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KATEGORILER
HABER ARA
EN ÇOK OKUNANLAR
SON YORUMLANANLAR
EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE - 16 / HIDRELLEZ
Ahırkapı Hıdrellez Festival was held in May to celebrate the arrival of spring. Fragrances of flowers are all around Istanbul. The arrival of spring along with its all colors arouses new hopes for the people. Spring in all societies expresses blessing, harmony and new hopes.
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: ISTANBUL 2010 EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE |
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: 08.02.2010 |
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Fragrances of flowers are all around Istanbul. The arrival of spring along with its all colors arouses new hopes for the people. Spring in all societies expresses blessing, harmony and new hopes. With these emotions many festivals “welcoming the arrival of spring” are organized.
These Festivals became a tradition in most countries. In Turkey, these kinds of traditional events are kept alive inside the cultural mosaics of Anatolia and Istanbul.
One of these traditional events taking place in various ways is the “Hıdrellez Day”. Festivals have been organized in Istanbul on the Hıdrellez Day for 10 years.
This year the Festival under the title “Ahırkapı Hıdrellez Spring Festivals” was organized by the contributions of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency.
Ahırkapı is one of Istanbul’s historical districts. It is located in Sarayburnu which is known as Istanbul’s historical palace site.
Ahırkapı was given this name as the barns of the Topkapı Palace were once located in this area, so this area was called Ahırkapı meaning “door of the barn”.
During the Byzantine era, the gardens and the pavilions of the Manganai and Bukeleon palaces were located in this district, while, during the Ottoman period, the gardens and the summer houses of the Topkapı Palace were located in the Ahırkapı district.
This area is accepted as the most important archeological sites of Istanbul.
People living in large cities forget all the old traditions with time and one of these obsolescent traditions is “Hıdrellez”.
“Hıdrellez in Ahırkapı” is an event which enables large masses of people to celebrate the traditional day altogether in Istanbul. By this event, one of the cultural traditions is also kept alive.
What is “Hıdrellez”?
"Hıdrellez" is one of the seasonal festivals of the entire Turkic world, which is celebrated as the first day of the "early summer". It is also known as the "day of al-Khidr", the day on which prophets Hızır (Khidr) and Ilyas (Elijah) met with each other on earth.
The words Hızır and İlyas have since fused together and pronounced as Hıdrellez.
In the folk calendar used by the people, the year used to be divided into two: The period between May 6th and November 8th was summer and the period between November 8th and May 6th was winter.
May 6th thus represents the end of winter and the start of warm days of summer, a cause for celebration.
There are various theories about the origin of Hızır and Hıdrellez. 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 attained immortality by drinking the water of life and reached God, and he 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 lived in 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; Hızır rushes to the aid of people in difficulty and grants peoples’ wishes, always helps well-meaning, benevolent people, brings plenty and wealth wherever he stops, brings remedies to those who are troubled and health to the sick, helps plants to grow, animals to reproduce, and human beings to grow strong, he helps improve peoples’ fortune, he is the symbol of good omens and he has the God-given power of working miracles.
In Turkey, especially in towns and villages, preparations are made before the Hıdrellez festival. Before the Hıdrellez Day, houses are cleaned from top to bottom, since people think that Hızır will not visit houses that are not clean. New cloths and shoes are purchased to wear on the Hıdrellez Day.
Various practices are performed on the Hıdrellez night in the belief that Hızır 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 Hızır 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.
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.
Hıdrellez Festival, which is still celebrated with great ceremonies in Anatolia, dates back to 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 as a phenomenon to be celebrated. Thus, Hıdrellez, a spring festival, has gained a universal character.
Ahırkapı Hıdrellez Spring Festivals emerged from this tradition.
This year Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency contributed to the Festival which is a cultural heritage of thousands of years. Also various organizations, universities, associations and municipalities have contributed to the Festival in order to spread the awareness of this tradition.
The activities started on 5 May. This year, the venue was, for the first time, the seaside with a background view of historical Istanbul.
By this way, the participants had the opportunity to watch the beauty of the Blue Mosque and the Bukaleon Palace from a different perspective.
Participants enjoyed the performances of various music groups, danced to the fires lit. Wishes were written on pieces of papers and attached on the trees, though according to the tradition, the papers are placed under the rose tress.
Wishes for Istanbul in 2010 were also attached to one of the trees.
Spring was welcomed in Istanbul with Hıdrellez, joy and happiness and more importantly with stronger hopes.
These Festivals became a tradition in most countries. In Turkey, these kinds of traditional events are kept alive inside the cultural mosaics of Anatolia and Istanbul.
One of these traditional events taking place in various ways is the “Hıdrellez Day”. Festivals have been organized in Istanbul on the Hıdrellez Day for 10 years.
This year the Festival under the title “Ahırkapı Hıdrellez Spring Festivals” was organized by the contributions of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency.
Ahırkapı is one of Istanbul’s historical districts. It is located in Sarayburnu which is known as Istanbul’s historical palace site.
Ahırkapı was given this name as the barns of the Topkapı Palace were once located in this area, so this area was called Ahırkapı meaning “door of the barn”.
During the Byzantine era, the gardens and the pavilions of the Manganai and Bukeleon palaces were located in this district, while, during the Ottoman period, the gardens and the summer houses of the Topkapı Palace were located in the Ahırkapı district.
This area is accepted as the most important archeological sites of Istanbul.
People living in large cities forget all the old traditions with time and one of these obsolescent traditions is “Hıdrellez”.
“Hıdrellez in Ahırkapı” is an event which enables large masses of people to celebrate the traditional day altogether in Istanbul. By this event, one of the cultural traditions is also kept alive.
What is “Hıdrellez”?
"Hıdrellez" is one of the seasonal festivals of the entire Turkic world, which is celebrated as the first day of the "early summer". It is also known as the "day of al-Khidr", the day on which prophets Hızır (Khidr) and Ilyas (Elijah) met with each other on earth.
The words Hızır and İlyas have since fused together and pronounced as Hıdrellez.
In the folk calendar used by the people, the year used to be divided into two: The period between May 6th and November 8th was summer and the period between November 8th and May 6th was winter.
May 6th thus represents the end of winter and the start of warm days of summer, a cause for celebration.
There are various theories about the origin of Hızır and Hıdrellez. 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 attained immortality by drinking the water of life and reached God, and he 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 lived in 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; Hızır rushes to the aid of people in difficulty and grants peoples’ wishes, always helps well-meaning, benevolent people, brings plenty and wealth wherever he stops, brings remedies to those who are troubled and health to the sick, helps plants to grow, animals to reproduce, and human beings to grow strong, he helps improve peoples’ fortune, he is the symbol of good omens and he has the God-given power of working miracles.
In Turkey, especially in towns and villages, preparations are made before the Hıdrellez festival. Before the Hıdrellez Day, houses are cleaned from top to bottom, since people think that Hızır will not visit houses that are not clean. New cloths and shoes are purchased to wear on the Hıdrellez Day.
Various practices are performed on the Hıdrellez night in the belief that Hızır 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 Hızır 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.
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.
Hıdrellez Festival, which is still celebrated with great ceremonies in Anatolia, dates back to 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 as a phenomenon to be celebrated. Thus, Hıdrellez, a spring festival, has gained a universal character.
Ahırkapı Hıdrellez Spring Festivals emerged from this tradition.
This year Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency contributed to the Festival which is a cultural heritage of thousands of years. Also various organizations, universities, associations and municipalities have contributed to the Festival in order to spread the awareness of this tradition.
The activities started on 5 May. This year, the venue was, for the first time, the seaside with a background view of historical Istanbul.
By this way, the participants had the opportunity to watch the beauty of the Blue Mosque and the Bukaleon Palace from a different perspective.
Participants enjoyed the performances of various music groups, danced to the fires lit. Wishes were written on pieces of papers and attached on the trees, though according to the tradition, the papers are placed under the rose tress.
Wishes for Istanbul in 2010 were also attached to one of the trees.
Spring was welcomed in Istanbul with Hıdrellez, joy and happiness and more importantly with stronger hopes.
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