December 26, 2008

Turkish Marriage Tradition
Istanbul, Turkey

I picked up on an entertaining little custom that's a traditional part of the marriage process here in Turkey.

Much like in Latin America, it's pretty commonplace in this country for a man to seek permission to marry from the parents of his fiancée-to-be. During this conversation, or perhaps even before or after such a thing has already taken place (but always in the presence of the parents), it's traditional that the girl serve coffee or tea to her parents and the fellow looking to marry her.

The parents get normal beverages, but instead of sweetening his drink with sugar, she adds a heaping of salt.

If the guy says nothing and drinks 'till the last drop (as the girl expects him to do), that means he's a good man, and that he'll make a good husband.

Recently in this country...

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