Rezan KARAKAŞ

Tradition of tree decorating is still maintained in Siirt’s Kurtalan, Baykan, Şirvan, Batman’s Kozluk, Gercüş and Mardin’s Dargeçit districts. Because of the swiftly changing living conditions, it can be observed that this tradition is slowly fading in the center of districts but still survives in villages. Decorating a green tree with various foods and distributing this food to people for “saçı” purposes in wedding ceremonies has a very significant folkloric value. The decoration of trees with bread, which is sacred in Turkish culture, and with apples, which is the symbol of fertility in folk literature, makes the ‘tree of bridegroom’ extremely meaningful. Hanging up slaughtered cocks, chickens etc.. is a part of the ‘blood shedding tradition’ for protection from the evil eye in happy days.  It is important that ‘tree decorating’ tradition be introduced as an alternative local cultural treasure to people who have recently begun to follow Western life styles and have become degenerated culturally as in the example of Christmas tree decoration.

Key Words: Tree decorating, tree of bridegroom, wedding ceremony, saçı, tradition