Costa Mesa, California — The sun rises in the East — and there was a day when the sun shone brightly in the land of the East. So bright was the sun on the lands, so blessed its people were when it rose each morning, the only possible name for this place could be “Anatolia,” the Greek term that encapsulates the word “sunrise,” the phrase “land of the sunrise,” and the directional “East.”

A civilization in existence more than 3,000 years ago in the area known as Asia Minor, Anatolia ruled a great expanse of territory and people from the lands of The Roman Empire, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Turkey, Northern Africa and Persia. A region rich in culture, scented with aromatic foods and beautified by beautiful clothing and witty minds, the Anatolian people remain alive today through the land of Turkey.

For four successive days and nights, the Turkish people came to Orange County to display their culture, share their foods and sing the praises of a time once forgotten. Dubbed the Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival, the savory aromas of Turkish food and the rhythmic beats of Anatolian music filled the air of the Orange County fairgrounds here in Costa Mesa, California. Celebrating the region’s architecture, food, crafts and musical heritage between April 2nd and 5th, the four-day festival boasted a convergence of ancient traditions and modern interpretations through a variety of performances by a rock band, a ritualistic dance, a marching band and a Turkish comedian, among other cultural ensembles.

Considered the largest Anatolian and Turkish festival in the world, the Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival occupied more than 15 acres of the Orange County fairgrounds, featuring large-scale models of some of region’s largest cities (including Istanbul, Mardin and Antalya); nearly 100 vendors offering Anatolian food, drink, clothing and other amenities; a children’s play area; and several stage areas for hourly performances.

In early civilizations, the area that made up Anatolia and Asia Minor is in modern-day Turkey. Derived from the Greek word meaning “country of the East,” Anatolia is considered home to some of the earliest civilizations of human history, including Sumerians, Urartus (Armenians), Hittites, Lydians, Assyrians, Persians, Seljuks, Ottomans, Romans (Byzantine), Greeks and Celtics, among others. According to historical studies, Turks settled in the Anatolia/Asia Minor region as early as the 11th Century.

Many of those civilizations were on display, demonstrated through food, attire, landscape, architecture or visual arts. The festival specifically featured a reconstruction of the Trojan Horse and a recreation of the Rumi Museum in Konya. Also showcased were five major cities and 11 arches at the festival’s entrance. Each arch represented a unique era of Anatolian culture. According to organizers, each set and arch was physically built by a team of 50 carpenters in Istanbul over a six-month period before being shipped to Costa Mesa. The builders reportedly used 60 tons of steel and 20,000 square meters of mixed materials to recreate historic landmarks.

Other activities included use of three-dimensional graphics and photographs, documents translated into English (and other languages) from manuscripts, and artisans demonstrating regional crafts, including filigree and weaving.

The first ever event of its kind in Southern California for Anatolian culture, high attendances during the weekend’s festivities almost assured that the Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival will return for a second year to celebrate one of the world’s oldest civilizations.