In all centuries and among different peoples, May was associated with revival. This naturally followed from the rhythm of peasant everyday life. Sowing begins this month, accompanied by hopes for an obese harvest. It is then that the seeds of the future harvest are laid, and therefore the family’s property wealth. Finally, in the last month of spring, everything around amazes the eye with a riot of colors that once caused so many tales about the annual death and resurrection of Flora.
The ancient Romans also had «Florialia» festivals dedicated to the May awakening of nature. With the spread of monotheism, the customs of idolaters became a thing of the past, moreover, they acquired an ominous devilish connotation. For example, the demonic Walpurgis Night and the Sabbath of Witches on Bald Mountain take place on the eve of May 1. But church representatives were unable to erase the delight of renewal from the hearts of the people, and May Day celebrations in many countries still exist today.
In Turkey, celebrations fall on the night of May 5-6. According to legend, that night the prophets Khyzir and Ilya (from the combination of their names the Turkish name for Spring Day came — Hıdırellez — this word can be written and pronounced with some variations) agreed to return Spring to earth.
It is believed that on the night of May 5-6, the prophet Khizir descends from heaven and walks the earth, doing good, healing, helping people and fulfilling their desires. Woe to the one whose home has not been cleaned, whose doors are closed and in whose heart evil thoughts nest. Khizir will never visit such a house, and, therefore, will not bring good luck, happiness and prosperity. Therefore, people carefully prepare for the onset of this holiday: they put things in order in houses and courtyards, wash clothes, buy new things, prepare festive dishes, among which the main place is occupied by roast young lamb with fresh herbs. On this day, it is customary to give alms and make wishes that the prophet can fulfill. On the eve of the holiday, windows, barn doors, bags, and wallets are left wide open in the hope that the generous Khizir will not allow them to empty, but will bring wealth.
The celebrations themselves are organized outdoors, in picturesque places not far from springs, temples or cemeteries. There is a widespread tradition of performing sacrifices and fortune telling on this day. For example, on the eve of the holiday, young girls put their rings, earrings, bracelets into a vessel with water, and leave this vessel overnight under a rose bush. And on the day of the holiday, objects from it are pulled to the accompaniment of ritual songs. Each verse of the song contains a prediction that is destined to come true in the life of the one whose thing was pulled out at the moment of singing.
Another peasant fortune telling. Girls put pieces of paper with their most cherished dreams in «wish vessel», or «pot of lies». The vessel is closed at night in the rose garden. The next morning, the girl chosen by lot takes it out, opens it and takes out one note. The bachelor who signed her will certainly get married within a year.
...tables with all kinds of dishes are set on the streets... (Photo: mehmetcan, licensed from Shutterstock.com)
There is an interesting custom: shortly before the celebration, you prepare yogurt without sourdough. The house in which yogurt turns out — will be treated kindly to the attention of the Prophet Khyzir, which means well-being and good luck will be established in it for a whole year.
It’s hard to imagine Hydrellosis without folk festivals: young guys jump over fires, girls write notes with desires and throw them into the river. Together with nature, people rejoice at the arrival of spring and the onset of the long-awaited warmth, which is why this holiday, which brings hope for the best, is one of the brightest and most colorful in Turkey.
Recently, the Spring Festival has begun to be widely celebrated not only in rural areas, but also in cities. For example, in Istanbul these days all kinds of concerts are held, the noise and commotion of improvised bazaars do not stop until the morning, tables with all kinds of dishes are set on the streets. As a rule, these are lula kebab, meatloaf, rice, fish in dough, baklava, ice cream, numerous cakes and nut delicacies so adored in Turkey.
In Turkey, Hydrellosis is celebrated not only by the Turks, but also by representatives of a fairly large Armenian community.