Examining the effect of migrations on the food culture of Edirne province: Uzunköprü example

Nutrition is the need for a person to survive and have a quality life. Cultural values belonging to a society also have an impact on the nutritional habits of that society. Every society has a different culinary culture. Factors such as lifestyle, economy, education and migration have affected culinary culture over time. The main purpose of this study is to examine the effects of migrations due to social, political, economic or educational reasons on culinary culture. The province of Edirne, from the Thrace region, which is particularly exposed to intense immigration and productivity, was chosen for this study and the research was carried out in Uzunköprü, its oldest district. In the first stage of the research, after a literature review of both Edirne and Uzunköprü districts was conducted and included, in the second stage, we went to Uzunköprü and conducted a semi-structured interview with both the businesses that have the local cuisine formed under the influence of immigration and the people over the age of 45 who settled in Edirne Uzunköprü due to immigration. A face-to-face interview was conducted using the form and data was collected. According to the data obtained as a result of the interviews, the interviewed participants are aware of the local food culture and cook most of the dishes. The people of Uzunköprü, who live in the village rather than in the district center, make all the ingredients required for these dishes themselves in the village, except for local dishes. Likewise, business owners include local dishes in their menus. However, all interviewed participants are aware that no one protects the food culture as much as before and that it will be forgotten unless any work is done.