July 2, 2015

Istanbul. June, 2007


You learn something new every day. Today, the 15th day of Ramadan, is when the Ottoman sultan, beginning in the 17th century, honored his household troops and bodyguards (called Janissaries) with trays of baklava. (If they refused the sweets, it indicated that they were unhappy with their work conditions or salaries.) The Janissaries, according to one source, would carry the trays in boxes on their heads as they paraded through the city in a ceremony known as Baklava Alayi. One tray of baklava for every ten soldiers. Sounds about right. As long as it was a big tray. (Thanks to my friend Nick for telling me about this custom.)

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