This article investigates the relationship between second- and third-generation descendants of Cretan Muslims in Turkey and their Cretanness. It takes the public manifestations of and heightened involvement with Cretanness that have recently been taking place in Turkey as a starting point and develops a framework to elucidate the contemporary dynamics of Cretanness. Through in-depth interviews and participant observation, this study reveals that Cretanness has undergone transformation for the current generations. It is characterized by the fading of certain cultural aspects, but by a parallel vocal identification with Cretanness. This dual pattern is unified under the concept “symbolic Cretanness,” inspired by Herbert Gans’ notion of “symbolic ethnicity.” The article argues that this current form of Cretanness encompasses the pursuit of visibility, an intermittent involvement with origins, and the precedence of symbols, the most significant of which is food.

本文探讨了土耳其克里特穆斯林第二代和第三代后裔与其克里特性的关系。它以最近在土耳其发生的克里特性的公开表现和加强参与为起点，并开发了一个框架来阐明克里特性的当代动态。通过深度访谈和参与观察，本研究揭示了克里特岛文化对于当代人来说已经发生了转变。它的特点是某些文化方面的衰落，但同时也有与克里特岛文化相似的声音认同。这种双重模式在“象征性克里特岛性”这一概念下得到了统一，其灵感来自于赫伯特·甘斯的“象征性种族”概念。文章认为，当前的克里特岛风情包括对可见性的追求、对起源的间歇性参与以及符号的优先性，其中最重要的是食物。