Imagine our confusion and delight when we first happened across the Christmas trinket aisle at the local supermarket, where all manner of yuletide paraphernalia can be purchased. We fondled the multi-coloured shiny balls, flickering fairy lights, soft toy Santas, naff papier-mâché winter scenes and twinkling, tinselled trees, all manufactured by the enterprising Chinese. Not to miss out on the fun, it seems that our Turkish hosts have appropriated many Christmas traditions and grafted them on to New Year.
The book
Perking the Pansies 
Yes, those industrious Chinese! We have plenty of their delightful products over here too… They fall apart in five minutes of course…
LikeLike
Yes, China, workshop to the world. The irony of it!
LikeLike
Pagan traditions become Christmas which then morphs into New Year. This is evolution before our eyes, albeit with a commercial twist thrown in.
LikeLike
Amen from the pagans in this house.
LikeLike
Just goes to show that everywhere needs a bit of Christmas sparkle!
LikeLike
And it was very sparkly
LikeLike
Yes, but the New Year’s red underwear is Turkey’s own invention (as far as I know). Do you have any idea where that came from?
LikeLike
I’ve heard about the red knickers tradition and asked various people about it. No one seems to know where it comes from.
LikeLike
Globalisation at its most tacky!
LikeLike
I agree. No problem with globalisation but we need to maintain a little style, a little panache.
LikeLike