Dances are generally performed in all suitable open areas, but may also be performed in close areas as well.
People who enjoy reputations as good folk dancers are especially invited to wedding ceremonies. These are respectable people who have knowledge of that region’s music and folk dances. Folk dances owe their rich variety of moves to such people, who happily improvise while performing in order to show off their skills. In this way, dances are successfully passed on to people who may or may not be capable of dancing themselves, especially the young ones.

Folk Dance Traditions, Beliefs, Legends and Stories
Some dances reflect natural events or daily life, and others treat social events and matters of the heart. For example, the Kimil dance from Urfa province portrays a kind of pest that harms the crops and the way that villagers attempt to deal with it. Other dances refer to other stories.

Costumes, Instruments and Names of Folk Dances

People wear daily or special costumes in line with the reasons behind the particular dance. Please visit the costume and finery section of this site for further information.

In Turkey folk dance is invariably accompanied by musical instruments. (Please refer to the music section) In some regions, women perform also folk dances to the accompaniment of folk songs.

Folk dances are named after their creators, geographic regions, or the natural events or stories they relate.

Folk Dances By Subject Matter
Folk dances may be divided into those that describe the relationship between man and nature,those that dealing with rain, mist and rivers, describing plants, defining numbers, describing the relationship between man and animals and taking social events such as fighting war, love and courtship as their subject matter. Then there are those that reflect the ceremonies performed when a young man is about to go to do his military service. There are dances about agriculture, the harvest and damaged crops. Other dances describe different occupations, such as shepherds. Men can perform dances that mirror the everyday lives of women. Then there are dances that describe daily tasks such as baking bread and milking, and others that describe a production procedure such as spinning yarn.

Different types of group dances in different regions
There are many different types of folk dances performed in various ways in Turkey, and these reflect the cultural structure of each region. The bar in Erzurum province, the halay in the East and Southeast, the hora in Thrace, the horon in the Black Sea and spoon dances in and around Konya are the best known examples of these.

Adapting Folk Dances
Folk dances eventually moved away their natural environment and became an art form of their own by means of contests and festivals. Arrangements are being made to adapt these dances to the stage.

Children’s games are actually their main source of entertainment. Today, however, as a result of the changes in forms entertainment tools and advances in communications, children’s games have changed, and many old games are no longer played. Nevertheless, children’s games are still played in poor neighborhoods and in school playgrounds.

Besides their entertainment value, games also influence children’s social, psychological and physical development. Games help feelings of collaboration and mutual respect to form.

Children’s games are classified according to the place and materials used in the game and the gender by which they are played.
Hide and seek, which is played on a wide basis, is one of the best-known examples of children’s games. The game is played in an open area with at least four or five participants. The first task is to decide who is to be ‘it.’ There are also various ways of doing that. After that, the castle is chosen. This may be a wall or a tree. Whoever is ‘it’ leans against castle and starts to count while the others go off to hide. When the counting is finished, the ‘it’ says, “My front, back, left, right is free!” in order to prevent anyone hiding too close and the search begins. He announces the names of the children he has found and then returns to touch the castle. If the person who has just been found can touch the castle before the “it,” does, he is spared having to do the counting and searching next time. At the end of the game, if there is more than one candidate for the position of “it,” the candidates secretly select the names of flowers or fruit and ask “it” to chose one of them. For example, if “it” says “apple,” the child who chose the word apple assumes the role of ‘it.’ Hide and seek is played in many regions under different names.
Children split up after reciting a little verse.
A needle pierces
Hurts me
Plump bird
Run to the car
Wheel of the car
Candy of Istanbul
Hop hop hop
There’s no other game
Examples of Games Peculiar to Children:
Bezirgan Basi (Head of the Grasping Trader): This is played with at least 10 people. Two players are chosen, and these take the names “golden watch” and “golden bracelet.” These two stand face-to-face, hold and raise their hands. The others walk and pass under these two children’s hands saying:
Open the door
Head of the grasping trader
What do you give
As a deal?
What do you give?
The person behind me
Let him be a souvenir
Let him be a souvenir.
When the last sentence is recited, one of the players is captured. The two doing the catching take him and ask whether he prefers the golden watch or the golden bracelet. Depending on his answer, the boy stands behind one or other of the two. The process continues until all the players have been caught. The two groups of children then hold each other tightly by the waist. They assume a position behind a line drawn between them and engage in a contest closely resembling a tug-of-war, each group trying to pull the other over the line. The group which is pulled over the line loses the game. The game continues until everyone has grown tired of it.

Leapfrog (Long Donkey)
This is played with at least four people. Two of the players are chosen to be ‘it.’ These turn to their backs to each other, put their hands on their knees, and face away from each other. Other players come and jump over the others in turns. Anyone who falls over while jumping becomes “it” himself. The other players keep on jumping while saying, “One is one, my two is two, my three is three, my four is four….” Comic actions may also be included. For example, the seventh player may say “My seven is seven, I am kicked” and other players kick the player bending over. The eighth player says, “My eight is hopscotch and stands on one foot. Other players after him have to stand on one foot after completing their jumps. The eighth player has the right to order other players after him to stand on one foot. As soon as the ninth player says, “My nine is nine,’ all the players have to freeze. The tenth players says, “My ten is the reaping hook, cannon of the conqueror” and starts to hit the “it.”
The game continues with the choosing of a new “it.”

KARAGÖZ
This is a shadow play based on the movements of representations of people, animals or objects called “tasvir” made of water buffalo or camel skin with the help of sticks against a curtain with s strong source of light behind it. The play takes name from its main character, Karagöz.

Southeast Asia is considered to be the origin of shadow theatre. There are different opinions as to its existence in Turkey. According to one view, the “kor kolcak” and “ cadir” games of Central Asia were in fact examples of shadow theatre and came to Anatolia by means of migration. Another opinion holds that Sultan Yavuz Selim brought shadow theatre artists to Turkey when he captured Egypt in 1517.

Karagöz, which took its final shape in the 18th century, was always one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Karagöz shows are performed by one single artists. Movements of the models on the curtain, their voices, different accents and mimicry are all carried out by a single person.

The subject matter in Karagöz is dealt with in an amusing way. The main comic elements are double meanings, overstatements, word games and mimicry.

1. The initial section, in which Hacivat comes onto the curtain with singing and calls for Karagöz, is called “mukaddime.” In this section, the poem that is read out by Hacivat emphasizes that the play aims to teach people and has an element of Islamic mysticism.
2. In the “muhavere” section, there is a discussion between the main protagonists, Karagöz and Hacivat, apart from the main subject matter and based on words, not action. “Muhavere” may also be composed by using repartee. In this section, there is an emphasis on the differences between the characteristics of Karagöz and Hacivat. The “muhavere” may or may not be related to the play itself. There are also some other types of muhavere, such as muhavere with double Karagöz, transient muhavere or interval muhavere.
3. The section in which story is told and the other characters come onto the curtain is called the “fasil.” The play takes its name from the topic that is set out in this part. Some characters leave the play in this section, although Karagöz and Hacivat stay on the curtain.
4. In the final part, Karagöz and Hacivat announce that the play is about to end, apologize for their mistakes and announce the following play.
Karagöz also contains a considerable element of satire and lampooning, which refer to the state authorities in a comic style.

The main characters in the play are Karagöz and Hacivat. Karagöz represents the morals and common sense of the nation. Hacivat has had a good education and lives in harmony with the prevailing system of corruption. The other characters in the play are Tuzsuz Celebi, Matiz, Beberuhi, Arnavut, Yahudi, Cerkez, Kürt and Laz,

Karagöz attracted the interest of and was supported by the palace. In the ceremonies and circumcision rituals organized by the palace, Karagöz plays were a major attraction.

Karagöz became an integral part of the Istanbul-based Ottoman culture. We can observe elements of daily life of Istanbul in these plays. Agalik (generosity), Büyük Evlenme (Marrying Old), Kayik (boat) and Tahmis are some examples of this. The other well known Karagöz plays are Ferhat and Sirin, Balikci (fisherman), Cazular, Kanli Nigar (Bloody Nigar), Layla and Mecnun, Ters Evlenme (Converse Marriage), Tahir and Zühre, Yalova Sefasi (The Pleasure of Yalova), Karagöz’ün Yaziciligi (Karagöz as a Writer), Karagöz’ün Asikligi (Karagöz in Love), Karagöz’ün Hekimligi (Karagöz the Doctor).

Karagöz Techniques
The curtain on which Karagöz plays are performed is called the “ayna” (mirror). Curtains used to be 2 x 2.5 m at first, but were then decreased to 110 x 80 cm. Inside, there is a “pes tahtasi” placed under the curtain. Added to this there are a bell, tambourine, bamboo, nareke (pipe) and candles or an electric bulb to illuminate the curtain. The models used in the play are 32-40 cm long and generally made of camel or water buffalo skin. The leather is made transparent by the use of a special method in which it is processed with sharp knife called a “nevregan.” The individual parts of the puppets are tied to each other with cords known as ‘kalkut’ or ‘kiris.’ After this process, the puppets are colored with Indian ink or natural paints.

Karagöz, which was an important source of entertainment in the Ottoman period, used to be perfprmed during Ramadan, religious ceremonies, at circumcision ceremonies and in coffee houses or gardens. It commented on the social events of the period in a satirical style, and as we know, it was generally performed in Istanbul. It spread to other parts of Anatolia as artists began to go on tour.

Today, Karagöz is generally performed in tourist hotels and restaurants. It also reaches a wider audience by means of television.
Work on Karagöz, which is trying to survive under difficult conditions, is co-ordinated with the Ministry of Culture and the Turkish National Center of the International Union of Puppet and Shadow Theatre (UNIMA).

PUPPET
Puppets, meaning “baby” in Turkish, are one of the oldest forms of entertainment, and have been found in Anatolia under different names such as korcak, kudurcuk, kaburcuk, kogurcak, kaurcak, lubet etc. Puppet shows “Korkolcak” and “Cadir Hayal” (puppet with ropes) are also known by the same names in Central Asia, which is therefore believed to be the origin of the whole tradition.

Puppet shows can be seen in many Turkish communities, and have their own basic techniques. They have been performed in Turkish cities since the 17th century, and are generally known as “bebek, cömce, gelin or karacor” in villages. The puppet show a play of movement and considerable volume that takes its topics from daily life and literary stories. It has been performed since the 14th century. The main characters of the play are “Ibis” and “the old man.” While Ibis is cunning and good at making quick replies, the old man is wise and wealthy.

The art of puppetry, which consists of different elements such as puppets with rope, hand puppets, car puppets and chair puppets, has lost much of its importance since the 19th century. Only a few artists worked to keep this art alive in the republican period. Today, Ihsan Dizdar, Selim Basegmez, M. Tahir Ikiler, Haluk Yüce and Duygu Tansi are still working to perpetuate the art.

MEDDAH

Meddahlik (the art of the meddah) is the art of storytelling and mimicry. The curtain, stage, decoration and costumes are all found in a single person, and it is therefore a one-man show.

The meddah tells stories to audience while sitting on a chair. His stories deal with events from daily life, folk tales, epics, stories and legends.
The stage props of the meddah are a handkerchief and a cudgel. He begins his stories, that are generally funny and have moral and literary conclusions to them, by saying, “r’viy’i ahbar, n’kil’n-i sar ve muhaddiis’n rüzigar söyle rivayet eder ki…” (The skies, legends and the voice of winds say that…) and after giving information about the main characters, he tells his tale. The meddah works alone, sole actor in a play that includes many characters. The meddah would perform at the Ottoman palace, in cities, on Ramadan nights, in coffee houses and at circumcision feasts in an age when listening was much more popular than reading. Meddahlik is the predecessor of the stand-up shows of today.

Theatrical Presentations in Villages

VILLAGE PLAYS
Village plays are ritual plays performed by villagers on special days, festivals and wedding ceremonies, and are aimed increasing abundance and good health or else to welcome in the New Year. These plays are performed either in open spaces or indoors on winter days. These plays have come down from ancient times, although they have changed in the process, but the first examples were performed to give thanks to the god and supernatural powers for abundance and prosperity in life. These plays are based on myths and similar beliefs and contain the cultural essence of the people of Anatolia, cultural elements brought in from Central Asia and some other Islamic elements which entered Turkish culture after conversion to Islam.
Village plays are examples of primitive theatre. More than artistic concerns, they have social and religious functions.
There are different types of village plays, such as those dealing with daily life (the blacksmith, barber, ploughing etc.), plays that refer to animals (the camel, bear, fox, eagle, etc.), those that concern themselves with the changing seasons (a bride that has very sparse hair), plays that are performed for the increase of abundance (saya visits, ram mating ceremonies, the cemal play etc.), and plays for rain.
Cemal Play: This is performed on the day of sowing or at the end of the harvest.
Ram mating: This aims to control the reproduction season of the animals, since their young are unable to survive or feed themselves in the winter months. This is one variety of seasonal festival.
Face of Camel, Face of Sheep: Performed on the day when the unborn young grow their first hair inside the wombs of pregnant animals.

On the same subject, places which are considered sacred include the graves and tombs of holy figures, intersection points of three or four roads, wells, springs, fountains, pools, lakes, trees, plants etc.

Popular Beliefs Related to Spirits, Graveyards, Holy Tombs and Visits:
- Anyone who cuts down trees near visiting places will be paralyzed.
- Anyone who takes anything from a holy tomb will be paralyzed.
- It is not good to point out the grave. The fingers of anyone who does so will grow weak and thin.
- If an animal puts out its tongue when being sacrificed, it is believed that the owner of the animal will die within the year.
- If a child constantly cries, it is believed that someone will die in that house.
-When a bunch of flowers is placed on a grave, the spirit of that person returns. He knocks his head on the wood when trying to get up and says, “My God, I am dead”.
- The flesh and the bones separate 40-52 days after death. People gather in the dead person’s house and pray together for the flesh and the bones to separate easily.
- The spirit of the dead person visits his house seven days following death.
- If a show turns upside down when being taken off, it is believed that the owner of the shoe will die in the near future.
- Seeing dead people in dreams is regarded as an omen for the living. It is believed that a guest will come if a dead person is seen in a dream.
- It is not good to put one’s socks near the head end of the bed, it is believed that the owner of those socks will soon pass away.
- Bringing a dead body inside a house is considered unlucky. If that happens, it is believed that three people from that house will die.
- Painting is considered a sin, it is believed that on doomsday the painter will have to give his spirit to the things he painted.
- Angels will fly away from places that house paintings. – Trees in graveyards may not be cut down, it is believed that genies live among such trees.
- It is forbidden to sleep in a graveyard.
- If someone dies at night, a knife is placed on the body until morning.
- In order to make sweet yogurt, bushes from a grave are picked and thrown in the fire over which the milk is heated.
- It is considered bad luck to break a mirror.
- The lights are not turned off for three days in a house in which a dead body has been washed.
- The shoes of people who come to offer their condolences are not turned around.
- It is believed that, if the gravedigger is not given a tip the deas will not rest easy.
- One may not sit cross-legged when the call to prayer is recited.
- It is forbidden to take stones or soil from graveyards.
- The howling of a dog is considered a sign of approaching death.
- The house is not cleaned, clothes are not washed and water is not taken from outside until the dead person has been buried.
- Graveyards are never enlarged, since it is believed that this will increase the number of dead people.
- Those who wear dead peoples’ clothes will live a long time.
- The shroud may not be cut with knife or scissors.
- If a cat jumps over a dead body before it is taken out of the house, it is believed that the body will become a fearsome ghost.
- If an animal walks in front of someone who is performing ritual prayers in a house, the prayer is invalidated.
- While performing ritual prayers in rural areas, stones or sticks are piled up to prevent animals approaching.
- Smoking is not permitted in graveyards.
- If someone becomes infested with lice, it is believed that he will die soon.
- The neighbors of a dead person pour all the water out of their houses, since it is believed that they will die if they do not.
- Beds are repaired starting from the head end. Only the beds of dead people are repaired starting from the foot end.

Popular Beliefs Related to Animals:
- A snake in a house, guards it.
- If a snake is killed, thrown in water and disappears, it is believed that there will be continuous rain and floods.
- When a wolf howls, the weather will be very cold, or there will be snow.
- If an owl hoots in front of a house, either a member of the house will or there will be a disaster in that house.
- When a cow gives birth, heavy things are not carried into the house, since it is believed that if heavy things are carried in, the cow will not have enough milk.
- When a cow gives birth, its first milk is not taken outside the house for fear the cow will lose its all milk. Coal is mixed with the first milk of animal.
- It is not good to milk an animal onto the soil, or the animal may fall ill.
- If a stranger walks among a herd on its way to the high plateaus, it is believed that the animals will not become pregnant that year.
- A black cat passing in front of a person and the hooting of an owl are both considered bad luck. A burning wooden stick has to be thrown at the owl.
- If a person comes across a rabbit on his path, he may have bad luck. He should turn around and walk back by the same road he came.
- The howling of a jackal is considered bad luck. The man who hears it must spit on the ground; otherwise he may face a disaster.
- When a jackal starts to howl, it is a sign of sunny weather. (According to another belief, it is a sign of rain)
- If a person steps on a cat by mistake before entering his wedding chamber, he will not succeed in his duties.
- If a snake is thrown into the fire alive, it will rain.
-If a crow comes near a house and caws, that house will receive news from abroad.
- It is good to see scorpions in one’s dreams.
- Sleeping in the same room as a cat is considered bad. The cat will steal the person’s soul and shortens his life.
- When a crow caws, snow is on the way.
- Dogs barking late at night, a cock crowing at an unexpected time and the bellowing of an ox in the night are all considered signs of bad things to come. (Such as an enemy attack, earthquake, catastrophe etc)
- If a dog looks at the sky and barks, it is a sign of blood.
- It is sin to kill a pigeon, dove, martin or stork.
- Lambs are not shown to foreigners unless they buy them.
- The flesh of hunted animals is not given to others. If it is given, coins have to be taken in return.
- Seeing a snake is considered good luck.
- Seeing a partridge is considered bad luck.
- When the cock crows, it will rain.
- If an owl lands on a house, it is believed that the house will have bad luck.
- A chicken crowing like a cock is a sign of bad luck. That chicken must be killed immediately.
- Cats never fall on their back because one was touched by Ali.
- The bones of a sacrificed animal may not be broken. – The blood and the bones of a sacrificed animal must be buried.
Beliefs Related to the Stove and Fire:
- Spitting on fire, cursing or throwing water and nails on it will bring bad luck.
- If someone gives fire from his stove to somebody else in the morning, it is believed that his own stove will go out.
- Genies cannot avoid places where a fire is burning.
- Leaving the stove empty will bring bad luck.
- If a trivet falls down suddenly for no reason, that house will suffer a catastrophe.
- If a trivet is left empty, it is believed that the devil will use it for cooking.
- If a trivet is left empty, the water for a dead person will soon be boiled on that trivet.
- If water boils on the trivet for no reason, it means one’s enemies are increasing.
- Fire is not taken out of the house in the evening.
- If there is not enough light in the house, the stove will go out. The grave of the householder will also be dark.
- If sick animals jump over the fire, they may recover.
- Water is not used to die down the fire, it is covered with soil.
- Even if the fire went out long ago, it is not good to sleep near the ashes. People believe that the devil and genies romp in the ashes.
- Throwing water or urinating on the ashes are not considered good.
- To stop it raining, a trivet with a knife on the middle is put in the garden.
- It is a sin to sleep near a stove which has gone out.
- One cannot walk on or jump over ashes at night, since it is believed that the devil will comes.
- If the fire makes too much noise, it is a sign that there is gossip about the person who lit the fire.
Popular Beliefs Related to Agriculture and Plants:
- If someone falls from an elm tree, he won’t live long. – Elm wood must not be used for cradles or chests.
- The devil will take away anyone who sleeps under a fig tree.
- People living under walnut trees are taken away by the devil.
- Having sexual intercourse in the fields damages their fertility.
- Anyone who eats a single grape or the stem side of a melon will be orphaned.
- The olive is regarded as sacred.
- Sleeping alone under a large, old tree is not good for the future.
- It is not permitted to have sexual intercourse or urinate in a field full of crops.
- Walking in fields where crops are being harvested reduces the yield.
- Anyone who goes to the fields for harvesting has to take a bath and perform a ritual ablution for good luck first.
- Anyone who lies under the shade of a walnut tree becomes unsuccessful and incompetent. It is thought that everything that happens around it is recorded by the walnut tree, and when it is cut down all secrets comes to light from the middle of the tree.
- If the clothes of a baby are hung on a wild tree, the baby will become wild, too.
- It is a sin to spill the seeds of the pomegranate because the pomegranate is regarded as the fruit of heaven.
- When taking milk or yogurt out of the house, coal or a green leaf is put on top, otherwise it is believed that the cow will become paralyzed.
- Anyone who sits or lies under a mulberry tree will be paralyzed by a demon.
- If dough leaps out of the pot while being kneaded, a visitor will come.
- Any house which has many water vessels will see many deaths.
- Death rarely comes to a house which is full of wheat.
- Anyone who sleeps by the edge of a field will be paralyzed.
- Anyone who sleeps under an olive tree will be overcome by sleepiness.
- Anyone who sleeps under a fig tree will be overcome by sleepiness.
Beliefs Related to Parts of the Body:
- When a tooth is extracted, it either has to be buried or hideden in a place that nobody can find.
- Joining one’s hands on one’s knees and crossing the fingers of one’s hands are considered signs of bad fortune, so one must try not to do so.
- Cracking one’s knuckles is a sign of good health.
- When washing one’s hands, one must start with the right hand, otherwise he may have bad luck.
- When shaking hands or giving something to someone, the right hand must be used. The left hand is considered a sign of bad luck.
- One must not face in the direction of Mecca when putting one’s socks on.
- One must start with the right foot when putting on one’s socks.
- When someone has an itchy nose, it means people are gossiping about him.
- If one’s right hand itches, it is a sign that money is on the way. If the left hand itches, it is believed that money will be spent.
- The nails are not cut at night.
- Chewing gum is not allowed at night. People think it is not gum but the flesh of a dead body that is being chewed.
- It is believed that anyone who has an itch on his feet will go on holiday.
- Agate stops bleeding and brings good fortune.
- If an infant walks between two people who have not performed a ritual ablution, it is believed that the child will have open sores on his body.
- Hearing echoes in the left ear is a sign of prosperity.
- Hearing echoes in the right ear is a sign of good health.
- A twitch in the eye is considered a bad sign, as people believe that it is the messenger of death.
- When someone has echoes in the ear, it is believed that he or she has been remembered by a person living abroad.
- Putting one leg over the other when sitting is viewed as sinful.
- If a person loses a tooth from the upper side of the jaw, it is believed that he or she will lose one of his parents.
- If a person loses his top-right molar, it is believed that he will lose either his older brother or his uncle.
- If a person loses his top-left molar, it is believed that he will lose either his brother or his child.
- An itch in the hand means money is on the way.
- If someone steps on hair that has been cut, the owner of the hair will have a headache.
- If birds take the hair away, the owner of the hair will have a headache.
Beliefs Related to Celestial Bodies:
- People, who bath under the moonlight and in shadow, will shine as bright as the moon.
- Water on which the moonlight has been reflected may not br drunk, since it is believed that anyone who drinks that water have bad luck.
- Someone dies when a shooting star is seen.
- Babies born on the full moon are considered lucky, and it is believed that these babies will have a bright destiny.
- Girls born on the full moon are very beautiful with shining skin when they grow up.
- Cursing and spitting at the moon are considered unlucky.
- Sleeping while sun is going down may shorten one’s life span.
- Working in the fields during the solstice is not allowed.
- Animals sense the coming of a solar eclipse and express it with fear and screaming.
- The sun shines on the beautiful.
- Fruits that have been seeded during the old moon, bring abundance to the fields.
- When the moon is in crescent position, if it points to the earth, the month will be rainy, if they point to the sky, the month will be be dry.
- If someone loses his child as the sun goes down, he must not drink water.
- Sowing and harvesting activities are not allowed before the new moon.
- Trees are not cut down when there is no moon.
- Teeth are not extracted on days when there is no moon.
- It is not permitteded to go to or come back from the high plateaus or to go to the forest when there is no moon.
- Anyone who eats as the sun goes down will have bad luck.
- It is believed that all the saints come together when there is a shooting star.
Beliefs Related to Birth and Forty Days:
- A woman may not go far from her house until 40 days after childbirth.
- She may not go out of her house at night.
- Koran, amulets, knives and black cumin are placed by the head of a baby for 40 days.
- Matches and brooms are placed in the room where a woman who has had a baby within the last 40 days sleeps.
- Such a woman is not left alone in the house at night.
- After the 40th day, the woman visits her three neighbors first before going any distance away from her house.
- Women and their babies are not allowed to see each other for 40 days.
- Visitors to women within 40 days of childbirth give coins or money in order to protect baby.
- Cats and dogs are not allowed inside the room where there is a baby younger than 40 days; otherwise the skin of the baby turns red.
- Menstruating women are not allowed to see a deer in menstruation, as deer give birth once in seven years, it is assumed that the woman, too, will not have a child for seven years.
- If a baby younger than 40 days has to be left alone in the house, a knife, onion and garlic are put near him.
- People carrying gold or money are not allowed to see such a baby. If they do, gold and money are placed near the baby for a while.
- When a woman visits a house within 40 days of giving birth, she pours out water with myrtle leaves before entering the house.
- If a bridal procession passes in front of the house of such a woman, it is believed that that bride will not have a baby.
- Flour from the mill is not brought to the house of such a woman.
- Lambs are not shown to anyone unless aged over 40 days.
- A candle is lit at the head end of the bed of a woman who gave birth less than 40 days ago.
- Two such women exchange needles in order to bring the period to an end.

Popular Beliefs Related to Special Days:
- Sewing, cutting down trees and plants or killing animals are not allowed on Hidirellez day.
- A person who lost a relative on arefe (the day before a religious festival) never sews.
- Working is not allowed on arefe.
- Trees are not cut down on arefe or during festivals.
- Closed flour sacks are opened on arefe.
- Bringing firewood to the house on arefe is considered bad luck, as the belief is that a snake will come to the house with it.
- Soap may not be used on arefe.
- On Hidirellez, yogurt can be made with water brought to the house early in the morning. The use of yeast is not necessary.
- Anyone who takes bath in the river before the sun rises will be healthy.
- A jug of water should be taken inside the house before the sun rises on Hidirellez. This water is supposed to bring good health to the house.
- On aşure (pudding made with cereals, sugar and raisins) month (during fasting) young trees are not allowed to be cut down.
- Lambs are not counted until hidirellez.
Popular Beliefs Related to Stone and Water:
- It is unwise to enter a lake at night. It is believed that genies and pixies bathe in lakes at night and may people’s steal souls.
- Anyone urinating outside at night will be paralyzed by pixies.
- Knives are not put into boiling water.
- Spitting on water brings bad luck.
- Sleeping near fountains attracts the devil.
- Sleeping on a big stone with deep roots is not advised, since it is believed that the devil will come.
- Jumping over water in which clothes are washed is ill advised since it is believed that the devil lives in it.

Popular Beliefs Related to Darkness and Light
- If an onion is eaten in the evening, angels will not visit the place where it happened.
- Looking in the mirror in the evening shortens one’s life.
- Peppery things like pepper, onion or garlic are not given out of the house at night.
- Milk, yogurt and cheese are not given away at night, if necessary, these are covered or coal and green leaves are put on them.
- It ıs a sin to whistle at night.
- Salt is not given out of the house at night.
- The front door is not cleaned at night.
- Bread baskets are not given from one house to another.
- If children play knucklebones it is believed that an enemy will come.
Popular Beliefs Related to Abundance:
- A man who eats the first bread made from the first flour from the mill will lose his wife.
- A house wıll suffer a declıne in prosperity if yeast is given to other houses.
- The house will suffer a decline in prosperity if someone steps on or drops breadcrumbs.
- A piece of bread is taken out of the mouth of anyone going abroad.
- Sewing things while people are still wearing them brings bad luck.
- Cutting bread with a knife damages the prosperity of the house.
- If someone starts eating without calling on God, he will still be hungry after the meal because he has shared his food with the devil.
- When knitting socks, one must start from the top, otherwise they will not last long.
- If someone breaks his scapula, it is believed that he will have good fortune.
Popular Beliefs Related to the House:
- It is considered inappropriate to put black stone on the groundwork of the house.
- Anyone who sits by the front door will be slandered. – It is not good to sleep near the wall, as the person who does so may end up paralyzed.
- The devil visits a dirty house, so that house will be full of discord instead of happiness.
- If a member of the household goes abroad, either the house is not cleaned, or else no visitors are received on that day.
- People do not visit their neighbors with the rope that helps carry goods, since it is believed that this rope may bring bad luck to the house visited.
- People are advised not to sit by their front door, lest they give the impression they are poor.
- One should not enter one’s neighbor’s house carrying a rope because this may disturb the prosperity of the house.
- One should not sit at the threshold of one’s house, as that is where the devil sits.
- It’s a sin to sit at one’s threshold when it is raining.

Popular Beliefs Related to Events in the Atmosphere:
- People throw a knife into the garden to stop it hailing. – When a skull is taken out of the grave and boiled in water, it rains.
- During the devil’s wedding ceremony (rain in April) anyone standing in the rain will be taken away by genies.
- Rain in April is something like holy water, it is lucky. Getting wet in the April rain brings good health.
- Biting iron while there’s thunder brings good luck.
- Female creatures turns into male and male into female if they walk under a rainbow.
- Eating a few haildrops at the first hailstorm of the year is considered good for the health.
- A knife is thrown onto the roof of the house when there is thunder.
- It is believed that putting a trivet in the garden may stop hail.
- A knife is thrust into the ground when lightning flashes in the sky.
Popular Beliefs Related to Seasons, Months and Days:
- No one is allowed enter a house except for the residents on the first day of March. It is imagined that lambs and fawns will die otherwise.
- If the first people seen on the first day of January look well and healthy, the year will be a healthy one, if they do not look well, someone may fall ill during the year.
- On Tuesdays, washing clothes is not allowed. It is believed that anyone who wears clean clothes washed on Tuesday will die soon.
- Babies born on Tuesdays will become killers.
- No wedding ceremonies are held on Tuesdays.
- Both throwing dust and working are forbidden on Fridays.
- The baby conceived on Friday becomes wise.
- Washing clothes is not allowed on Saturdays.
- If a baby is born late in Friday night, it will grow rich. – If a person knits on Fridays, she will lose her good luck.
- If a person cuts his nails on Friday night, he will fall out of favor.
- Anyone who enters a field on 7th August will be paralyzed.
- Quilts are not covered with sheets on Saturdays, as it is believed that quilts which are covered on Saturdays are waiting for dead bodies.
- Fields are not sowed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. – On Fridays, trees are not cut down until Friday prayers
- No sowing is done on Fridays.
- Any job started on Monday goes slowly.

Popular Beliefs Related to the Sexes:
- If a man turns the lights on in a room, that household will enjoy plenty.
- If a woman slows a man down on the road, it is assumed that bad luck will ensue.
- If a woman passes through between two men, it is believed that she will never have a baby.
- If a man passes through between two women, his words will not be listened to.
- If a man passes through between two girls, he will have a very sparse beard.
- If a woman drinks half glass of tea, she will lose her husband.
- If a woman passes in front of a huntsman on the road, the hunt will not be successful.
- If the first hair of a baby girl is cut by her uncle (mother’s brother), her hair will be abundant.
- The first hair of a baby boy must be cut by his uncle. – Girls who marry and go to their new houses leave their parents’ houses on Thursday or Sunday.
- During the ram mating ceremony, if a girl is put on the ram, it is believed that the lambs born of it will be female, if a boy is put on, the lambs will be male.

Popular Beliefs Related to Roads and Travelling:
- Anyone who spits while taking a trip will meet with a catastrophe.
- Turning and looking back on the road is considered unlucky.
- It is unlucky to sleep where three roads meet.
- If someone drops a spoon from his or her hand, it is believed that a visitor may come.
- If someone drops food in his house, it is believed that a hungry visitor will come.
- If a man goes hunting, his wife throws a broom after him.
- A man going hunting is never asked where he is going. If anyone does ask him, he has to give up the hunting trip.
- If one shoe ends up standing on the other, it is believed that the owner of the shoes will take a vacation.
- Sleeping near the roads is not approved. Such people are told “You will fly with the wind” (meaning, you will be paralyzed by the devil).
- In order not to damage the prospects of the hunt, people do not talk with huntsmen while they are getting ready.
- Before going to hunting, a rifle is put on the ground. A boy or a girl who is at least three or four years old jumps over it.

Popular Beliefs Related to Belongings:
- If a shoe turns upside down, it is believed that bad health will result.
- Soap is not passed to somebody else by hand, since it is believed that these two people will end up arguing. The back of the hand is used when passing the soap.
- After eating, the spoon is left with the bowl facing upwards. Any other position results in bad luck.
- If anyone drinks water out of a lid he will have bad fortune.

Various ceremonies held in southeast Anatolia can be included in this group of festivals. The “pancarci şenlikleri” (festivals of beet workers) in villages in the Savsat district of Artvin, the “seyran senlik” held in the villages of Pasaf, and the “at gocu” (migration of horses) which last three days in the villages of Giresun are the best examples. The common characteristics of these ceremonies is that they are all held a few months after some of the vıllagers have migrated to the high plateaus. They are held at a time when all the work in the villages is finished, and when they have time to join the people on the high plateaus for a few days before coming down back to the villages for harvesting.

In Erzurum, although the ceremony is held again on a day at the end of June or in the beginning of July before harvesting, moving the to high plateaus is not necessary. People go to picnic areas or thermal springs. These are all celebrated as festivals with drums, zurna or other musical instruments, with dances, plays, various games and contests such as race or javelin throwing, with meals eaten communally.

The southern Yuruks (a nomadic shepherd people of Anatolia) also stage ceremonies resembling festivals while leaving their winter places and moving to the high plateaus: these include visits to holy people’s graves, communal feasting, shooting competitions, wrestling and music.

Festivals which represent traditional Turkish culture not only aim to increase the spirit of unity in society, but also to present the cultural wealth of the places where these ceremonies are held.

Some festivals aim to present a product and which have a strong economic element (the Apricot Festival in Malatya, Carpet Festival in Eşme, Cherry Festival in Aksu etc), and others aim to present culture alone are more widely held in Anatolia (the International Culture and Art Activities in the memory of Hacı Bektaş Veli, Abdal Musa gatherings, Galley Ceremonies etc).

Another important contribution of these festivals, which eventually become traditions after long years of contribution to social life is that they create an appropriate atmosphere for people to come together and have fun. For example, the “Savşat sahra Pancarı Şenliği” which is held in the Black Sea region during 16-18th July is one of the most prestigious gatherings around, with particular contributions from women.

Games are among the most important events on festival days. People who work all year long in order to enhance production also contribute  to the region’s economic development at these festivals. The main purpose of such festivals is to ensure the highest quality for the product involved, and all contests are arranged with this end in mind.

Although gatherings are also arranged to present culture, not to promote a specific product, these have gradually moved away from their obstensible purpose and have become a part of cultural tourism.

The common feature of festivals and celebrations is they both enhance cooperative efforts in society, and create a unity of ideas or of actions.

The names, dates and locations of various festivals and ceremonies held in Turkey are given below:

Name: Amasya Ataturk Culture and Art Ceremony
Place: Amasya
Date: 12-19th June

Name: Golden Orange Festival
Place: Antalya
Date: 13th October

Name: Aluçdağ Festival
Place: Camlidere
Date: 6th July

Name: Alanya Tourism Ceremony
Place: Alanya
Date: 4-9th June

Name: Golden Nut Ceremonies
Place: Ordu
Date: 19-22nd September

Name: Aksu Culture and Art Ceremonies
Place: Giresun
Date: 20-3rd May

Name: Akşehir Hodja Nasrettin Hoca Ceremonies
Place: Akşehir
Date: 5-10th July

Name: Ahi Evran Art and Folk Festival
Place: Kırşehir
Date: 5-8th September

Name: 1st St. Nicholas Festival
Place: Kaş- Demre
Date: 24th December

Name: Decorated Earthenware Festival
Place: Kütahya
Date: 12-15th July

Name: Çanakkale Wooden Horse Children’s Festival Place: Çanakkale
Date: June

Name: Ertuğrul Gazi Festival
Place: Söğüt
Date: First Week of September

Name: Eğirdir Golden Apple, Silver and Bronze
Place: Isparta – Eğirdir
Date: 2-7th September

Name: Lobster Ceremonies
Place:
Date:

Name: Pine Nut Festival
Place: Gaziantep
Date: 25th December

Name: Foça Music and Folk Dance Festival
Place: İzmir
Date: 20-23rd August

Name: Traditional Mesir Ceremonies
Place: Manisa
Date: 20-23th June

Name: Rug and Rose Festival
Place: Isparta
Date: 1-7th June

Name: Hacı Bektaş Veli Ceremonies
Place: Hacibektaş
Date: 13-18th July

Name: Annexation of Hatay to the Motherland
Place: Hatay
Date: 5-7th July

Name: Galley Ceremonies
Place: Trabzon
Date:

Name: Kavgasor Ceremonies
Place: Artvin
Date:

Name: Apricot Festival
Place: 20-22nd July
Date:

Name: Melon Festival
Place: Diyarbakir
Date: 22-24th September

Name: Kırkpınar Wrestling
Place: Edirne
Date: Second Week of June

Name: Karacaoğlan Festival
Place: Muş
Date: 10-12nd June

Name: Pamukkale Festival
Place: Denizli
Date: 3-5th June

Name: Selçuk Efes Culture and Art Festival
Place: İzmir
Date: 1-8th May

Name: Seyit Battal Gazi Ceremonies
Place: Eskişehir
Date: 12-17th May

Name: Tourism and Art Ceremonies
Place: Marmaris
Date: 9-17th June

Name: International Silifke Music and Folk Dance Festival
Place: Mersin
Date: 15th September – 5th October

Name: International Marmara Music and Folk Dance Festival
Place: İstanbul
Date: 2-7th June

Name: 3rd Hittite Festival
Place: Çorum – Sungurlu, Alacahöyük – Boğazkale
Date: 18-25th September

Name: Van Tourism and Culture Festival
Place: Van
Date: 16-20th July

Names: Yunus Emre Ceremonies
Place: Eskişehir
Date: 6-9th May

Name: Abdal Musa Memorial Ceremonies
Place: Antalya
Date: 9-10th June