If you strolled through the streets of Turkey in the 1960s, you might have witnessed a drunk person being carried in a basket on the back of a hunched man. These basket carriers were known as “küfeci” which is derived from the Turkish word “küfe,” meaning "being too intoxicated to walk".
Bars would employ küfeci to carry home intoxicated customers. Küfeci were often daytime porters, and would transition to their nighttime role as basket carriers to safely deliver tipsy town folk home.
Imagine the scene: a bustling Istanbul night, with patrons stumbling out of taverns and bars. When someone became too drunk to stand, the küfeci would step in. They’d place the intoxicated individual into a sturdy basket and hoist it onto their back. With determination, they’d navigate the winding streets, ensuring the patron reached their doorstep without incident.
In Turkish culture, there’s even a saying: “küfelik olmak.” This phrase refers to the state of being so drunk that you require assistance to get home—specifically, carried home in a basket.
So next time you raise a glass, consider the unsung heroes who once carried their fellow revellers home in baskets through the lively streets of Istanbul!
