In the streets of Aksehir stood a statue of a donkey.
A man sat on top of it. But backwards. Facing the donkey's tail.
Selenga stopped.
“Why is he riding backwards?”
Her mother smiled. “Nasreddin Hoca.”
"Who's that?"
"Come on, I'll tell you."
Who Was Nasreddin Hoca?
They entered the museum.
Pictures covered the walls. Stories. Drawings.
“Nasreddin Hoca was a real person who lived in Aksehir in the 13th century,” said the museum guide. “He was educated in religion, but he was also clever and witty.”
“Are his stories true?”
“Some came from his lifetime, and some were added later. Over 800 years of retelling, they grew and changed.”
“Why did people love him so much?”
“Because he laughed at powerful people. He made fun of foolish judges. He even laughed at himself. But when he laughed, he was saying something important.”
The Stories
Selenga read the tales on the museum walls.
In one story, Hoca walked at night holding a lantern. Someone asked him: “Hoca, you stumble around like a blind man during the day, so why do you carry a lantern at night?” Hoca replied: "Not so I can see in the dark, but so you don't bump into me and hurt yourself."
Selenga laughed.
"That's both funny and smart."
“Exactly,” said the guide. “A good story makes you laugh and think at the same time.”
Another tale: Hoca rode his donkey backwards down the road. Someone asked: “Hoca, why are you riding backwards?” He answered: "Who says I'm backwards? Maybe the donkey is facing the wrong way."
Selenga laughed again.
“Sometimes when you change your perspective, everything changes.”
Stories That Traveled the World
“Is Nasreddin Hoca only known in Turkey?” asked Selenga.
"No. He's known all over the world. In the Turkish world, he's Nasreddin Hoca. In Arab countries, he's Juha. Among Uyghurs, he's Nasirdin Apendi. In Iran, he's Molla Nasreddin. They're all the same character."
“How did his stories spread?”
“Through trade routes and travel. People carried his tales wherever they went.”
“Can a story travel?”
"Stories are the easiest things to carry. You don't even need paper. Just a voice."
The Tomb
They visited Hoca's tomb.
It was small. Humble.
But on its door hung a large, ancient lock.
Yet the door was open.
Selenga stared.
A locked door. But open.
“Why is it like this?” she asked.
The guide laughed. "It's Hoca's final joke. A lock without a door, or a door without a working lock. Everyone sees what they want to see."
Selenga laughed.
A man who died 800 years ago was still telling jokes.
What We Learn From This Story
1. Nasreddin Hoca was a real historical figure from 13th-century Aksehir whose stories have been passed down through generations. 2. His tales do more than make us laugh—they contain social criticism, wisdom, and deep questions about life. 3. Nasreddin Hoca is known across many cultures, from Turkey to Central Asia, the Balkans, and the Arab world. 4. Oral traditions, shared through stories and jokes, create a common memory for communities. 5. Laughter and thinking aren't opposites—the best humor makes us think.
Questions to Discuss as a Family
1. Which Nasreddin Hoca story did you like best? Why? 2. Can you tell a story that's both funny and makes people think? 3. What does the locked-but-open door of his tomb teach us?