Anatolian Cultures & Food Festival: Discovering Turkiye

This is the largest Anatolian and Turkish festival in the world. The word “Anatolia” derived from Greek means ‘country of the east’. Anatolia or “Anadolu” as it is called in Turkish is a peninsula located in the southwest corner of Asia, what is known today as Turkey. Due to its strategic position at the connection of Asia and Europe, Anatolia has been the center for many civilizations since prehistoric times. Most of the oldest civilizations have been established in Anatolia. Sumerians, Urartus (Armenians), Hittites, Lydians, Assyrians, Persians, Seljuks, Ottomans, Romans(Byzantine), Greeks, Celtics and many other civilizations made Anatolia their home. There are hundreds of language and dialects spoken in Anatolia. Turks settled in Anatolia in the 11th century. The people and the history of Anatolia are inseparable. Turkish culture today is a mosaic reflecting the amalgamation of cultures and traditions that thrived in Anatolia Across the centuries. The history of Anatolia is the history of Turkey.

In a vivid and realistic way, we were immersed in Anatolian cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, harmony and interaction, which began 10,000 years ago. Anatolian Cultural values that have contributed to world civilizations were displayed. The festival was about participation and experiencing the cultures of Turkey.

Upon entering the main entrance, we began our walk through Anatolian history. The path leading into the festival grounds passed under a series of 11 arches, each representing a civilization that resided in Anatolia. Each arch had a board that described the civilization and people dressed in costume from that civilization. However, when we went through the final arch we were in contemporary Turkey.

There was traditional children’s theatre, folk dances, and Turkish games. There were 99 different Turkish foods to choose from, yummy! There was authentic Turkish products, like traditional handcrafts, but also the leading brands of the world, at vendors modeled after the famous “Grand Bazaar”.

In the past, on special days, fruit juices streamed from Anatolian fountains. The festival revived this tradition and juices, lemonade, and ayran (a traditional yogurt drink) flowed from the taps of the Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III. It was like stepping off a plane in Turkey. Artisans were making ceramics, filigree, weaving, jewelry making, vein art, water marbling, calligraphy, and more.

Pacifica Institute organized the “Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival” to introduce Turkey and Turkish culture in a unique way, from past to present. Pacifica Institute is a non-profit organization founded in 2003 by Turkish and American community leaders of the Los Angeles Area. The mission of the institute is to foster peace and honor diversity through DIALOG, and multicultural interaction.

Pacifica supports the IDEALS, of Turkish members of the community to converse their own culture while adapting to the local society. In addition, it introduces authentic Turkish culture and history to communities across California. Pacifica Institute organizes many activities by working together with likeminded nonprofit organizations in order to familiarize the real Turkish CULTURE and Turkey to Americans, foreign nationalities, and especially Californians. http://www.pacificainstitute.org/