REZAN KARAKAŞ

Birth is a highly celebrated event in modern societies and has even been more celebrated starting at prenatal period and continuing following birth with unusual rituals in folklore and human history. In this study, we will try to present customs and rituals surrounding babies’ first natural growth and behaviors (first teeth, toddling, first haircut etc.) and the practice of being ‘medical expert’ among ordinary folks without any medical expertise in the province of Diyarbakir, Turkey. All the output included here is collected through participatory observation and interview methods. ‘Hedik’ and ‘köstek kesme’ rituals aim to introduce babies their first experience in which they have their hair and nails cut with special ceremonies. Moon flushes (ay dönmesi) is an old disease commonly believed to have resulted from people’s fear from some natural events. This disease has been cured by making coins which would look similar to crescent-shaped moon. For many centuries, all these sorcery practices have been repeated as accepted rituals to introduce children or babies into the community. These rituals are also internalized as mandatory practices which must be done to pass them on from one generation to another one. In modern life, though, most of these rituals are all, but forgotten and some older people in these close-knitted communities are constantly trying to remind young people of these rituals.

Key Words: Boiled wheat, cutting shackles, babies’ first, sorcery practices,