Tulips as a symbol of the Ottoman Empire or the Tulip festival in Istanbul

Hello!  The first visit to Istanbul gave me a huge holiday - the whole city was covered with shining and colorful tulips. I was struck by the number and density of plantings, not to mention the beauty! We had lots of questions. Where, who and why? Waited for the spring to take pictures of tulips 2018 in Istanbul and describe a small study that was conducted. lâle - Tulip in Turkish Every year Istanbul hosts Grand Tulip festival (Istanbul Lale Festivali) On the site you can always see when it starts. The festival lasts for a whole month! Only a few days left before the opening. Preparations are well under way. On the streets the residents are giving out free Tulip bulbs to the small courtyards of the houses shone with the colors of tulips. This year the festival of tulips started on April 1  TFSF is the Turkish Federation of photographers. Photographers from all over the world can take part in contests and exhibitions in Turkey. The best works are rewarded with cash prizes. "En güzel lale" is a photo contest of the Tulip festival in Istanbul. Translated as"the Best Tulip". The author of the best photo is awarded a prize of 1000 dollars, the second place-700 dollars, the third place-500 receive four authors. 50 more authors whose photos I liked of the jury will receive $ 100. Photos must be taken on the territory of Turkey.  The author of this text in the beautiful Park of flowers "Gülhane" in Fatih  The main parks of Istanbul and the area where there are exhibitions of figures, shapes and carpets made of tulips: Sultanahmet square, Gulhane Park/Gülhane, emirgan Park/Emirgan, Park Gestae/Göstepe.  It is the elongated shape of the Tulip that has occupied a special place in the heart of Turkey since the Ottoman Empire. Note the petals of an elongated Tulip. They look like a Crescent moon, which is the emblem of the Ottoman Empire.  Ebru-drawing on water or dancing drawing. Turkish masters of this art pay much attention to the Tulip.  In the shops and bazaars there are many books that are dedicated to the Tulip. You can also find flower patterns. Very nice looking ceramics with a picture of tulips. Wherever you look in Turkey-everywhere tulips. Tiles, ceramic ware and carpets, ornaments and clothes, Souvenirs and emblems of the companies. Since ancient times, the Tulip symbol used in architecture and paintings, mosaics. All this has been preserved to this day.  The history of the appearance of a Tulip in the Ottoman Empire Like many flowers, the Tulip was originally a wild flower. Historical ancestors have long paid attention to its beauty. Wild Tulip grew in steppes of Turkestan, Pakistan, as well as in Japan and on the Mediterranean coast.  In Konya since the 12th century there were motifs of paintings in the form of tulips. Jalaladdin Rumi is a 13th century Sufi poet, who mentioned Tulip in his works: ...so recklessly exposed... Rumi was referring to the fact that the Tulip flower is sacred for Muslims. After all, the word" Allah " in Arabic letters resembles the shape of a Tulip. Yes, and the letters in the Arabic spelling of "Allah" and "Tulip" are the same. Once Muslims had such a comparative characteristic, they immediately gave a great creative meaning.  Only in the Ottoman period, Tulip has achieved a global dimension. Culture parks, huge gardens, flower glades, quickly entered the culture of the Ottomans. Already began the breeding of tulips.  After the conquest of Constantinople by Fatih (Mehmet II), tulips began to be planted everywhere in the 15th century. Even roses have faded into the background. Fatih himself spent hours in the gardens, which are now in historical Istanbul. All photos of tulips made in one of the parks near Topkapi and Hagia Sophia. I go, take pictures and imagine that once here with their own hands the sultans planted trees and flowers. Thus had a rest from the state Affairs.  During the reign of Selim I (father Suleiman the Great) from KEF in the South of Crimea was ordered 300 thousand bulbs of tulips. In modern Istanbul, the Tulip festival planted more than a million bulbs of different varieties! By crossing different varieties of tulips was obtained exquisite Ottoman look "Lale and Rumi" with elongated petals. Since then, it is the Ottoman Tulip dominates all other varieties in Turkey.  The Ottoman Tulip with sharp and long petals was compared with the sharp sword and the beauty of the woman. Since then it has become a very popular female name Lale (Tulip). Men when he left for the war, necessarily took with them the symbol of a Tulip. It was thought, that Tulip guards and prolongs life. Military equipment was decorated with patterns of tulips. Uniforms, helmets and other clothing necessarily contained an image of this flower.  Sultan Suleiman the Great continued the Tulip tradition. Every year there were more and more new varieties. But the Tulip revolution took place in the 18th century under Ahmed III. The gardens and parks were added to the General festivities, which were devoted to flowers, but great attention was paid to the tulips. Modern Turkey is only from 2005 continued the great tradition - festival of tulips.  The motto of the festival "Istanbul Lale Festivali": The best tulips grow in Istanbul!  The festival is held fair, where you can buy very rare varieties of tulips. Come gardeners, plant breeders from different countries of the world. There is an exchange not only experience, but also bulbs of new varieties of tulips.  The stage, where famous artists perform all decorated with tulips. At this time in Turkey held a lot of weddings. It is believed that the more tulips the stronger the love and mutual understanding in the family. Yes, and the photos are extremely beautiful and festive.  Tulip bulbs first came to Europe in the middle of the 14th century. But activity manifested only in the 16th century. Under Suleiman the Great, the Ambassador Ogier de Busbecq brought the bulbs from the Ottoman Empire to Austria. Then the tulips hit the Netherlands, and became so popular that it led to the crisis. Merchants were ready to pay any money to get the magic onions. Then the situation leveled off and got a new development. Now Holland is the leader of the flower industry. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire Tulip fashion subsided in Turkey.  Turkey for a long time in large quantities bought tulips in the Netherlands. Currently, Turkey is taking all measures to raise the flower industry. Most tulips are grown in Konya. Many individuals are engaged in the cultivation of tulips, and then sell to the municipality of Istanbul. If tulips grew in the sky... Come to the Tulip festival in Istanbul! This is an unforgettable holiday! Photo taken on the iPhone 6S+ Thank you for your attention! Today is another wonderful day! All good sentiments!