Another Syrian Garden Vigil

 

Syrian Garden Vigil

As of February 21, more than 50,000 deaths had been reported and hundreds of thousands displaced and injured. It is a tragedy of immense proportion. As a gesture of support and reflection, the Board of the Syrian Cultural Garden endorsed holding a vigil event at the Garden on February 19, 2023. A list of active civic organizations that are involved in humanitarian relief efforts were provided to the attendees. Watch a video and see photos from the Vigil

Prayer Vigil for Turkey and Syria

 

Prayer Vigil for Turkey and Syria

Members of the Turkish and Syrian communities in Cleveland Ohio gathered with family, friends and supporters in the Syrian Cultural Garden on MLK Blvd. on the evening of Friday February 10, 2023. Leena Zahra from the Syrian community and Mehmet Gencer from the Turkish community spoke at a prayer vigil lit by candles. One young lady holding a picture of her best friend who was killed in the earthquake told how her friends and family back in Syria were reporting that dozens of family members had been killed. The crowd learned of suggested places to donate funds and foods and prayed for the victims. Photos and videos from the vigil

First annual Global Cleveland Sister Cities Conference

Cleveland is a sister city with over 20 other cities from around the world. Global Cleveland worked with other organizations to promote and enhance these relationships with the first annual Sister Cities Conference held at the Cleveland Public Library.

David Fleshler, Felton Thomas, Sherrie Miday,
Valarie McCall, Hiro Fujita and Joe Cimperman 

Flags of the world

Turkish group spell out that Turkey is cool

Delegation from Volgograd Russia

See more photos and videos from the Sister Cities kickoff event

Planting Tulips in the Turkish Cultural Garden

The Republic of Turkey was founded on October 29, 1923 - 94 years ago. Last year in 2016 the Cleveland Turkish community dedicated the new Turkish Cultural Garden.

They gathered again one year later on Sunday October 29, 2017 to plant tulip bulbs in the Turkish Garden.

Though many think of the Dutch when they discuss tulips, tulips are actually native to Turkey. Tulips are the national flower of the Republic of Turkey with a history going back to its Ottoman roots.
Many cultivated varieties of tulips were widely grown in Turkey long before they were brought to Holland from Turkey In the 16th Century.

The time between 1718-1730 is called the "Tulip Era of Turkey". It was under the reign of sultan Ahmed III and tulips became an important style of life within the arts, folklore and the daily life during this peaceful time.

The botanical name for tulips, Tulipa, is derived from the Turkish word "tulbend" or "turban", which the flower resembles. It's considered as the King of Bulbs.

See more from the tulip planting in the Turkish Cultural Garden

Happy Republic Day in Turkish at Turkish Garden Dedication in Cleveland

Ayla Gencer is president of the Turkish American Society of Northeastern Ohio (TASNO).  She taught the crowd how to say Happy Republic Day in Turkish and then they recited it.

 This was at the dedication of the new Turkish Garden in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.  The dedication took place 93 years after the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Turkish in Cleveland

TASNO president Ayla Gencer at Turkish Garden Dedication in Cleveland

Ayla Gencer is president of the Turkish American Society of Northeastern Ohio (TASNO.  She spoke at the dedication of the new Turkish Garden in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.  The dedication took place 93 years after the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Turks in Cleveland

Turkish History and Culture at Garden Dedication in Cleveland

Mehmet Gencer from the Turkish Cultural Garden committee spoke at the dedication of the new Turkish Garden in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.  The dedication took place 93 years after the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Gencer told about the culture and history of Turkey and how the Turkish Cultural Garden began.


Turkish in Cleveland

Turkish Cultural Garden Dedication in Cleveland Cultural Gardens

Mehmet Gencer from the Turkish Cultural Garden committee welcomed the crowd to the dedication of the new Turkish Garden in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.  The dedication took place 93 years after the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Gencer introduced Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation president Sheila Murphy Crawford who welcomed the Turkish community to the family of Cultural Gardens.

Turks in Cleveland

Turkish Cultural Garden Dedication – Mehmet Gencer in Cleveland

Mehmet Gencer from the Turkish Cultural Garden committee told Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.com about the dedication of the new Turkish Garden in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
The dedication took place 93 years after the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.


Turkish community in Cleveland

Greek Pontian dancers’ finale at Cleveland Museum of Art

Members of the Phoenix Greek Pontian Society of Cleveland performed this grand finale traditional Pontian dance at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s International Cleveland Community Day in the Atrium of the museum.  Pontus is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey.  http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/greek/greek.htm

Greek Pontian dancers at Cleveland Museum of Art

Members of the Phoenix Greek Pontian Society of Cleveland performed a traditional Pontian dance at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s International Cleveland Community Day in the Atrium of the museum.  Pontus is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey.  http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/greek/greek.htm

Very young Pontian dancers at Cleveland Museum of Art

The youngest of the Phoenix Greek Pontian Society of Cleveland performed another dance at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s International Cleveland Community Day in the Atrium of the museum.  Pontus is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey.  http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/greek/greek.htm

Very young Greek Pontian dancers in Cleveland

The youngest of the Phoenix Greek Pontian Society of Cleveland performed at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s International Cleveland Community Day in the Atrium of the museum. Pontus is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/greek/greek.htm

Phoenix Greek Pontian Society of Cleveland dance

Young people from the Phoenix Greek Pontian Society of Cleveland performed at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s International Cleveland Community Day in the Atrium of the museum.  Pontus is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey.  http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/greek/greek.htm

Turkish Wedding Ring Ceremony and Engagement

Turkish Wedding Customs

Fetching the Bride (Gelin Alma) for a Turkish Wedding

Turkish food and dining etiquette - TASO Turkish Coffee Night

The Turkish American Society of Ohio-Cleveland (TASO) hosts a monthly Turkish Coffee Night in Cleveland to meet and share cultures. The topic of the February 28 event was Turkish food. Seyma Gurer explained that Turkish cuisine is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine which can be described as a fusion of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines.

Seyma Gurer and baby

Learn more about Turkish food and dining customs

Happy Thanksgiving

May your stuffing be tasty,
may your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes 'n gravy
have nary a lump,

May your yams be delicious,
May your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner
stay off of your thighs.

May your Thanksgiving be blessed!!

Best to you and your family