Turks prepare to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home in ‘PTT-style’

Turkish families are preparing themselves to welcome 2021 at home in front of the television, in a way known as the PTT-style. Since the authorities have banned New Year's Eve revelers from congregating due to the pandemic risk, many families have taken to shopping and filling their bags with nuts, cookies, and the like to prepare themselves for New Year's Eve and celebrate the night among the company of their near and dear ones.

PTT is an abbreviation for the national post and telegraph directorate of Turkey, but it's also quite commonly referred to as a 1970s joke for "Pyjama, Terlik, Television" in Turk-ish, which means home celebrations in pajamas, slippers and lying in front of a television.

A family of four to celebrate New Year's Eve at home must spend at least 200 Turkish Liras ($27) for the "New Year's table" consisting of soup, rice, salad, main course and dessert, followed by a snack with nuts and fruits.

Due to the restrictions on entertainment in hotels, restaurants and venues within the scope of COVID-19 measures, the shopping rush of those who will welcome the new year at home has started.

For a kilogram of sunflower seeds, salted peanuts and roasted chickpeas, one will spend nearly 40 liras ($5.5). When varieties such as pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts and almonds are added to this mixture, the cost can go up to 90 liras ($12).

Likewise, for enjoying fruits after the meal, such as one kilogram of quince, apple, pear, tangerine and orange, one will have to spend at least 15 liras ($2). With the addition of fruit varieties such as bananas, strawberries and pineapples, which are some of the fancier fruits, the cost could go even higher.

In the Mediterranean province of Antalya, the...

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