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Europe is located in the northwestern Eastern Hemisphere, the Arctic

Ocean is to the north and the Atlantic is to the west. To the south, across
the Mediterranean and the Strait of Gibraltar, is Africa. The full name is
Europa Island, meaning "land of the sun." Europe has 45 countries and
regions, with a population of 726 000 000, or about 1.5% of world's total
population. It is the world's most densely populated continent, and most
residents are of the white race. Covering an area of 1016 square
kilometers, it accounts for 6.8% of the world's land area. Its languages
belong to the Indo-European language family (90% of the European
population speaks one of these languages), with Uralic and Caucasian
languages also spoken. The European language English is the world's
most widely used language. Residents are Protestant Christian and
Catholic.

European history 
Europe was the location of the Greek and Roman classical civilizations and
the birthplace of German civilization. It was first in the world to develop
capitalism, sparking the economic and cultural development of the area.
The the 17th century bourgeois revolution in Britain marked the beginning
of the world's modern history. In the 18th century, the landmark British
Industrial Revolution occurred. Modern Europe is a war-torn region, as two
world wars have erupted here. In 1949 and 1955 the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization for the United States and the Warsaw Pact Organization for
the Soviet Union were established, setting up the confrontation of two
major military blocs between Eastern and Western Europe. After the
founding of the European Community, Western Europe gradually moved
from the joint development of economic cooperation to political cooperation
as well. 1989 and 1990 witnessed major political changes in Eastern
Europe, as some countries have had political power change hands. In
1991, the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia were divided. At
present, with the accelerated process of European integration, new vitality
has been injected into the European economy.

Date and time system

Europeans write the date in the format "Day Month Year", whereas Americans
use "Month Day, Year". Americans usually consider that the week starts on
Sunday and ends on Saturday, while in Europe it always starts on Monday and
finishes on Sunday.

Most non-English-speaking Europeans use the 24h system, as opposed to the

12h system used in English-speaking countries.

Public holidays
The International Workers' Day (a.k.a. Labour Day or May Day, on 1st May) is a
national holiday in (most) European countries, but not in the USA. EU countries
also celebrate Europe Day (5th or 9th May), although it is not an official holiday
(yet).

Social customs
Traditions like baby showers and bachelor(ette)'s night with strip-teasers
originated in the USA, and even though some made their way to Europe, at
least in some countries or social circles, they are still regarded as typically
American. For most European this is something they only see in American TV
series and movies. The same is true of Thanksgiving and Halloween (although
the latter has exported itself pretty successfully to Europe and East Asia from
the late 1990's onwards). American marketing strategies have also given rise to
nationwide phenomena like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which, as potent
as they are in the US, hardly have any equivalent in European countries (except
on Amazon).

Schooling
Schools and universities are free in most European countries. Europeans see
access to university as a right, while American families often have to save for
years for their children to attend one. What is more, universities in most
countries around the world have entry exams, while only a few European
countries do (like the UK).

North Americans have prom night at the end of the last academic year of high
school (and sometimes also at the end of middle school). It is a rather formal
party where boys wear suits and come accompanied with their date wearing
evening dress. As American movies and series show, prom night is often a
highlight in an American teenager's life. Europeans have no equivalent tradition,
although informal end-of-studies parties are common (often several ones, which
do not necessarily take place in the school).

Languages
Foreign-language learning in Europe is now compulsory in every country since
primary (elementary) school. Most Europeans learn 2 to 4 foreign languages,
for obvious reasons. Americans usually only speak English (+ their mother
tongue for immigrants) because they do not need more in their huge country.

Politics
Europeans tend to be more liberal regarding soft drugs, prostitution, alcohol,
abortion, or cloning (but interestingly not so for GM food). Americans on the
contrary grant greater freedoms when it comes to gun possession, as well as
driving a car from a relatively young age (14 to 16 years old, while the norm is
18 years old in Europe).

Government system
Americans have a "Congress", while Europeans all have "Parliaments".

American politcs is chiefly curtailed to two parties, which would be center-right

and right, but lack influential left-wing or green parties. It is rare for a European
country to have less than 3 main parties. It is often 4 or 5, which makes politics
less bipolar (but often also more complicated to reach agreements).

The American police (FBI) is much more "aggressive" than the police in Europe.
Ccar chases, breaking into houses with guns shouting "police, don't move,
hands on your head !" or similar scenes are almost non-existent in Europe.
Suspects in the US are detained more easily and interrogated more harshly.
Americans also go to court much more promptly than in Europe.

The legality of guns in the States also makes daily life and one's sense of safety
completely different from Europe.

Patriotism
Americans put much more emphasis on patriotism than Europeans. Being a
patriot is a way of life in the USA. The term is rarely used in Europe.

Few Europeans would mind rational critics of their country's government, while
a good deal of Americans find them offensive or disrespectful (especially from
non-Americans). Some Americans go as far as regarding criticism toward their
government as a personal attack (although attitudes are starting to change).
Europeans are only too happy to hear other people criticising their own
politicians or their country's problems.

Religion
Americans are much more religious than Europeans. Church going is very
popular in the US, where it is seen as an indispensable way of socialising. In
Europe the practise has almost entirely disappeared and is mostly limited to the
elderly, or special events like weddings or Christmas.

God is often mentioned by American politicians, but almost never in Europe.

Mixing religion and politics is taboo in many European countries (notably
France), due to the stricter separation of state and religion. There are
exceptions, such as Poland or Spain, but even these countries do not appear
very religious compared to the USA.
More extremely, a majority of Americans would find offensive for someone to
openly claim not to believe in god, whereas the opposite is often true in Europe.

Circumcision
Circumcision is almost unheard of in Europe, as in most of the non-Muslim and
non-Jewish world. The practise became very popular in the USA after WWII,
and over 90% of baby boys born during the Cold War era (until the 1980's) were
automatically circumcised, with or without their parents' consent. It is becoming
less common nowadays. Nevertheless, a 2002 survey revealed that 79% of
American men were circumcised. The prevalence was lower among Hispanic
men, and lowest of all in men born outside the US.

Political correctness
Due to their great ethnic and religious diversity, Americans have developed a
more acute sense of political correctness, in an attempt to attenuate frictions
between the various groups. Europeans still associate very much with their
place of birth with their ethnicity, language and culture. In fact, until recently,
adjectives for language, ethnic group and nationality would often match (with
notable exceptions, like Belgium and Switzerland). In the US (almost)
everybody has the same nationality and language, and it is ethnicities and
religions that differentiate people first, hence the greater importance for respect
toward other ethnicities and religions in the USA.

In Europe the emphasis of respect is put on cultures and languages. Making

aggressive jokes about a particular linguistic or cultural group (e.g. calling the
French "cheese-eating monkeys") because of the importance of cheese in
French culture), for instance, is the equivalent of attacking a particular ethnic or
religious group in the US. It's a big no-no. However, making fun of religions is
usually quite acceptable in Europe.

Socialising rules
There is a cultural tendency for Americans, and New World people in general
(Americas, Australia) to be more open, friendly, helpful, but also hypocritical
toward strangers, compared to the more reserved and blunt Europeans. That
phenomenon was observed by many cultural psychologists. The likely reason is
that societies in the New World were built on immigration and people are
generally more mobile and very likely to meet people from different ethnic,
religious and cultural backgrounds. In such a diverse environment it is helpful to
be open and sociable to create new connections, as immigrants had to start a
new life from nothing and fit with a wide range of different people. But it is also a
good idea to keep your beliefs and convictions to yourself to avoid shocking or
hurting other people's sensitivities, as it's harder to know what people think and
feel in a multicultural environment than in a homogeneous rural community in
Europe. Americans are famed for this well-meaning habit of not telling
everything we think and expressing everything we feel in order to avoid conflicts
or to avoid unnecessary disagreements. Europeans instead aren't as a whole
that afraid of expressing themselves and of being nice to others only if and
when they really feel like (not because that's the polite thing to do). They
weren't culturally taught to save face by adjusting their behavior to not annoy
other people. Instead they value their self-expression, self-esteem and
indivituality above even things like social peace, good relations with neighbors
and mates and their social face. One could say that Americans value more
agreeableness, while Europeans favour outspokenness. American political
correctness is a result of this cultural propensity to agreeableness. The Brits are
an exception as they fit somewhere in between Americans and continental
Europeans. They may be even more reserved than the European average, but
their generally polite and friendly attitude makes them much less blunt than the
majority of Europeans.

Food
Europeans all have many traditional dishes as well as regional culinary
specialties. Specialities tend to be very local, so that some pastries can be seen
in one town, but not 100 km away.

Europeans eat more varied and balanced meals (especially in southern

cultures) and less fast food than Americans (except maybe the Brits).
Europeans eat more cheese (not just the French !), more yoghurts, and on
average drink more wine and stronger beers than Americans.

Americans consume sweeter food and much more soft drinks than Europeans.
American alcohol laws are much tougher than anywhere in Europe (see map of
legal age to drink alcohol in Europe). It is generally prohibited to drink alcohol
before the age of 21 in the United States, even with one's parents' aurorization.
Age controls are both more common and more severely punished in the United
States than in Europe.

Sports
It is interesting how the popularity of sports can be so different between Europe
and North America. The most popular sports in ALL Europe is football (soccer),
probably followed by tennis, cycling, and Formula 1 (as well as other motor
races). In the US, soccer and F1 are far away in the popularity ranking. It is
baseball, basketball, ice hockey and American football that attract the crowds
and make money. And as much as European sports lack popularity in the US,
the reverse is true (except for basketball).

Advertising
Advertising practices vary greatly between Europe and North America
(especially in the USA). While it is common to see people wearing inflatable
costumes to promote products on American streets, it is very rare or never
observed in most European countries. Likewise, Americans like to place giant
billboards along highways/motorways, this practice is absent (usually illegal
because too distracting) in most of Europe, where the only signs are public
awareness campaigns for safer driving.

Street names
Street naming practices vary between countries and cities. But one of them,
attributing numbers to the streets (e.g. 5th Avenue or 16th Street) instead of
names, is typically North American. This practice is almost unheard of in
Europe, where streets either have a name or, in rare cases for isolated country
roads, nothing. All roads outside cities are obviously part of a numbering
scheme both in Europe and North America, but those come on top of the street
names. For example, the A40 between London and Oxford is known as Oxford
Road in the Greater London, and London Road beyond that. It is customary in
most European countries to name a road connecting cities according to the
name of the city to which it leads. This custom is occasionally found in the USA,
notably in New England, but never as systematic as in Europe. The only
exception in Europe are motorways (AmE: highways), which are not named
anywhere, although they generally have two numbers: a national one (e.g. A1
or M25) and a European one complying with the United Nations's International
E-road network (e.g. E15 or E60).

Naming practices
Americans are possibly the only people in the world who have taken the habit to
use surnames as given names, and this trend is getting increasingly popular.
These are names like Jackson, Cooper, Harrison, Mason, Jenson, Austin,
Sheldon, Tyler, Riley, Dylan, Bradley, Roy... They are mostly boy names, but
girls aren't immune either. Taylor, Cameron, Mckenzie, Addison and Maddison
are just a few examples. This practice was originally used mostly for middle
names (as in John Fitzgerald Kennedy, or William Jefferson Clinton), but has
become widely used for first names since the second half of the 20th century.

Dating & Marriage

While marriage is increasingly seen as a completely optional "folkloric tradition"
in Europe, it is still quite important in the USA (probably because religion is also
more important there). Statistically Americans marry much more than
Europeans, but also divorce more. Gay marriage, now legal in several EU
countries and hardly an issue for debate in Europe (because of the little
importance of marriage in Europe nowadays), is still vehemently opposed by a
big part of the US population.

Wedding ceremonies are also much more important and formal in the USA. In
most of Europe it is limited to an informal family gathering (usually at the bride
or groom's parental home). Marriage traditions do vary considerably between
European countries, and even more between families. But in average it is
certainly less important than in the States (or in Asian countries for that matter).

Furthermore, there are some strong nationwide American traditions regarding

wedding ceremonies, like bringing "something old, something new, something
borrowed, and something blue". There is obviously no equivalent thing at a
European level.

In fact, even the way of dating tends to follow so well-defined rules in the USA.
For instance, there are widely followed conventions about sleeping on the 3rd
date. Men know they shouldn't expect to see a woman again if she insists to
split the bill ("check" in AmE) at the end of their first date. The way to propose
(the staging), or the act of buying an expensive engagement ring (often
corresponding to one or several months of salary!) are, in general, more
important to Americans than Europeans. In Europe, the way of doing things is
more informal and spontaneous, and can varies a lot from one region to
another, and even on a person to person basis. Sometimes, that makes
Europeans envious of how easy and clear things look in the USA in
comparison. The drawback is that it seems too stereotypical, especially if you
don't like the conventions.

Another major difference is that in in Europe, contrarily to the US,

priests/ministers do not have the legal power to marry people (except in Italy).
An American couple can ask a friend who has been ordained online to marry
them, but that isn't possible in Europe (including Italy). Likewise, "eloping" to get
married (e.g. in Vegas) is also a typically American thing since hardly anyone
elopes to get married at a town hall.

In the USA having children out-of-wedlock has a bad rep because the vast
majority of these children end up living in single-parent homes. Only 2% of
American children live in a family with two cohabiting parents (as opposed to
two married parents or a single parent), against 31% in Estonia, 26% in
Sweden, 25% in France, 18% in Belgium and 14% in the UK. Even traditional
minded (and relatively religious) Germans and Spaniards have 8% of them (four
times more than in the US !). => see also: Religion and tradition still influence
couples' decision to get married

Nobility
Europe still has a class of noble people (restored in Eastern Europe after the fall
of communism), and many countries will mention the title (e.g. Baron) in official
documents. About 1% of family names still have a "noble particle"
(uncapitalised "de", "di", "von", "van", etc.) and it does have a meaning for some
people. Europe also has hundreds of thousands of castles reminding people on
a nearly daily basis of the time where nobility once ruled over everything.

Military politics
It is prohibited in most of Europe for the military people, or anyone with a
professional military history to become a politician. This means that they
become politically ineligible. In the USA, the reverse is almost true. It is almost
required to have a military history to become president, and quite a few
Congress people have also served in the army. Maybe this is because the
president's image is still strongly associated with that of the "commander in
chief", and because defence (or offence) is so important in US politics.

Bumper stickers
Bumper stickers can be commercial, religious, political, sports, humorous or
philosophical, but they are essentially an American phenomenon. Europeans
are much more reserved when it comes to sticking things on their cars, and the
usage is mostly limited to 'baby on board' stickers, as well as national or
regional flags or logos (e.g. in Spain where the black bull sticker is ubiquitous,
except in Catalonia where its a black donkey or in Asturias where it is the
Asturian cross). Humorous stickers are very occasionally seen in Europe, while
religious, political or commercial ones are virtually non existent.

TURKEY
Turkey, country that occupies a unique geographic position, lying partly in Asia and
partly in Europe. Throughout its history it has acted as both a barrier and a bridge
between the two continents.
 


 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
The Castle of St. Peter at Bodrum, Turkey, on the Aegean coast.© Monticelllo/Dreamstime.com

Turkey is situated at the crossroads of the Balkans, Caucasus, Middle East, and

eastern Mediterranean. It is among the larger countries of the region in terms of
territory and population, and its land area is greater than that of any European state.
Nearly all of the country is in Asia, comprising the oblong peninsula of Asia Minor—
also known as Anatolia(Anadolu)—and, in the east, part of a mountainous region
sometimes known as the Armenian Highland. The remainder—
Turkish Thrace(Trakya)—lies in the extreme southeastern part of Europe, a tiny
remnant of an empire that once extended over much of the Balkans.

TurkeyEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The country has a north-south extent that ranges from about 300 to 400 miles (480 to
640 km), and it stretches about 1,000 miles from west to east. Turkey is bounded on
the north by the Black Sea, on the northeast by Georgia and Armenia, on the east
by Azerbaijan and Iran, on the southeast by Iraq and Syria, on the southwest and west
by the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea, and on the northwest
by Greeceand Bulgaria. The capital is Ankara, and its largest city and seaport
is Istanbul.



TurkeyOverview of Turkey.Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz
Time-lapse video of Istanbul.Geoff Tompkinson/GTImage.com
IstanbulTake a video tour of Istanbul.Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz
Of a total boundary length of some 4,000 miles (6,440 km), about three-fourths is
maritime, including coastlines along the Black Sea, the Aegean, and the
Mediterranean, as well as the narrows that link the Black and Aegean seas. These
narrows—which include the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles—are
known collectively as the Turkish straits; Turkey’s control of the straits, the only
outlet from the Black Sea, has been a major factor in its relations with other states.
Most of the islands along the Aegean coast are Greek; only the islands
of Gökçeada and Bozcaada remain in Turkish hands. The maritime boundary with
Greece has been a source of dispute between the two countries on numerous occasions
since World War II.


TurkeyTime-lapse video of the northern Black Sea coast of Turkey.Piotr Wancerz/Timelapse Media
 Boats on the Bosporus at Istanbul.© Faraways/Shutterstock.com

A long succession of political entities existed in Asia Minor over the centuries.
Turkmen tribes invaded Anatolia in the 11th century CE, founding the Seljuq empire;
during the 14th century the Ottoman Empire began a long expansion, reaching its
peak during the 17th century. The modern Turkish republic, founded in 1923 after the
collapse of the Ottoman Empire, is a nationalist, secular, parliamentary democracy.
After a period of one-party rule under its founder, Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk), and his
successor, Turkish governments since the 1950s have been produced by multiparty
elections based on universal adult suffrage.

The Ottoman Empire at its greatest extent.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Land
Relief
Turkey is a predominantly mountainous country, and true lowland is confined to the
coastal fringes. About one-fourth of the surface has an elevation above 4,000 feet
(1,200 metres), and less than two-fifths lies below 1,500 feet (460 metres). Mountain
crests exceed 7,500 feet (2,300 metres) in many places, particularly in the east, where
Turkey’s highest mountain, Mount Ararat (Ağrı), reaches 16,945 feet (5,165 metres)
close to the borders with Armenia and Iran. In the southeast the Uludoruk Peak
reaches 15,563 feet (4,744 metres); though further west, the Demirkazık Peak (12,320
feet [3,755 metres]) and Mount Aydos (11,414 feet [3,479 metres]) are also
significant peaks. Steep slopes are common throughout the country, and flat or gently
sloping land makes up barely one-sixth of the total area. These relief features affect
other aspects of the physical environment, producing climates often much harsher
than might be expected for a country of Turkey’s latitude and reducing the availability
and productivity of agricultural land. Structurally, the country lies within the
geologically young folded-mountain zone of Eurasia, which in Turkey trends
predominantly east to west. The geology of Turkey is complex, with sedimentary
rocks ranging from Paleozoic to Quaternary, numerous intrusions, and extensive areas
of volcanic material. Four main regions can be identified: the northern folded zone,
the southern folded zone, the central massif, and the Arabian platform.

To summarize Turkish culture and traditions in one article is impossible because the
diversity of heritage across the country varies and other cultures such as Greek, Armenian,
Georgian, and Arabic practises have been woven in throughout history.
The northeast coast near the border is a tight combination of Turkish and Georgian culture
as seen in the Laz and Hemsin communities and the southeast typically reflects Kurdish
and Arabic culture, while the western coast in the last 80 years has been widely influenced
by European traditions. However, quite a few traditions are strong fast across Turkey and
any first time visitor will spot them immediately if they know what to look for.

DAILY GREETINGS AND COMMON EXPRESSIONS

Turks love to celebrate or empathise and common expressions apply to many daily or
special events and occasions. Should a friend fall ill, the response should be “Gecmis
Olsun” meaning get well soon. Enter into a shop and you may hear the saying of “Hos
Geldiniz” which means welcome. The list goes on and on but the good news for foreigners
is that Turks are quite relaxed if you are visiting the country. Learning a few sayings earns
you great respect, but do not sweat the small stuff, because to the Turks, you are a
welcome guest in their country.

EVIL EYE: THE NAZAR BONCUGU

In direct disbelief of Islamic traditions, the Nazar Boncugu, also known as the evil eye is in
offices, homes, in transport and businesses. Turks believe this talisman wards off evil and
these days, as well as featuring heavily in Turkish culture, it is one of the top recommended
souvenirs to buy

PREGNANCY, BIRTH AND CHILDREN: WHEN A

BABY IS BORN
Likewise, when a baby is born, friends and family will often give it an evil eye for protection.
Turks adore children, so do not be surprised if your kid receives their undivided attention.
The children also increase family size, so represent a symbol of increased strength.
Pregnancy is the next natural thing to do after marriage and anybody shunning parenthood,
or unable to conceive can become the target of gossip, or socially questioned in some
regions.

Since pregnancy is an assumed must, many traditions revolve around it such as cravings or
determining the sex, although, in modernized areas, couples are turning to the medical
profession to find out the sex of their child. In smaller villages, some mother stay indoors for
40 days to regain health and help their new-borns with a good start in life.
FOOD, BREAKFAST AND BREAD

Food is an integral part of Turkish society. Each meal is a gift from Allah to enjoy, and not
waste, so Turkish women often spend hours in the kitchen, with painstaking and intense
recipes. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and typically includes eggs,
cucumbers, tomatoes, and olives but never forget the bread, at either breakfast or other
mealtimes. It is a staple part of Turk’s diets and sold in masses across the country. Some
Turks even refuse to sit down to a meal without it.

CIRCUMCISION
Circumcision is still a religious requirement in many parts of the country but thankfully,
practises have improved during the last century. In history, it was not unheard of for a local
elder to perform the ritual on the kitchen table but especially in the western parts of the
country, more people are opting for hospital procedures. To mark the occasion, traditionally
seen as the transition to a fully blooded male, a present like a memorable watch is given to
the boy.

THE TURKISH HAMAM

This tradition stemming from the Roman public bathhouses and modified by the Ottomans,
has split into two. Certain Turkish baths are touristic orientated because westerners prefer
to wear swimming costumes while others cater for the local community in the tradition way
and this is seen in the weekly practise of women only day.

People enter naked or wear a swimming costume, to sit in the sauna while dosing down
with cold water. A scrub down with a lofar and plenty of soapsuds is good exfoliation of
dead skin and the optional choice of a body massage is usually offered in the touristic
bathhouses.  
TURKISH RUGS AND CARPETS

In every Turkish home, carpets and rugs sit proudly on the floors. With elaborate
decoration, the handmade carpets have also become popular holiday souvenirs. Stemming
from the days of the nomadic tribes, unfortunately, some rogue salespersons sell fake
Turkish carpets. In recent years, as décor design has become more modern, some Turks
also opt for the factory-made carpets that are often cheaper.
HOSPITALITY: SHOES, DINING AND GIFTS
Turks are hospitable and often invite newfound friends around to their house for a dinner
party. Visitors are given slippers, so they can leave their shoes at the door and copious
amounts of food will be offered of which it is rude to refuse. During this time, a gift is not
expected but if you intend to adhere to the popular western culture of bringing a bottle of
wine, be sure to check whether the hosts drink. A lot are teetotal or only drink outside of the
house.

Tea and National Drinks

Contrary to popular belief, Turks only drink their version of coffee on a few days during the
week. Instead, the national drink is tea, served black in tulip-shaped glasses and sweetened
with sugar according to the drinker’s preference. A common feature in most villages, towns,
and cities are the men only teahouses where they gather to drink tea and play games such
as OK. Otherwise, tea gardens are popular for families and females, especially on the
weekends.

Tolga Ertukel, owner and manager of Turkey Homes says…

When visiting Turkey, keep an eye out for the local customs and traditions and you will be
pleasantly surprised at how much they can enhance your holiday.

Turkish Society and Culture

Islam
Islam is the religion of the majority of Turks although the state is
fiercely secular. Islam emanated from what is today Saudi Arabia.
The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of God's emissaries
(following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring
revelation to mankind. He was distinguished with bringing a
message for the whole of mankind, rather than just to a certain
peoples. As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus the Bible,
Muhammad brought the last book, the Quran. The Quran and the
actions of the Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as the basis for all
guidance in the religion.
Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day
- at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time
is listed in the local newspaper each day. Friday is the Muslim
holy day although this is not practised in Turkey. However, most
males will attend the congregational afternoon prayer. During the
holy month of Ramazan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk.
Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum
chewing
 Etiquette & Customs in Turkey
Meeting and Greeting Etiquette
 When meeting shake hands firmly. When departing it is not always customary to
shake hands although it is practised occasionally.
 Friends and relations would greet each other with either one or two kisses on the
cheek. Elders are always respected by kissing their right hand then placing the forehead
onto the hand.
 When entering a room, if you are not automatically met by someone greet the
most elderly or most senior first. At social occasions greet the person closest to you
then work your way around the room or table anti-clockwise.
Dining Etiquette
 Most business entertaining will take place in restaurants. Turks enjoy food and the meal
is a time for relaxing and engaging in some good conversation.
 The protocol of Turkish hospitality dictates that the host always pays for the meal. The
concept of sharing a bill is completely alien. You may try and offer to pay, which may be seen as
polite, but you would never be allowed to do so. The best policy is to graciously thank the host
then a few days later invite them to do dinner at a restaurant of your choice. It may be a good
idea to inform the restaurant manager that under no circumstances are they to accept payment
from your guests.
 Evening meals may be accompanied by some alcohol, usually the local tipple called Raký
(pronounced rak-uh). It will comprise of a few courses with the main course always meat or fish
based, accompanied by bread and a salad.
 Turks smoke during meals and will often take breaks between courses to have a
cigarette and a few drinks before moving onto the next.
 Tea or Turkish coffee is served at the end of a meal sometimes with pastries. Turkish
coffee is a national drink and should at least be sampled. It comes either without sugar, a little
sugar or sweet. Turkish coffee is sipped and allowed to melt into the taste buds so do not gulp it
 down as you would instant coffee. Never drink to the bottom of the cup as it will be full of
ground coffee and taste awful.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Relationships & Communication
 Turks prefer to do business with those they know and respect, therefore spend time
establishing a personal relationship.
 Relationships are fostered in the office, over extended lunches, dinners, and social
outings.
 Courtesy is crucial in all business dealings.
 Turks do not require as much personal space as many other cultures and will stand close
to you while conversing.
 Do not back away, as this can be construed as unfriendly.
 Discussions may start slowly, with many questions that may seem irrelevant to the
purpose of your visit. It is extremely rude to insist that your colleagues get to the point.
 Ask about his/her family without prying. Questions about children will be welcomed.
 The Turks are proud of their country and will enjoy answering questions on their culture
and history although be sure to avoid political history.
 Most Turkish men love football (soccer) and usually support one of three teams:
Galatasaray, Beþiktaþ or Fenerbahçe. Asking after their team's recent fortunes will always
 produce lively and animate responses.
 Once a relationship has been established, communication is direct.
 It is vital that you maintain eye contact while speaking since Turks take this as a sign of
sincerity.
North America
CONTINENT

North America, third largest of the world’s continents, lying for the most part
between the Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Cancer. It extends for more than
5,000 miles (8,000 km) to within 500 miles (800 km) of both the North
Pole and the Equator and has an east-west extent of 5,000 miles. It covers an
area of 9,355,000 square miles (24,230,000 square km).

North AmericaNorth AmericaEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

 READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC

Western architecture: Colonial architecture in North America

The colonial architecture of the United States and Canada was as diverse as the

peoples who settled there: English, Dutch, French, Swedish, Spanish, German,

Scots-Irish. Each group carried with it the style and building customs of the mother

country, adapting them as best…

North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass generally

referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, or simply the
Americas. Mainland North America is shaped roughly like a triangle, with its
base in the north and its apex in the south; associated with
the continent is Greenland, the largest island in the world, and such offshore
groups as the Arctic Archipelago, the West Indies, Haida Gwaii (formerly the
Queen Charlotte Islands), and the Aleutian Islands.
 Uummannaq Fjord and Uummannaq Rock, Greenland.Wedigo Ferchland

North America is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by

the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west
by the North Pacific Ocean. To the northeast Greenland is separated from
Iceland by the Denmark Strait, and to the northwest Alaska is separated from
the Asian mainland by the much narrower Bering Strait. North America’s only
land connection is to South Americaat the narrow Isthmus of
Panama. Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska, rising 20,310 feet (6,190 metres)
above sea level, is the continent’s highest point, and Death
Valley in California, at 282 feet (86 metres) below sea level, is its lowest.
North America’s coastline of some 37,000 miles (60,000 km)—the second
longest of the continents after Asia—is notable for the great number of
indentations, particularly in the northern half.



Death ValleySand dunes in Death Valley, California.© Corbis
 Denali National Park, Alaska: autumn vegetationAutumn vegetation in Denali National Park and
Preserve, south-central Alaska, U.S., with Denali (Mount McKinley) towering in the centre
background.Robert Glusic/Getty Images

The name America is derived from that of the Italian merchant and
navigator Amerigo Vespucci, one of the earliest European explorers to visit
the New World. Although at first the term America was applied only to the
southern half of the continent, the designation soon was applied to the entire
landmass. Those portions that widened out north of the Isthmus of Panama
became known as North America, and those that broadened to the south
became known as South America. According to some authorities, North
America begins not at the Isthmus of Panamabut at the narrows
of Tehuantepec, with the intervening region called Central America. Under
such a definition, part of Mexico must be included in Central America,
although that country lies mainly in North America proper. To overcome
this anomaly, the whole of Mexico, together with Central and South American
countries, also may be grouped under the name Latin America, with
the United States and Canada being referred to as Anglo-America. This
cultural division is a very real one, yet Mexico and Central America (including
the Caribbean) are bound to the rest of North America by strong ties of
physical geography. Greenland also is culturally divided from, but physically
close to, North America. Some geographers characterize the area roughly
from the southern border of the United States to the northern border
of Colombia as Middle America, which differs from Central America because it
includes Mexico. Some definitions of Middle America also include the West
Indies.

A small farm nestled in the rugged highlands of central Honduras. D. Donne Bryant/D.Donne Bryant Stock
North America contains some of the oldest rocks on Earth. Its geologic
structure is built around a stable platform of Precambrian rock called
the Canadian (Laurentian) Shield. To the southeast of the shield rose the
ancient Appalachian Mountains; and to the west rose the younger and
considerably taller Cordilleras, which occupy nearly one-third of the
continent’s land area. In between these two mountain belts are the generally
flat regions of the Great Plains in the west and the Central Lowlands in the
east.
The continent is richly endowed with natural resources, including great
mineral wealth, vast forests, immense quantities of fresh water, and some of
the world’s most fertile soils. These have allowed North America to become
one of the most economically developed regions in the world, and its
inhabitants enjoy a high standard of living. North America has the highest
average income per person of any continent and an average food intake per
person that is significantly greater than that of other continents. Although it is
home to less than 10 percent of the world’s population, its per
capita consumption of energy is almost four times as great as the world
average.
North America’s first inhabitants are believed to have been ancient Asiatic
peoples who migrated from Siberia to North America sometime during the last
glacial advance, known as the Wisconsin Glacial Stage, the most recent major
division of the Pleistocene Epoch (about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago). The
descendants of these peoples, the various Native
American and Eskimo (Inuit) groups, largely have been supplanted by peoples
from the Old World. People of European ancestry constitute the largest group,
followed by those of African and of Asian ancestry; in addition there is a large
group of Latin Americans, who are of mixed European and Native American
ancestry.

American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States. "Culture
encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music,
what we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we behave
with loved ones, and a million other things," said Cristina De Rossi, an anthropologist at Barnet
and Southgate College in London.

The United States is the third largest country in the world with a population of more than 325
million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A child is born every 8 seconds, and a person
dies every 12 seconds.
Language
There is no official language of the United States, according to the U.S. government.
While almost every language in the world is spoken in the United States, the most
frequently spoken non-English languages are Spanish, Chinese, French and German.
Ninety percent of the U.S. population speaks and understands at least some English,
and most official business is conducted in English. Some states have official or preferred
languages. For example, English and Hawaiian are the official languages in Hawaii. 

The Census Bureau estimates that more than 300 languages are spoken in the United
States. The bureau divides those languages into four categories: Spanish; other Indo-
European languages, which includes German, Yiddish, Swedish, French, Italian,
Russian, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi, Greek and several others; Asian and Pacific Island
languages, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Tamil and more; and "all other
languages," which is a category for languages that didn't fit into the first three
categories, such as Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, languages of Africa and languages of
native people of North, Central and South America.

Religion
Nearly every known religion is practiced in the United States, which was founded on the
basis of religious freedom. About 71 percent of Americans identify themselves as
Christians, according to information gathered by the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan
research group, in 2017. The research also found that about 23 percent had no religious
affiliation at all and around 6 percent of the population is made up non-Christian
religions. 
The number of people who identify with no religion seems to be decreasing. According
to the Pew Research Center, this category is expected to drop from 16 percent in 2015 to
13 percent in 2060.

American style
Clothing styles vary by social status, region, occupation and climate. Jeans, sneakers,
baseball caps, cowboy hats and boots are some items of clothing that are closely
associated with Americans. Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and Victoria
Secret are some well-known American brands.

American fashion is widely influenced by celebrities and the media, and fashion sales
equal around $200 billion per year, according to a paper published by Harvard
University in 2007. More and more Americans are buying fashion, electronics and more
online. According to the Census Bureau, U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the first
quarter of 2017 totaled around $98.1 billion.
American food
American cuisine was influenced by Europeans and Native Americans in its early
history. Today, there are a number of foods that are commonly identified as American,
such as hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, macaroni and cheese, and meat loaf. "As
American as apple pie" has come to mean something that is authentically American.

There are also styles of cooking and types of foods that are specific to a region.
Southern-style cooking is often called "American comfort food" and includes dishes
such as fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas and corn bread. Tex-Mex,
popular in Texas and the Southwest, is a blend of Spanish and Mexican cooking styles
and includes items such as chili and burritos, and relies heavily on shredded cheese
and beans.

Jerky, dried meats that are served as snacks, is also a food that was created in the
United States, according to NPR.

The arts
The United States is widely known around the world as a leader in mass media
production, including television and movies. According to the U.S. Department of
Commerce, the United States comprises one-third of the worldwide media and
entertainment industry.

The television broadcasting industry took hold in the United States in the early 1950s,
and American television programs are now shown around the world. The United States
also has a vibrant movie industry, centered in Hollywood, California, and American
movies are popular worldwide. The U.S. film industry earned $31 billion in revenues in
2013, and is expected to reach $771 billion by 2019, according to the U.S. Department
of Commerce.

The United States' arts culture extends beyond movies and television shows, though.
New York is home to Broadway, and Americans have a rich theatrical history. American
folk art is an artistic style and is identified with quilts and other hand-crafted items.
American music is very diverse with many, many styles, including rhythm and blues,
jazz, gospel, country and western, bluegrass, rock 'n' roll and hip hop.
Baseball is called America's favorite pastime.

Credit: Digital Media Pro Shutterstock

Sports
The United States is a sports-minded country, with millions of fans who follow football,
baseball, basketball and hockey, among other sports. Baseball, which was developed in
colonial America and became an organized sport in the mid-1800s, is known as
America's favorite pastime, although its popularity has been eclipsed by football for the
past three decades, according to the Harris Poll.

American holidays
Many holidays are celebrated only in the United States. Americans celebrate their
independence from Britain on July 4. Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in
May, honors those who have died in military service. Labor Day, observed on the first
Monday in September, celebrates the country's workforce. Thanksgiving, another
distinctive American holiday, falls on the fourth Thursday in November and dates back
to colonial times to celebrate the harvest. Presidents' Day, marking the birthdays of
George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, is a federal holiday that occurs on the third
Monday in February. The contributions of veterans are honored on Veterans' Day,
observed on Nov. 11. The contributions of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. are
remembered on the third Monday in January.