Hidrellez
Traditions
Hıdrellez, is one of the seasonal festivals of
all Turkish world. Hıdrellez Day, which is known as Ruz-ı Hızır (day of Hızır),
is celebrated as the day on which Prophets Hızır and Ilyas met with each other
on the earth. The words Hızır and İlyas have since fused together pronounced as
Hıdrellez. Hıdrellez Day falls on May 6 in the Gregorian calendar and April 23
in the Julian calendar, also known as the “Rumi” calendar.
In the folk calendar used by the people, the
year used to be divided into two: The period between May 6 and November 8 was
summer, called the “Days of Hızır”, and the period between November 8 and May 6
was winter, called the “Days of Kasım”. May 6 thus represents the end of winter
and the start of the warm days of summer, a cause for celebration.
There are various theories about the origin of
Hızır and Hıdrellez. Some of these suggest that Hıdrellez belongs to
Mesopotamian and Anatolian cultures, and others that they belong to pre-Islamic
Central Asian Turkish culture and beliefs. However, it is impossible to ascribe
the Hıdrellez festival and beliefs surrounding Hızır to a single culture.
Various ceremonies and rituals have been performed for various gods with the
arrival of spring or summer in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Iran, Greece and in fact
all eastern Mediterranean countries since ancient times.
One widespread belief suggests that Hızır is a
prophet who has attained immortality by drinking the water of life (ab-ı
hayat), and who has reached God, and wanders around among people from time to
time, especially in the spring, and helps people in difficulty and distributes
plenty and health. The identity of Hızır, the place and the time he lives are
not certain. Hızır is the symbol of spring, and the new life which emerges with
it. In Turkey, where belief in Hızır is widespread, the characteristics
attributed to him are as follows:
1. Hızır rushes to the aid of people, whose in
difficulty and grants peoples’ wishes.
2. He always helps well-meaning, benevolent
people.
3. He brings plenty and wealth wherever he
stops.
4. He brings remedies to those who are troubled
and health to the sick.
5. He helps plants to grow, animals to
reproduce, and human beings to grow strong
6. He helps improve peoples’ fortune.
7. He is the symbol of good omens and good
fortune.
8. He has the God-given power of working
miracles.
With these characteristics attributed to him,
Hızır brings to mind the gods, who are ascribed superior powers in mythology.
Hıdrellez Festival is celebrated on May 6 in
Turkey. This date is regarded as the first day of spring, when nature stirs
again, by Christians as well. The Orthodox celebrate this date as Hagia Georgi,
and Catholics as St. George’s Day.
Hidirellez, one of Turkey’s seasonal festivals,
is actively celebrated in the country. People prepare beforehand for Hidirellez
celebrations in villages and small towns, although rather less now in the big
cities. These preparations concern house-cleaning, clean clothing, and food and
drink. Before Hidirellez Day, houses are cleaned from top to bottom, since
people think that Hızır will not visit houses that are not clean. New clothes
and shoes are purchased to wear on Hidirellez Day.
Giving alms, fasting and offering animals as a
sacrifice are traditions in some parts of Anatolia to make prayers and wishes
come true. Sacrifices and votive offerings should be for “the sake of Hizir”.
Hidirellez celebrations are always performed in
green, wooded places, near sources of water, or near a tomb or shrine. Eating
fresh spring plants, lamb’s meat or lamb’s liver is another custom in
Hidirellez. It is believed that eating the first lamb of spring will bring
health and cure the sick. It is also believed that picking flowers or plants in
the countryside, boiling them and drinking the water will cure all illnesses,
and that the water thus obtained rejuvenates and beautifies anyone who washes
with it for forty days.
Various practices are performed on Hidirellez
night in the belief that Hizir will bring blessing and abundance to the places
he visits and the things he touches. Food bowls, pantries and purses are left
open. Those who want a house, vineyard or garden believe that Hizir will help
them obtain such things if they make a small model of what they want.
Ceremonies to improve peoples’ luck are also
widespread at this time. This ceremony is called “baht açma” in Istanbul and
its surroundings, “bahtiyar” in Denizli and surroundings, “mantıfar” by the
Yoruks and Turkmens, “daglara yuzuk atma” in Balikesir and the neighboring
area, “niyet çıkarma” in Edirne and its vicinity and “mani çekme” in Erzurum
and the surrounding area. People test their luck in these ceremonies, in the
belief that peoples’ fortunes will also take a turn for the better with the
awakening of nature and all living creatures in the spring. The night before
Hıdrellez, young girls who want to test their fortune and improve their luck
gather in a green place or near water. They place some of their belongings,
such as a ring, earring or bracelet in an earthenware jar and close the jar
with fine muslin. They then they put the jar at the bottom of a rose tree.
Early in the morning, they approach the jar and drink coffee with milk and pray
for their peace and tranquility not to be spoiled. They then open the fortune
jar. As they remove the objects from the jar, they recite verses or quatrains,
and comments are made regarding the owner of the object that is taken out. This
practice, peculiar to Hıdrellez, may differ slightly in procedure in different regions
of the country. Recently, this ceremony has tended to be performed only to
bring a change in fortune for spinsters.
Finally, Hıdrellez Festival, that is still
celebrated with grand ceremonies in Anatolia, has been celebrated since ancient
times. Although it is celebrated under different names and in different times,
it is possible to see the motifs of Hıdrellez in many places. The arrival of
spring and awakening of nature have been perceived man as a phenomenon to be
celebrated. Thus, Hıdrellez, a spring festival, has gained a universal
character.
You may book one
of our Private Istanbul Tours to explore more of Turkish culture. For more
information regarding to private tours in Istanbul please contact us:
http://www.privateistanbulwalkingtours.com @privateistanbulwalkingtours
http://www.privateistanbulwalkingtours.com
http://www.turkey-istanbultours.com
#privateistanbulwalkingtours
#ontripadvisor
#turkeyistanbultours
private tours in Istanbul, private Istanbul
tours, Istanbul tours, private Istanbul walking tours, food tours in Istanbul,
private Istanbul guided tours, Walking tours in Istanbul. #Istanbul walks. #meyhane #istanbul#hagiasophia #topkapipalace #bluemosque
http://www.privateistanbulwalkingtours.com
http://www.turkey-istanbultours.com
Review us on TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293974-d10212401-Reviews-Private_Istanbul_Walking_Tours-Istanbul.html
Private Istanbul tours, Private tours in
Istanbul, Istanbul tours, private Istanbul guided tours, Istanbul walks, food
walks, culinary tours, Istanbul tour, walking tours in Istanbul, food tours in
Istanbul, Ephesus Tours, Cappadocia tours, Gallipoli tours, Turkey tours and
TripAdvisor Istanbul tours.
http://www.privateistanbulwalkingtours.com
