Living High Life - Khabze (Circassian Etiquette)

The oldest male member of Maksudiye (an Adyghe village in Sakarya province Turkey) at age 93 Nuri Ozturk (Zitle) and the female member Behice Ozdemir were both given gold medallions and Old Leader (Thamade) / Mother Princess (Gosheshko) plaquettes for their contributions in the Adyghe society.

The ceremony took place with the contribution of ICA - International Circassian Association board member Nahit Serbes (Tletsruk) and Sakarya Province Circassian Culture Association leader Kadir Erkaya and the Cultural Member Ragip Mete.

This event of the International Circassian Association was prepared to keep cultural values alive and to set an example for living Khabze in the new generations to come.

The Sakarya province Circassian Cultural Association leader Kadir Erkaya made a speach stating that it is the responsibility of everyone to look after the needs of our elders. The board member of International Circassian Association Nahit Serbes also made a short speech stating the importance of the Thamade and Ghosheshko awards and that it will be made every year to live Khabze in today's environment.

After the ceremony all the participants took photographs together and listened to the stories of Thamade Nuri Ozturk and Ghosheshko Behice Ozdemir. There were really emotional moments at the ceremony. The meeting ended after eating Circassian foods all together.

Xabze Yeniden Hayat Buluyor
Kafkas Federasyonu, 11.10.2007