SOME DATA ORIGINS ETHNIC MOSAIC LANGUAGE RELIGION FEASTS TURKISH WOMAN FAMILY TOWNS COUNTRY LIFE COUNTRY LIFE Half of the national population is rural and lives on agriculture. In spite of the changes come with economical progresses and the mechanization of agriculture, Turkish peasants still lead a very traditional life. The majority of the villages are self sufficient: they mostly live on their production, and for winter they prepare (dried) food with the summer and autumn crops. Peasants generally own the lands on which they work. However large landowners do exist and have very important functions, dominating the economic, social and political life of the village or the area. A tribal nomadic or semi-nomadic population can still be found doing pastoral migrations or migrating according to the seasonal crops, working for large landowners. According to the region and to the climatic and economical conditions, the types of traditional habitations vary: They are whitewashed or painted in pastel colors in the Aegean or Mediterranean regions; they are made of stone or cob in the central region; they are made of wood in the Black Sea region; they are low, dark and austere with few openings in the eastern region. In a typical village, houses, all with a courtyard, are built around the main square. A mosque, a school, some shops and the indispensable "kahve"(café) can be found. Men spend most of their time (when not working) in the kahve, sipping tea in traditional small glasses, discussing, reading newspapers, watching television, playing cards or "tavla" (backgammon) which is the national game.   Copyright © 2002-2008 GUIDE MARTINE. All rights reserved.