SDLC 110: Cultural Post 3

[Tenaya Bien]

My first topic of culture is Turkish raki. Raki is a liquor that is a traditional drink of Turkish culture. While Turkey has long been a secular state, the new government which is much more conservative and religious is trying to diminish the presence of alcohol in Turkish society by taxing it heavily and making it expensive to drink. However, raki is seen not just as a drink but as a tradition or custom of Turkish society. The tradition of drinking raki is mostly about the conversations you have around the table while drinking this drink with family and close friends. Some instances in which you might drink raki are: a new birth in the family, a wedding, a promotion, a bout of hard times, or even just after a long day at work. I think the importance of raki is that it brings people together to talk about and reflect on life, share advice and be a part of each others' lives.