Christmas in Turkey

Christmas is a major Christian celebration held on December 25 every year. In Turkey, this celebration is accompanied by decorations and some fun and exciting events in cities like Istanbul, even though most people are Muslim. Therefore, traveling to Turkey coincides with the Christmas celebration, which is very attractive and full of cultural and recreational attractions.

What Day Is Christmas in Turkey?

"Christmas" or "Noël" is celebrated worldwide every year on December 25, almost a week before the New Year. This Christian celebration, which is considered the birthday of Jesus, is accompanied by special rituals and ceremonies. At the same time, this celebration has also been held in other countries due to attractive features such as beautiful decorations in most cities, fun events, great opportunities for shopping, etc.

Therefore, due to Turkey's popularity as a tourist destination and the many tourists visiting it yearly, Christmas has also been held there recently. This Christian celebration, held in Turkey as in most countries of the world on December 25, has another facet with interesting features, some of which are mixed with the culture of the Turkish people.

How Many Days Is Christmas in Turkey?

Most Christian countries celebrate Christmas for 12 days, but in some, it is an official holiday for only one or two days. Because Turkey is a Muslim country, Christmas is not declared a holiday in that country, but its celebration is held only for one day.

It is interesting to know that today's history of celebrating Christmas in Turkey returns to the Byzantine period. However, with the domination of Muslims and the expansion of the Ottoman Empire, this matter became much less. In recent decades, due to the prosperity of the tourism industry in Turkey and the increase in the number of tourists, the Christmas celebration has been held again, but only because of its charms.

Which Cities in Turkey Is Christmas Celebrated?

Christmas is celebrated mainly in big cities and tourist areas in Turkey, with beautiful decorations and attractive lighting. These cities are Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, and Kusadasi (Kușadası), and they celebrate Christmas mainly symbolically and mostly for tourists.

So, if you also travel to Turkey during such days and want to stay in the following cities close to the festival centers, you can, for example, rent a furnished house in Istanbul and your desired area. The main cities in Turkey where Christmas is celebrated are:

·         Istanbul: Tourist districts such as Taksim and Nisantasi (Nişantaşı).

·         Izmir: Kordon district and the main markets of the city.

·         Antalya: Most districts of the city.

·         Kusadasi: Most districts of the city.

Note that if you want to visit any city in Turkey on Christmas day but don't want to rent a car, it is a good decision to use the service of "Rent a Car with Driver (Transfer)".

How is Christmas in Turkey?

As mentioned earlier, the Christmas celebration in Turkey differs from most countries, and the events and features related to it are more attractive to tourists than the celebration itself. Among the obvious examples of these features are significant discounts in most shopping centers and stores; also, some hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls hold special celebrations and events with decorations, music, and diverse cultural programs.

It should be mentioned that because a week after Christmas, the New Year celebration is held in all Turkish cities, for this reason, beautiful decorations and attractive lights can be seen in most parts of the cities; therefore, if you have traveled to Istanbul, by booking a hotel in the Taksim district, you can have easier access to shopping malls and tourist attractions in addition to watching fireworks and beautiful decorations in the city.

At the same time, on Christmas Day in Turkey, you can see concerts of popular singers, various auctions with great discounts, some celebrations in famous restaurants and hotels, and beautiful decorations and lights.

Christmas in Istanbul

When you buy a flight ticket to Istanbul for a different and memorable vacation, one of the best times for such a trip is the days close to Christmas. The reason for this recommendation is besides the decorations and lights in all parts of the city, the sound of music in the streets, the excitement of the people and many other things.

It should be noted that on this night, in addition to eating traditional Turkish sweets, Christians in Istanbul also cook turkey for dinner and eat it at family parties. Also, placing a decorated Christmas tree in the house of Turkish Christians and even some streets, especially in Istanbul, are among the symbols of Christmas.

Ceremony of Istanbul Churches

Istanbul is one of the cities in Turkey where Christmas is celebrated and is very popular due to the number of tourist attractions. This city, which has a Christian population among its population, has a ceremony planned for this occasion in the churches of Istanbul every year. Based on this, for example, in the "Catholic Basilica of St. Anthony," magnificent ceremonies like "Holy Communion" are held in the presence of Christians.

Another famous church in Istanbul where you can witness the Christmas celebration is "the Catholic Church of Santa Maria". In most such churches, tourists and even non-Christians can be present to watch the Christmas ceremony.

Istanbul Christmas Tour

Considering the attractions of Christmas in Turkey and a city like Istanbul, travel agencies usually introduce Christmas tours in Istanbul or other Turkish cities; this trip, which is very attractive and memorable, has different prices depending on the type of tour and its services.

Therefore, if you are planning to travel to Istanbul on a tour on Christmas, be sure to ask about the schedule of them in advance. Usually, these tours have been considered visiting tourist attractions such as "Ayasofya Camii," going famous shopping malls in the Taksim area or Istanbul Grand Bazaar, visiting natural parks such as "Emirgan Korusu (Emirgan Grove)," going to museums in Istanbul, and many other cases.