Turkish Weekend
September 13th and 14th - 10am until 5pm.
Turkey hosted the world’s first Tulip Festival more than 400 years ago. The love for the tulip and the tradition is still strong in Victoria today. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival - Turkish Weekend is a showcase of Turkish culture.
A huge range of entertainment all in the colourful surrounds of the tulips. With more than a hundred performers it is a colourful and exciting weekend. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival - Turkish weekend is organised in conjunction with the Australian Turkish Cultural Platform.
Entertainment
Mehter Band, Turkish Folk Dancers and Musicians, Underbelly Belly Dancing Workshops, Coffee Cup Reading, Turkish Marbling and Calligraphy, Ekol School of Art (Folk Dancing Group), Unified Gecko (Turkish driven music with international influences), ATAM (Australian Turkish Arts and Music group) …more to be announced.
Stalls
Turkish historical display, traditional Felt Making and demonstration, kid’s face painting, Henna tattoo, Western Thrace Women’s Cultural Group, Collingwood Turkish Women’s Cultural craft, Ilkay Ilicak’s Cultural display, Turkish jewellery, Turkish ceramics and rugs from Turkish Magic, Felt Making activities … more to be announced.
Food
Gozleme, Turkish Tea and Simit, Sish Kebab and Adana Kebab, Corn on the cob, Turkish Dumpling (desert), Turkish Coffee, Sandwiches, pies, sausage rolls, cakes, biscuits … more to be announced.
Why a Turkish Weekend?
The tulip originated and was first cultivated in Turkey over 400 years ago. The flower gained importance in Turkish society, their form was championed by the Sultan’s.
The very first Tulip Festivals were celebrated in the 1700’s during a time known as Lalè Devri (Tulip Era) it was at this time that the Tulip was the symbol of the Royal Court.
The original Tulip Festival were celebrated at the Sultan’s Palace which was decorated with thousands of tulips. Guests dressed so their clothes matched the many colours of the beautiful tulips. Mirrors were placed throughout the Royal gardens so light was reflected and the tulips seemed endless. Crystal bowls of coloured water were placed throughout the gardens to compliment the colour of the flowers. Songbirds hung from cages and musicians played throughout the gardens to provide the perfect atmosphere. At night candles were lit in crystal lanterns and placed throughout the gardens and cast an enchanting light across the flowers, candles were placed on the backs of tortoises to further increase the gala of the show, their slow wanderings illuminating the blooms in a capricious display.
Tulip motifs were and still are used prominently throughout Turkey in artistic words such as painting, tapestry, tiles, poetry and clothing.
Today the Tulip is still a important flower and symbol in Turkey.
To learn more about Turkey and the involvement of the local Turkish community in the Tesselaar Tulip festival please visit www.atcp.com.au