A Turkish bath, or hamam, includes massages and a tea bar. Customers undress in a private cabin and can choose to have an attendant scrub their skin. After the steam bath and massage, customers go to a refreshing room with cooler showers. The hamam has been a part of Turkish culture for hundreds of years and is for people of all ages and social classes. The gelin hamam, or bride’s bath, is still an important part of Turkish culture today.
A Turkish bath is called a hamam. It usually includes massages and a tea bar. Some hamams in Istanbul are over 250 years old, and some luxury hotels also offer a similar experience.
The first step to experiencing a traditional Turkish bath is getting ready in the camekan, or changing room. You undress in a private cabin where you can lock up your street clothes and change into a pestemal and terlik, which is a fringed towel and a pair of slippers. Many people bring the rest of what they need such as a towel for drying, shampoo and soap because some hamams do not provide these items and those that do may charge a high price for them.
You usually have the choice of bathing yourself or having a hammam attendant scrub your skin with a rough glove. Hair treatment usually includes a scalp massage with a shampoo. The bathroom is a steam room with separate washing areas around a heated stone table called a goebektas which is used for post-steam massage.
After the steam bath and massage, customers of the hamam go to a refreshing room with cooler showers. Tea is usually available to drink. A visit to a Turkish bath can take two hours or even more.
The basic idea of the Turkish bath is to sweat as you do in a sauna, but with the addition of water, cleansing and massage. The hamam has been a part of Turkish culture for hundreds of years and relates to the Muslim appreciation for water and cleanliness. This treatment is for people of all ages and social classes.
In Turkey, the gelin hamam, or bride’s bath, is still an important part of Turkish culture today. The bridal steam day often includes live music and food. Traditionally, unmarried women throw coins into the pool of the hamam and make a wish to marry the man they hope to marry. Some of the five star hotels in Istanbul have special offers for the bridal steam room.
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