1. NASRETTİN HOCA 1206- 1284

3. All nations from west to east love our well-known folk philosopher and great genius of Turkish joke. Everybody adores the beautiful jokes of this great folk philosopher which maintain their actuality in all ages. Nasreddin Hodja, or Hoca which means teacher in Turkish

4. The historical sources state that Nasreddin Hodja was born in Hortu village of Sivrihisar district of today's Eskişehir in 1206. Rumor has it that he conducted his primary education in Hortu in Abdullah Hodja's medresah, and passed his days of childhood in Hortu. He settled down in Sivrihisar with his family because of scarcity in Hortu, and continued his education there.

5. He died in 1284 in Aksehir when he was about to be eighty. A domed tomb bore by six columns was constructed on his grave. Under the dome, there is a marble coffin pertaining to Nasreddin hodja. The epitaph in the head side of the coffin reads 683 after hijrah, the date of his date reverse. There is the Seljukian period lock for symbolic purposes to lock the Tomb, which is open in all sides.

6. His Rumors Sivrihisar is a tiny but cute town of Seljukian period of that day. Young Nasreddin saw the first minaret there, went to Turkish Bath with his friends, and tore out green almonds from gardens. His playing the cock to the children who said they laid eggs in the bath, his being caught by the garden owner while he was stealing fruits from the tree and answering the question (What are you doing on the tree?) that (I am a nightingale) and his chirping like a nightingale are among his childhood memories in Sivrihisar.

8. Nasreddin Hoca was a philosopher, wise, witty man with a good sense of humor. His stories have been told almost everywhere in the world, spread among the tribes of Turkic World and into Persian, Arabian, African and along the Silk Road to China and India cultures, later also to Europe. Of course, all these stories currently attributed to the Hoca for about 700 years haven’t originated from him. Most of them are the product of collective Humor of not only Turks but also other folks in the World.

9. The year 1996 was proclaimed “Nasreddin Hoca year” by UNESCO. He is, now in 2014, 806 years old. He signed the humor of the millennium at the top.

11. Nasreddin Hodja - Earth's Balance They asked Hodja, "Sir,in the morning some people go this way and some go the opposite way. Why?" Hodja answered, "If they went in the same direction, the Earth would loose its balance and toople."

13. Burgler Nasrettin Hodja's donkey was stolen. In stead of consolling, his neighbours were blaming him saying. "You should have locked the shed," "Didn't you hear any noises?" "You should have tied the donkey securely." Nasrettin Hodja listened patiently, for awhile and finnaly said, "Well, you are putting all the blame on me. Do you think the thief was innocent?

14. Reaching enlightenment Nasreddin was walking in the bazaar with a large group of followers. Whatever Nasreddin did, his followers immediately copied. Every few steps Nasreddin would stop and shake his hands in the air, touch his feet and jump up yelling "Hu Hu Hu!". So his followers would also stop and do exactly the same thing.bazaar One of the merchants, who knew Nasreddin, quietly asked him: "What are you doing my old friend? Why are these people imitating you?" "I have become a Sufi Sheikh," replied Nasreddin. "These are my Murids (spiritual seekers); I am helping them reach enlightenment!"SufiSheikhMurids "How do you know when they reach enlightenment?" "That’s the easy part! Every morning I count them. The ones who have left – have reached enlightenment!"

15. TO RIDE DANKEY REVERSELY Nasrettin hodja : O inhabitants Let love each other, Let's be tolerant, let`s be respectful to each other.We live a very happy world. One of the villagers asks: “Why did you get on a donkey reversely? Nasrettin hodja: If I rode a donkey straightly and passed in front of you, you would be behind me.If you passed in front of me the lead time I would be behind you.when I ride reverse donkey, I do not turn my back to you.”