Trabzon Horon Breaks Guinness Record, Greek Media Launches Perception Operation

Istanbul hosted a historic record attempt as the Trabzon horon, an integral part of Turkish culture, sparked an international crisis. Under the leadership of the Turkish Folk Dance Federation, 5,000 costumed folk dancers performed the horon simultaneously at the Maltepe Event Area, earning a place in the Guinness World Records. However, this historic achievement caused outrage in neighboring Greece. Following the record, the Greek press launched perception operations.

With the slogan "Horon is Ours!" thousands of folk dancers from various provinces flocked to Istanbul, forming a massive circle in Maltepe. The 5,000 participants, dressed in colorful costumes, danced the horon in unison for three minutes. After the attempt, Guinness Turkey Representative Şeyda Subaşı took the stage and officially announced the success of the record attempt in the "Turkish Folk Dances" category. Upon hearing the news, the participants celebrated the world record by dancing the horon again with great enthusiasm.

Turkey's cultural victory received widespread coverage in the Greek media, but instead of congratulations, harsh criticism and perception operations dominated. Unable to digest the record, the Greek press tried to claim the horon, a symbol of Black Sea culture. Greek media published articles with headlines such as "Provocative Move in Turkey: They Presented Pontic Dance as 'Turkish Dance' for Guinness Record." The content included baseless and manipulative statements: "The organizers of an event in Turkey, in a provocative move to erase historical memory and truth, presented a Pontic dance as a 'traditional Turkish dance'."

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, who spoke before the record attempt and started the event, responded to Greece's perception operation and cultural appropriation efforts. Gül announced a new record that would disturb the neighbor, stating that the goal for next year is much bigger: a massive "Zeybek" record with 15,000 participants in Izmir. As Turkey continues to promote its cultural heritage through Guinness records, it is now a matter of curiosity how the planned 15,000-person zeybek performance in Izmir will resonate in Athens.

This incident shows a new dimension of cultural tensions between Turkey and Greece. The debate over the origin of the horon has reignited the historical and cultural rivalry between the two countries. Turkish officials emphasize that the horon is a traditional Turkish folk dance from the Black Sea region, while the Greek side claims it belongs to the Pontic Greeks. Such cultural appropriation attempts are common on international platforms and are often shaped by political and historical backgrounds. Similar discussions are likely to arise with the upcoming zeybek record.