18th century entertainment in the Ottoman palace and its surroundings

The festivities held in the Ottoman Empire on such occasions as birthdays, circumcision, marriage, or victory celebration are considered as the continuation of the meetings and traditional festivities held by ancient Turks. While the early Sultans led a modest and simple life, a tradition that suited the Ottoman Empire began in all its glory a short time later. Having matured during the 17th and 18th centuries, the palace and its surroundings were truly spectacular. While a circumcision wedding was the most spectacular of all the aforementioned festivities, the wedding ceremonies in which the daughter of the Sultan married the grand viziers also came to the fore and started to be held in a pompous manner. In the 16th century, almost all the festivities were held in and around the Horse Square, or Hippodrome, currently known as the Sultan Ahmet Square, with the Topkapı Palace being the center. In the following centuries, the location of festivals and other entertainments shifted to Beşiktaş, Dolmabahçe, Kağıthane, and Sadabad, which was due to the new palaces and mansions built in coastal areas at the command of the Sultans, who had begun to organize tours to these places. In the 18th century, çerağans (the festivals of tulip), were added to velâdet-i hümâyûn (the birth of heirs in the Ottoman palace), sûr-i hitan (the circumcision ceremony of a son of the Sultan), sûr-i arûs (the wedding ceremony of a daughter of the Sultan), victory celebrations, as well as excursions and cruises, were added to the festivals available. While çerağan entertainments were held outdoors in the spring and summer seasons, family and friends would get together during winter nights and have "halva conversations" due to the traditional Turkish dessert halva being served at the end of the night. Towards the end of the century, western-style music and theater had begun to be included in the entertainments thanks to the interest of the palace in them.