Spectacular Hıdırellez festival in South Meric
The traditional Hıdırellez Spring Festival organised by the Western Thrace Minority South Evros Education and Culture Association was held on 4 - 5 May in Musaköy in Evros province.
The event on 4 May Friday started with the opening speech of Mahmut Hüseyin, President of Western Thrace Minority South Evros Education and Culture Association. The event was hosted by Şerafettin Hurşit, Secretary General of the Western Thrace Turkish Teachers' Union.
Mahmut Hüseyin thanked all the participants and the management of the association for their work. Hüseyin said that their aim is to maintain the customs, traditions and traditions as well as not compromising the Turkish identity with such activities and gave information about the activities of the association.
Hüseyin Baltacı, President of the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association, stated that it was his first time in Musaköy and he expressed his happiness to be in Musaköy and he brought greetings from Xanthi to the people of the region. Baltacı reminded that similar events were also organised in Okçular and Ilica villages of Xanthi and wished that Musaköy and Ilica villages would become sister villages. Baltacı also talked about the activities of the Friendship Equality Peace Party and stated that the party symbolises friendship, brotherhood and peace as in the words in its name.
Friendship Equality Peace Party President Çiğdem Asafoğlu started his speech by greeting all the participants and stated that as a party they participated in the European Parliament elections to be held on 9 June and their work is continuing intensively. Expressing that they believe that they will emerge victorious from these elections as in the previous elections, Asafoğlu stated that the night of 9 June will be the feast night of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace. Finally, Asafoğlu said, "We will paint the night of 9 June with the colours of our party and call the Western Thrace Minority the Turkish Minority."
Within the scope of the event, a marbling exhibition consisting of the works of Berna Mustafaoğlu's students took place. In addition, the skits presented by the children of the primary school group of the Western Thrace Minority South Evros Education and Culture Association under the direction of the instructor Şüheda Halil gave the participants entertaining moments.
Due to the rain, folklore and music presentations in the event could not be organised.
The Hıdırellez Spring Festival continued today (Sunday 5 May) in the Palamutluk area near Musaköy. Consul General of Turkey in Komotini Aykut Ünal and his wife İlayda Ünal attended the Hıdırellez event and visited the marbling exhibition at the Western Thrace Minority South Evros Education and Culture Association. Then he attended the Hıdırellez festival in Palamutluk area.
The event in Palamutluk area started with the opening speech of Mahmut Hüseyin, President of Western Thrace Minority South Evros Education and Culture Association. Afterwards, Consul General of Turkey in Komotini Aykut Ünal congratulated all the participants in his welcoming speech. The event continued with the performance of the folk dances teams of the Western Thrace Minority South Evros Education and Culture Association and Dinkler Hanımeli Association, egg-carrying, tug-of-war, lightning raffle and music recital and the participants had fun to the fullest. Many people attended the Hıdırellez activities in Palamutluk area.
