Mesir Macunu Festival

The Mesir Macunu Festival of Manisa takes place every year in the week of Nevruz (March 21-24), which is considered the beginning of spring. The festival has been held in Manisa for about 400 years and is based on 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. It was this traditional medicine, known as mesir macunu, 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.

As part of its commemoration, the festival has been held annually on or around March 21 ever since. Traditionally, the festivities begin with prayers being recited while the mesir macunu is being stirred and cooked. Approximately three tons of mesir macunu are prepared for distribution and 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. There are thousands of people from different regions of Turkey competing 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 in a matter of 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 is made possible for foreign visitors as well as domestic ones to attend Manisa Festival. Guests from other countries as well as neighboring cities are usually given some of the mesir macunu as a token of Turkey's hospitality tradition. There is a deep emotional attachment to the festival among the residents of Manisa. Due to its strong tradition, the city is characterized by an unparalleled sense of community and welcomes guests from nearly every region throughout Turkey.

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