How to celebrate the best woman in your life in Istanbul
by Leyla Yvonne Ergil
ISTANBULMay 07, 2016 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Leyla Yvonne Ergil
May 07, 2016 12:00 am
Like most countries in the world, Turkey will celebrate Mother's Day this Sunday and Istanbul will host many events for those who want to surprise their mothers and spend valuable time together with a beautiful breakfast in a restaurant or by taking her to a cultural activity
It is that time of year again, the merry month of May in which many countries, including Turkey, celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday, which happens to be coming up this weekend on May 8. Istanbul has a wide selection of offerings to do on the day, including indulging in a stylish brunch at one of the city's luxurious hotel restaurants or taking part in the many museum exhibitions hosting special tours for families on Sunday.
The first modern Mother's Day was celebrated in 1908 in the United States by Anna Jarvis, a woman who pursued having the date designated to honor mothers as she said, "The person who has done more for you than anyone in the world [is your mother]." By 1910, a proclamation was signed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May, and since then it has become a national holiday in many countries, including Turkey.
Although there are a handful of countries such as the United Kingdom or religions such as the Orthodox Christians in which the holiday is celebrated on different dates, Turkey has also adopted the second Sunday of May like most countries in the world. In later years, the very founder of the holiday herself, Jarvis, would come to resent its commercialization and exploitation by companies such as Hallmark aiming to profit on the day, which she believed should be celebrated through hand-written letters expressing their gratitude rather than buying gifts and pre-made cards. While this holiday is one of the most commercialized in the U.S., in Turkey where pre-made cards of dictated endearments have yet to hit every corner shop, there remains a semblance of genuine sentiment.
The best way to celebrate any holiday of course is to spend valuable time together with the ones you love, and there are certainly a wide number of events, activities and creative gifts to express your gratitude to the most important woman in your life in Istanbul. The customary Sunday brunch is now quite a popular staple in Turkey and a great way to show your appreciation while spending some time with your loved ones. A number of posh Istanbul hotels will be offering very special Mother's Day brunches, some even including entertainment for the kids and discounts for the moms.
The Ritz Carlton in Harbiye will be holding a Mother's Day Brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday with live piano music. For the kids, there will be a special workshop led by their chefs that will teach them how to bake a cake for their mothers. Dining will be alfresco among a stunning view of the Bosporus. The Ritz Carlton Spa will also offer a free day-pass spa entry with any treatment purchased for your mother.
The AzzuR Restaurant, located in the heart of Levent in the Mövenpick Hotel, will be offering a very special brunch on Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for Mother's Day with international and Italian breakfast, specialties and desserts prepared by Chef Giovanni Terracciano. This brunch will also be accompanied by live piano music for the moms and a cupcake decoration class for the kids. The price is TL 125 ($42.81) per person, however, if there are two full-paying adults, then mom enjoys brunch for free. Children up to age 6 are also free and kids up to age 12 receive a 50 percent discount.
The sleek St. Regis Brasserie of the hotel of the same name in Nişantaşı will be serving a special Mother's Day Breakfast of Turkish and French fusion cuisine by Chef Gürcan Gülmez from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The price for adults is TL 150 and includes a glass of sparkling wine while the price for kids between the ages of 6 to 12 is TL 75.
The Globe, located in the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti, also the largest hotel in the city, will be presenting a delightful brunch buffet from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday prepared by chef Yannis Manikis. If there are at least two full-paying adults in your party, then your mother's brunch will be on the house. Brunch costs TL 160, where kids between the ages of 6 and 12 will receive a 50 percent discount and kids under the age of 6 will eat for free.
A number of posh Istanbul hotels such as the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti and Çırağan Palace Kempinski will be offering very special Mother's Day brunches, some even including entertainment for the kids and discounts for the moms.
The Four Seasons Hotel in Sultanahmet, housed in the former neighborhood prison, is actually one of the most lavish dining options for Sunday morning. Set in the courtyard, this buffet-style brunch will have delicacies from Turkish, Italian and even Far East cuisines prepared by Executive Chef Savaş Aydemir. The cost is a steep TL 225 per person, however, children up to age 6 eat for free and kids between the ages of 6 and 12 will receive a 50 percent discount.
The historical Ottoman Sait Halim Paşa Mansion in Yeniköy will be serving up a scrumptious brunch by Chef Oktay Özgün and offering a live jazz performance by the esteemed Neşet Ruacan, Emin Fındıkoğlu and Meltem Üne trio to a view of the Bosporus. Tickets are TL 175 and the event starts at 10:30 a.m. The magnificent Çırağan Palace Kempinski will be serving a very special tea hour for mothers on Sunday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the richest of nibbles, canapes and aromatic tea for TL 110 per person. A number of Istanbul's museums will also be opening their doors free of charge to mothers and have organized special tours this Sunday. On May 8, Istanbul Modern will be welcoming all women for free for a special 45-minute guided tour from 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. of their ongoing exhibition "TILL IT'S GONE: An exhibition on Nature and Sustainability."
Sakıp Sabancı Museum in Emirgan will also be hosting a very special day for mothers to introduce their infants to the arts. There will be educational workshops for different age groups, from newborns to 3 year olds, held throughout the day on Sunday. From 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., babies up to 11 months old will be given the opportunity to experience art up close and with a guide to observe their reactions. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., babies between the ages of 12 months and 18 months will have a similar experience as well as a guided tour. From 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., infants between the ages of 19 months and 36 months will get to experience a number of art-based games, a tour and a workshop for toddlers to have their first art experience alongside their mothers. All activities are free of charge but require a reservation.
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