Bulgaristan Türklerinde Nevruz ve Hıdırellez Kutlamaları1 - Nevruz and Hıdırellez Festival of Bulgarian Turks

Turkish culture geography has two important festivals based on cyclical time: Nevruz and Hıdırellez Festivals. While Nevruz is the beginning of the “new year” across the Turkish world, Hıdırellez is accepted as the beginning of the summer. As changes in nature have been always important for nomads, ranchers, and cultivators, bothnomads and cultivators celebrate these important days with festivals, and they reflect their expectations from the new year via rituals. Bulgarian Turks, which is a part of the Turkish world in the Balkans, also celebrate these days with various festivals. In these festivals, traditions and rituals related to the Nevruz and Hıdırellez are created each year, which also helps consolidate the societal solidarity. In this context, this article aims to depict the original celebrations of Bulgarian Turks for Nevruz and Hıdırellez and provides examples related to traditions and rituals.