The Mesir Macunu Festival takes place every year during the week of Nevruz (March 21-24), at the beginning of spring. The festival has been held in Manisa for about 400 years and is based on the following historical events.
While in Manisa, Hafsa Sultan, the mother of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent, became ill with an unknown disease. Mercez Efendi, the chief physician of the Sultan Mosque Madrassa, along with his apprentices, prepared a paste by blending 41 different herbs and spices. The traditional medicine or sweet called mesir macunu has therapeutic effects that helped Hafsa Sultan to recover within a short time. The generous nature of Hafsa Sultan led her to request that the mesir macunu be distributed to the people every year in a form of festivity.
The traditional festival is held annually on or around March 21. Festivities begin with prayers being recited while the mesir macunu is being stirred and cooked. Approximately three tons of mesir macunu is prepared for distribution and for throwing during the festivities.
At least 14 teams of women wrap each piece of mesir macunu in small, shiny pieces of colorful paper. These women must possess qualities including cleanliness, dexterity, experience, and patience. After the paste has been stirred and cooked with prayers and best wishes for a speedy recovery, it is thrown into the crowd from the minaret and dome of Sultan Mosque where thousands of people from different regions of Turkey compete to catch a piece of the paste before it hits the ground. The majority of people believe that by doing so, all of their wishes for marriage, work, and children will come true within one year.
Aside from the traditional mesir manucu stirring and distribution ceremonies, there are also events such as cooking contests, music for children, and theater and folk dance performances. During the preparation of the paste and throughout the festival, a 45-piece orchestra dressed in Ottoman costumes performs traditional Ottoman music. Clearly, this tradition plays a vital role in contributing to the social peace and cohesion of the community.
It’s possible for foreign and domestic visitors to attend the Manisa Festival. Guests from other countries and neighboring cities are given some of the mesir macunu as a token of Turkey's hospitality tradition. There is a deep emotional attachment to the festival among residents of Manisa. Due to its strong tradition, the city is characterised by an unparalleled sense of community and welcomes guests from nearly every region throughout Turkey.