We believe that folk culture is a cornerstone for our natural cohesion and unity. An overall development on various fields of economic and social life can only be achieve through education and culture. Cultural values that reflect our national pride and aesthetic values are very important. We can as a stable society find our spiritual, physical and aesthetic needs from the values of Turkish folk culture.

The unusual wealth and variety of Turkish folk music and dance attracts the attention of people from all over the world. Many of the melodies and movements have very ancient origins stemming from the many different aspects of Turkish culture that form the background of modern Turkey.

Every district has its own local tunes, songs and dances. There is some special song or dance for every event of rural life. A birth or a wedding, the death of a loved one, sowing the field and harvesting the crops or leading the flocks to water. Some of the songs and dances have to do with a particular craft or work, some have fertility or good luck as a theme, while others express the timeless feelings of a man, joy and sadness, the longing of an exile for his home and homeland, love and affection for the beloved.

The instruments played are still mainly traditional and again vary from region to region. They are made by local craftsmen of great skill from locally obtained materials. One of these the "saz" with its wide range, may be considered the earliest form of the Western lute.

Turkey has been the birthplace and bridge for many civilizations and has thus inherited a very rich tradition of folklore. Each region has its own dance and costumes. As in every branch of folklore, the mimic and motions in the dances portray the soul and character of the Turkish people. The feelings are reflected in their handcrafts, the beautiful head scarves, handbags, crochet work, hand woven carpets and kilims where each motif has a special meaning. One is left with an impression of harmony and fluency in the motion of the figures and the colorful flowing costumes.

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