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It is necessary to add that Turks have a personal way of following Islam. A great number of Muslim Turks will enjoy a nice alcoholic beverage, smoke cigarettes and make the most of the "good things in life", though taking care not to do these during religious occasions such as Ramazan (Ramadan) or the Kandil. This is, of course, an unofficial declaration on your researchers part. Ramazan is the holy month when for thirty days a good Muslim lets nothing pass his/her lips during daylight hours; no eating, drinking, smoking or even licking a postage stamp. Some restaurants and nightclubs are closed during the month of Ramazan.
Mosque festivals are called Kandil, which means Candle. It is so called because all the mosques are illuminated and those are the nights on which Muslims pray for forgiveness and wish to see the right way of things to be done according to their religion.
The story of Kandil
The five holy evenings on the Muslim calendar are called Kandil. During the Ottoman Empire Sultan Selim II of 16th century lit candles on the minarets of the mosques in order to announce these holy nights to the public. Since this calendar is calculated with the revolution of the moon around the earth the dates of the Kandils differ every year.
Mevlid Kandili - The birth of Prophet Mohammad (March 30, 2007)
Regaip Kandili – The beginning of the pregnancy of Prophet Mohammad’s mother (July 19, 2007)
Miraç Kandili – Prophet Mohammad’s rising to sky (August 10, 2007)
Berat Kandili – The forgiveness of the sins (August 27, 2007)
Kadir Gecesi – The Koran’s first appearance to Prophet Mohammad (October 8, 2007)
These nights Muslims usually worship and sing Mevlit, a poem written for the birth of Prophet Mohammad. Kandils were holy days when young members visited the older members of the family, however today the Kandil greetings are made with phone calls. Some restaurants serving alcoholic beverages may be closed at Kandils. Most of the pastry shops and bakery sell Kandil Simidi (special small crispy bread ring strewn with or without sesame seeds). In some apartments the neighbors hand out helva (a special Turkish dessert made of semolina or flour) or lokma tatlısı (again a special Turkish dessert made of fried dough with syrup).
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