Melon Day is an annual celebration in Turkmenistan where it is considered the homeland of the best melons in the world. It is a national holiday that is devoted to festivities of celebrating the country’s muskmelon that is praised for its aroma, taste and big size.
It is celebrated annually every second Sunday of August in Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan is a central country in Asia along the shores of the Caspian Sea. It has spent its lifespan majority as the crossroads of civilization. It has served as an important trade stop as the middle point between the West and the East.
The celebration showcases a big display of the fruit in all its varieties. They also feature a series of dance and music event that takes place in the capital of the country, Ashgabat.
The holiday particularly celebrated a recent crossbreed product called “Turkmenbashi Melon” which is named after Turkmenistan’s first secretary of the Turkmen communist party, Saparmurat Niyazov, who established the holiday in 1994. He preferred to be known as Turkmenbashi which means “head of the Turkmen.” He is also the founder and former president of the Association of Turkmens of the World. The media referred to him the title “His Excellency Saparmurat Turkmenbashi, President of Turkmenistan and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers.”
Niyazov said in his speech addressing the farmers in 2004 that the Almighty God has turned the Turkmen soil into a fertile source of an abundance of the tastiest fruits. Among them are Turkmen melons which are the product of the hard work of the farmers. He praised the Turkmen melon saying that the fruit is so delicious as it was a taste of the fruit from paradise.
In addition, he stated that the Turkmen melon is the source of Turkmenistan’s pride. He praised the melon’s taste saying that its taste has no equals in the world and its smell will make your head spin.
Some varieties of melon to name a few are Cantaloupe, Honeydew and Galia Melons that are included in the celebration aside from the Turkmenbashi melon. The best way to celebrate the holiday is to enjoy the fruit varieties and make a meal or snack. You can make a salad or a cool smoothie for a great start of the day.
Melons can also be used to make soup, yogurt or cookies! The food variation from melons is limitless. They create delicious taste even when mixed together. They are easy to blend with as well.
Melon Day is a national holiday that gives an opportunity to share the taste of paradise. It celebrates the unique history of the country. For the people in Turkmenistan, the holiday is an important day as it reflects the country as the homeland of the best melons in the world since the ancient times. Melon especially the Turkmenbashi is a fruit with pride and joy.