Descendants of population exchange families from Türkiye and Greece meet in Tekirdağ
Descendants of families affected by the population exchange between Türkiye and Greece gathered in Tekirdağ for the traditional “Kırçma Gathering,” an event celebrating shared heritage, cultural ties and solidarity across the Aegean.
Held in the Semetli neighbourhood of the Süleymanpaşa district, the gathering brought together participants from both countries around a traditional harvest table. The programme concluded with the release of pigeons and the planting of an olive sapling, symbolising peace, friendship and the continuation of cultural ties for future generations.
The event was organised jointly by Tekirdağ Metropolitan Municipality and the Association of Thessaloniki Exchangees and Balkan Turks of Thrace and Işıklar Village.
The gathering takes place after the harvest season in Thrace, marking the completion of agricultural work and celebrating the values of sharing, cooperation and collective labour. A table accommodating around 1,000 people was set up in Semetli’s main square, where participants shared a meal.
KIRÇMA TRADITION CELEBRATES HARVEST AND SOLIDARITY
Olcay Ceylan, president of the Association of Thessaloniki Exchangees and Balkan Turks of Thrace and Işıklar Village, highlighted the importance of the Kırçma tradition in Rumelian and Balkan culture.
Ceylan described Kırçma as a traditional communal meal held to celebrate the end of the harvest and express gratitude for the land’s abundance. The gathering reflects the value of agricultural labour, shared blessings and imece — the tradition of collective work and mutual assistance.
He said the organisers were proud to revive and preserve the tradition in Semetli.
GREEK VISITORS RECONNECT WITH THEIR ANCESTRAL HOMELANDS
Lagos Nikos, deputy mayor of Nea Rodosto, a municipality in the Thessaloniki area of Greece, expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended to the visiting delegation.
Thanking those involved in organising the event, Nikos said the visit had created cherished memories. He added that returning to the places where their ancestors once lived was deeply moving for descendants of families shaped by the population exchange.
MAYOR HIGHLIGHTS SHARED MEMORIES AND FUTURE HOPES
Tekirdağ Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Candan Yüceer described the gathering as a meaningful occasion bringing people together through their shared history.
She said the communal table represented the land’s abundance and the fruits of human labour, while the event’s deeper significance lay in the memories, friendships and family histories connecting participants across generations.
Yüceer thanked residents of Semetli and Işıklar, neighbourhood representatives and association officials for their contributions. She also highlighted the opportunity to share memories, painful experiences, hopes and wishes for the future with municipal representatives and guests from Greece.
PIGEONS RELEASED AND OLIVE SAPLING PLANTED
Following the speeches, participants released pigeons near the Atatürk Monument. The programme concluded with the planting of an olive sapling, adding a symbolic gesture of peace and continuity to a gathering centred on remembrance, cultural heritage and friendship between communities in Türkiye and Greece.
