Whether Islamist, nationalist, liberal or secularist, people in Turkey have one joy in common for their New Year's celebration: the legendary Turkish breakfast. On the first day of the year, all restaurants and cafes in main cities will be booked for breakfast. If you are in Istanbul and wish to get an ocean view table, you may have to wait awhile.

For the past decade in Turkey, the end of December has brought debates over whether to protest Santa Claus or how to avoid celebrating the new year. Those who still aspire to welcome the upcoming year with decorations, gifts or end-of-the-year parties take care not to cross paths with the growing number of Islamists in the country.

Conservative Turks make it a point to avoid going out at all on New Year’s Eve to express their disapproval of any celebrations, including the popular New Year’s national lottery. Although most claim they treat the night just like any other, they diligently eschew even having guests at home or watching live television.

Even in cosmopolitan cities such as Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, the latest trend has been to shun traveling far away to mega-nightclubs. Instead, they get together in neighborhood hangouts or at house parties.