Solstice and Equinox in Turkish traditions
Spring
HIDRELLEZ
Hıdırellez or Hıdrellez (Turkish: Hıdırellez or Hıdrellez, is celebrated as the day on which Prophets Hızır (Al-Khidr) and Ilyas (Elijah) met on the earth Hıdırellez starts on May 5 night and falls on May 6 in the Gregorian calendar and April 23 in the Julian calendar. It is celebrated in Turkey and throughout the Turkic world. It celebrates the arrival of spring and is a religious holiday for the Alevi as well. Đurđevdan is the Christian variety of this spring festival throughout the Balkans, notably areas which had become under the control of the Ottoman Empire by the end of the 16th century.
Hıdırellez is regarded as one of the most important seasonal bayrams (festival) in both Turkey and countries above mentioned. Named as Day of Hızır (Ruz-ı Hızır) in Turkey, Hıdırellez is celebrated as the day on which the prophets Hızır (Al-Khdir) and İlyas (Elijah) met on the earth. The words Hızır and İlyas have since fused together pronounced as Hıdırellez. Hıdırellez Day falls on May 6 in the Gregorian calendar and April 23 in the Julian calendar. In other countries such day is mostly related to pagan and Saint George cults. 'Ayd Al-Khidr is one of the most important social celebrations in Syria and takes place on May 6 in the Gregorian calendar and April 23 in the Julian calendar.
Hıdırellez is regarded as one of the most important seasonal bayrams (festival) in both Turkey and countries above mentioned. Named as Day of Hızır (Ruz-ı Hızır) in Turkey, Hıdırellez is celebrated as the day on which the prophets Hızır (Al-Khdir) and İlyas (Elijah) met on the earth. The words Hızır and İlyas have since fused together pronounced as Hıdırellez. Hıdırellez Day falls on May 6 in the Gregorian calendar and April 23 in the Julian calendar. In other countries such day is mostly related to pagan and Saint George cults. 'Ayd Al-Khidr is one of the most important social celebrations in Syria and takes place on May 6 in the Gregorian calendar and April 23 in the Julian calendar.
Nowruz
Nowruz marks the first day of spring or Equinox as and the beginning of the year in the Persian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical Northward equinox in Turkey, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. The moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and families gather together to observe the rituals.
Nowruz is celebrated by people from diverse ethnic communities and religious backgrounds for thousands of years. It is a secular holiday that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths. It originated in Persia in one of the capitals of the Achaemenid empire in Persian and is also celebrated by the cultural region that came under Iranian influence or had migrations by Persians including Azerbaijan, the North Caucasus, Kurdish inhabited regions of eastern Turkey and Northern Iraq, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and other scattered populations in Central Asia.
Nowruz is partly rooted in the religious tradition of Zoroastrianism. Among other ideas, Zoroastrianism is the first monotheistic religion that emphasizes broad concepts such as the corresponding work of good and evil in the world, and the connection of humans to nature. Zoroastrian practices were dominant for much of the history of ancient Persia (centered in what is now Iran). Nowruz is believed to have been invented by Zoroaster himself, although there is no clear date of origin.Since the Achaemenid era the official year has begun with the New Day when the Sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and enters the zodiacal sign of Aries, signifying the Spring Equinox. Nowruz is also a holy day for Sufi Muslims, Bektashis, Ismailis, Alawites,[22] Alevis, Babis and adherents of the Bahá'í Faith.
Nowruz is celebrated by people from diverse ethnic communities and religious backgrounds for thousands of years. It is a secular holiday that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths. It originated in Persia in one of the capitals of the Achaemenid empire in Persian and is also celebrated by the cultural region that came under Iranian influence or had migrations by Persians including Azerbaijan, the North Caucasus, Kurdish inhabited regions of eastern Turkey and Northern Iraq, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and other scattered populations in Central Asia.
Nowruz is partly rooted in the religious tradition of Zoroastrianism. Among other ideas, Zoroastrianism is the first monotheistic religion that emphasizes broad concepts such as the corresponding work of good and evil in the world, and the connection of humans to nature. Zoroastrian practices were dominant for much of the history of ancient Persia (centered in what is now Iran). Nowruz is believed to have been invented by Zoroaster himself, although there is no clear date of origin.Since the Achaemenid era the official year has begun with the New Day when the Sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and enters the zodiacal sign of Aries, signifying the Spring Equinox. Nowruz is also a holy day for Sufi Muslims, Bektashis, Ismailis, Alawites,[22] Alevis, Babis and adherents of the Bahá'í Faith.
Winter
BOCUK NIGHT
Bocuk night is a yearly celebration observed on 31 October in thrace region.It is dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers. The traditional focus of Bocuk night revolves around the theme of using "humor and ridicule to confront the power of death.
Typical festive Bocuk activities include trick-or-treating (or the related "guising"), attending costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted house attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories and watching horror films. Further more It is believed to walk around a ghost called bocuk wife,bocuk mother and bocuk grandfather . these solemn customs are less pronounced in favor of a more commercialized and secularized celebration
Development of artifacts and symbols associated with Bocuk night formed over time. Jack-o'-lanterns are traditionally carried by guisers on the day in order to frighten evil spirits..There is a popular folktale associated with the jack-o'-lantern which in lore, is said to represent a "soul who has been denied entry into both heaven and hell.
Typical festive Bocuk activities include trick-or-treating (or the related "guising"), attending costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted house attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories and watching horror films. Further more It is believed to walk around a ghost called bocuk wife,bocuk mother and bocuk grandfather . these solemn customs are less pronounced in favor of a more commercialized and secularized celebration
Development of artifacts and symbols associated with Bocuk night formed over time. Jack-o'-lanterns are traditionally carried by guisers on the day in order to frighten evil spirits..There is a popular folktale associated with the jack-o'-lantern which in lore, is said to represent a "soul who has been denied entry into both heaven and hell.
NARDUGAN
Nardoqan or Nardugan (Turkish: Nardoğan or Nardugan, Azerbaijanese: Narduqan) was a Turkic holiday concept that originated from Sumerian tradition. Nowadays, it is most commonly used to refer to the winter solstice in many Central Asia languages. It is also used as an equivalent name for the Christian holiday Christmas Nardoqan or Narduğan was a Sumerian holiday, referred to the winter solstice. It is celebrated by Sumerians and later Turkic traditions on December 21, the longest night of the year and the night of the winter solstice. On this night, symbolizing old sun, becomes smaller as the days become shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, and dies on December 22, the winter solstice. It is said to be defeated by the dark and evil powers. On December 23 becomes the new sun.
Other resources
Wikipedia
Yəñikun Ergenekun Yenigün (Nevruz) a traditional cultur of Turkic peoples
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Türk Halk Kültüründe Nevruz
Türk Bayramı Nevruz-Ergenekon
Türk Kültüründe Yenigün -- Nevruz Bayramı
Türklerde Yeni Yıl: Nevruz Bayramı ve Törenleri
Türklüğün En Eski Bayramı Nevruz ve Tarihî Alt Yapısı
عید نوروز میراث ملی تورکها
http://turkistanjenubi.wordpress.com/...
ريشه پـيدايش جشن نـوروز
http://turkistanjenubi.wordpress.com/...
ارگنه کؤن -- نوروز جشن مشترک جهان تورک
http://turkistanjenubi.wordpress.com/...
عید نوروز فارسی یا ایرانی نیست
http://turkistanjenubi.wordpress.com/...
توركلرده يئني يئل عادتلري
http://cenubiturkistan.wordpress.com/...
نووروز-تورکلرين ارگنه کون بايرامي
http://cenubiturkistan.wordpress.com/...
اولکه میزده یئنگی ییل قوتلامالاریندان اؤرنئکلر
http://cenubiturkistan.wordpress.com/...VRUZ
Murad Adji, L.N.Gumilev,Mircea Eliade
Yugoslav halk• bilimci Thomir Corcevic Narodni Zivot
Yəñikun Ergenekun Yenigün (Nevruz) a traditional cultur of Turkic peoples
—————————--————————————-
Türk Halk Kültüründe Nevruz
Türk Bayramı Nevruz-Ergenekon
Türk Kültüründe Yenigün -- Nevruz Bayramı
Türklerde Yeni Yıl: Nevruz Bayramı ve Törenleri
Türklüğün En Eski Bayramı Nevruz ve Tarihî Alt Yapısı
عید نوروز میراث ملی تورکها
http://turkistanjenubi.wordpress.com/...
ريشه پـيدايش جشن نـوروز
http://turkistanjenubi.wordpress.com/...
ارگنه کؤن -- نوروز جشن مشترک جهان تورک
http://turkistanjenubi.wordpress.com/...
عید نوروز فارسی یا ایرانی نیست
http://turkistanjenubi.wordpress.com/...
توركلرده يئني يئل عادتلري
http://cenubiturkistan.wordpress.com/...
نووروز-تورکلرين ارگنه کون بايرامي
http://cenubiturkistan.wordpress.com/...
اولکه میزده یئنگی ییل قوتلامالاریندان اؤرنئکلر
http://cenubiturkistan.wordpress.com/...VRUZ
Murad Adji, L.N.Gumilev,Mircea Eliade
Yugoslav halk• bilimci Thomir Corcevic Narodni Zivot