Tag: Exploring Ottoman Traditions The Role of Bathhouses

Social Hubs and Matchmaking Spots

In the Ottoman era, bathhouses, or hamams, played a central role in daily life. While men visited hamams after prayers at the mosque, women frequented these social hubs for gossip and community. Baths served as places for women to showcase embroidered towels and personal belongings. Ritual preparations, such as bridal and birth baths, were significant occasions.

Mothers-in-law often inspected potential brides in the bath before weddings, emphasizing the Turkish saying, “Now let’s see the bride in the bath!” The bath became a space for matchmaking, allowing mothers to assess the health of potential daughters-in-law.

Ottoman Baths A Cultural Tradition

According to 17th-century traveler Evliya Çelebi, the Ottoman Empire had 4536 hamams. Influenced by Roman baths, the Ottomans incorporated bathing into their cultural tradition. Bathing ceremonies were elaborate, lasting for several hours. Trained staff,