Event: Turkey - Manisa

Manisa Mesir Festival

When:	1 - 7 Apr 2008 (annual)
Where:	Manisa

Also known as "power gum", mesir is a blend of 41 different spices and its annual festival has been celebrated in Manisa for nearly 500 years! As its name implies, it is intended as a general cure-all and tonic.

It was invented by Hafsa Haftun, the wife of an Ottoman sultan, as a medicine for the masses. Although its somewhat incongruous nature may have meant that it took a while to catch on, the locals are now so thankful for her invention that they fling it from the minaret of the Sultan Mosque once a year.

Exactly what these antics are supposed to cure remains something of a mystery, but the event itself also includes plenty of craft exhibitions, concerts and sporting tournaments.