Edirne province has a total population of over 400 thousand (2018 figure) with more than 180 thousand citizens living in Edirne town, the most populated residential place in the county. It is no wonder that various cultures have prevailed in this region, as Edirne has been on the path of migration, influx, invasion and expedition between Europe and Asia throughout history.
With the conquest of the Ottoman Turks in 1361, the Turkish-Islamic culture quickly settled and other cultures were forgotten, with only some ruins and historical ruins remaining. Therefore, Turkish-Islamic traditions have always dominated in this town.
Local dressing style has increasingly disappeared, and is only used only for weddings, holidays and folklore shows. However, one can see local citizens in villages wearing shalwars for instance.
As for local dishes tarhana soup), marzipan, liver wrap, mamzana and akıtma (leavened, thin), mantı (Turkish ravioli) ravioli and katmer, Circassian chicken, nemse pastry, gözleme are among most popular ones.
Generally speaking, local folk songs refer to stories of migrated people for instance and defeats, looting, and invasions and reflect suffering and longing.
Thracian has games unique to the region. Boys play folklore games with drums and zurna among themselves and girls play with darbuka among themselves. The most popular one is Kasap Oyunu (Butcher’s game).
Handicrafts: woodworking, carving, inlay, paint decorated works are very advanced and such works are called “Edirne-kari”.Handrail legs, ceiling embroideries, sini-tableware bottoms, cabinets, drawers are made artistically. Broom making quite popular. Edirne’s cheese, broom, fragrant and colorful soap, marzipan and halva in the form of a paste called devaimisk are famous.
Kırkpınar wrestling: Oil wrestling festivals are held in Kırkpınar area of Edirne since the second half of the 14th century.
Edirne has been a center of science and culture since 1362. The literacy rate is 95 percent with no villages without schools. Some villages even have secondary schools. The province has about 88 nursery schools, 318 primary schools, 91 secondary schools, 12 high schools and 17 vocational and technical schools. Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Education, Vocational School, Vocational School of Health Services, Keşan Vocational School, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Faculty of Science and literature are affiliated to Trakya University.
