a long journey? Throwing water (from a carafe or cup) after a departing car: This is the traditional way in Turkey to bid fond farewell to loved ones who are setting out on a long journey by road vehicle. The tradition serves to express a wish - that the long journey will go smoothly, without mishap... “as smooth as water.”
3. What is the Turkish national sport? "Grease wrestling" is the Turkish national sport and every year in July, wrestling championships are held in Kırkpınar, outside Edirne . The contest is made more difficult by the fact that the wrestlers smear themselves with oil.
4. What international holiday was established in Turkey in 1920?
APRIL 23 INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY:
Turkey receives children from around the world each year on 23rd April to "honor and cherish the freedom and independence of all people".
This national day (23 April National Sovereignty and Children's Day) in Turkey is a unique event. It was on April 23, 1920, during the War of Independence, that the Grand National Assembly met in Ankara and laid down the foundations of a new, independent, secular, and modern republic from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. The founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, dedicated the sovereignty day to the children and entrusted in the hands of the youth the protection of this sovereignty and independence.
Every year, the children in Turkey celebrate this "Sovereignty and Children's Day" as a national holiday. Schools participate in week-long ceremonies marked by performances in all fields in large stadiums watched by the entire nation. Among the activities on this day, the children send their representatives to replace state officials and high ranking bureaucrats in their offices. The President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Ministers, and provincial governors all turn over their positions to children's representatives. These children, in turn, sign executive orders relating to educational and environmental policies. On this day, the children also replace the parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly and hold a special session to discuss matters concerning children's issues.
Over the last two decades, the Turkish officials have been working hard to internationalize this important day. Their efforts resulted in large number of world states sending groups of children to Turkey to participate in the above stated festivities. During their stay in Turkey, the foreign children are housed in Turkish homes and find an important opportunity to interact with the Turkish kids and learn about each other's countries and cultures. The foreign children groups also participate in the special session of the Grand National Assembly. This results in a truly international Assembly where children pledge their commitment to international peace and brotherhood.
UNICEF decided to recognize this day as the International Children's Day.
Focus points for classroom discussions and activities:
- It was the location of 2 of the 7 ancient wonders of the world, Ephesus and
Halicarnasus - According to legend, Noah's Ark landed on Agri Dagi (Mount Ararat) in Eastern Turkey. The last meal on Noah's Ark, a pudding with nearly 20 ingredients, is still served throughout Turkey.
- The first Christian church was in Turkey
Multicultural Festival -- Turkey highlights
Cincinnati Zoo presentation on birds of Peru and dances from Turkey performed by The Lion of Babylon Studio and Laylia's and Huria's Belly Dancing.
Upper School activities:
Kelly Cronin’s Honors Modern World course begins their Regions of the World 1945 to the Present Group Projects on April 17th. Each group has to research and learn their assigned area of the world and then teach the rest of the class the last 2 weeks of school. Areas covered include Egypt, Turkey, Peru, Korea.
Laura Haas’ Health classes are studying depression and focusing on depression as an increasing global health issue around the world, and the complications of treatment in countries that can’t even afford the basics, not to mention the influence of war and violence, poverty, the global economy on depression.
Language lessons
Good morning
Good bye
Hello
How are you?
Very well and you?
Please
Thank you
Lower School library resources
Click here for a list of Library resources about these countries that are being made available to Lower School students during Multicultural Week.