Today let’s delve into the vibrant world of the Halay, a traditional Turkish folk dance with deep historical roots and cultural significance. This episode explores the origins of Halay, its regional variations, and the occasions on which it is performed. Learn about the traditional costumes worn by dancers and the instruments that accompany the dance, such as the davul (drum) and zurna (a woodwind instrument). Discover how both men and women participate in Halay, often in separate or mixed-gender lines, and how their movements reflect the unity and communal spirit of Turkish culture. The discussion also highlights the efforts by UNESCO to preserve Halay as an intangible cultural heritage and the strategies needed to protect this tradition in a rapidly changing society.