Romani culture

The much-anticipated traditional spring festivals of Kakava and Hıdırellez in the western province of Edirne are attracting scores of people, with hotel occupancy already reaching 80 percent.

The much-awaited Kakava festivities have begun in the northwestern province of Edirne, as visitors throng the region to soak in the exuberant atmosphere full of activities such as dancing around the Kakava bonfire marking the arrival of spring, listening to folktales and firewalking.

A show adapted for the stage from Miguel de Cervantes' immortal piece "Don Quixote" will meet with the audience on Oct. 16 at Istanbul's Cemal Reşit Rey (CRR) Concert Hall with the performance by Spanish José Huertas Flamenco Ensemble.

Describing Don Quixote's emotional world with music and costumes reflecting Spanish folklore, the show will be staged for the first time in Turkey.

Turkish communities around the world have celebrated Hıdrellez with joy, but this year devoid of the colorful ceremonies that would normally have echoed across many of the nations.
This year, in an effort to prevent the virus' spread, events and festivals were canceled, rescheduled, or modified.

People across Turkey have gathered around giant Kakava fires to mark H?d?rellez, which is celebrated across the Turkic cultural world with festivities as a harbinger of summer. 

Locals and tourists attended traditional celebrations in the country's northwestern border province of Edirne, in its historic Sarayiçi neighborhood, late on May 5.