IMPORTANT DATES 1- Aksaray-Ihlara Tourism and Culture Festival (July15-21): Every year between July15-21. In 2001 it was celebrated for 21st time. 2- The Commemoration of the poet Yunus Emre (First week of September). 3- The Commemoration of Somuncu Baba (Second week of September). 4- The Commemoration of Aksaray and Cemaleddin-i Aksarayi (In October). 5- Day of Mother-in-laws (June, 15) 6-Saratlı Culture and Art Festival (July 29).   .

 

AKSARAY CULTURE HOUSE

 

Aksaray Governor Mansion which had been started to build in 1927 and completed in 1930 served as a Governor Mansion to the governors and head officials of a district of the Aksaray for years.

The building which is fully made of cut stone is one of the unique architecture constructions at the first years of the Turkish Republic and has still been preserved. It has two floors and five rooms. After constructing a new Governor Mansion this historical building was emptied. In the beginning of the 2007 the historical Governor Building has been given as a present to Aksaray culture with the efforts of Aksaray Governor Sebati Buyuran. The Building is now a museum reflecting the culture, antiquities, life styles and social life of Aksaray. Contrast to traditional museum style, each room in Aksaray Culture House reflects a different culture about Aksaray. Statues in each room make the Culture House nearly like a living place.

There are about 31 statues in Aksaray Culture house.

While decorating the culture house, all of the towns and villages of Aksaray were visited and the social lives were examined in their original places and the properties were taken from their owners and refurnished carefully one by one. The properties in Aksaray Culture House were taken from residents as a grant.
 

Aksaray Clothings.

THE TRADITIONS IN THE REGION AND THE CLOTHING

a) Children’s Clothing: Boys have haircuts after they are 1-2 years old with the hair-cut-number 1 or 2. Sometimes some hair is left and this is called “forelock”.

 

Daughters do not have haircut. Their hair is in plaits called “forty plaits” at their back. These plaits are tied to each other and a “roof” is formed. Blue bead is put at the top if this “roof”. They wear a rather long white shirt as underwear. Over the shirt, they wear a hand-sewn, buttoned and straight collared “overwear” both in winter and summer. And they wear baggy trousers called “dottiri” in the region.

 

                                         

b) Women’s clothing: Hair is in plaits or in two thick plaits. Between them a “roof” is formed again. And on the head, there is a “fez” worn like a hat. Over the fez, golden-like small coins are put in a row, and these are called “kayma”. Around the fez, “kleps” are worn like in the picture below. Small golden coins are put on this klep. Over the fez, a scarf called “çit” is worn. Below, there is a long shirt. And as the overcoat, a jacket is worn, long sleeved and open in front, and this is caled “kessik”. If kessik is not worn, a skirt called “three skirts” is worn.

 

                              

And, a hand woven shawl is worn around the waist. Over the shawl, coloured knee pads with contrats colours are put. And, handwoven wool socks with embroidery and rubber sandals are worn on the feet.

 

c) Men’s clothing: Caps on the heads, white shirts with no collar and half-closed in front are the typical men’s wear in the region. Over the shirt, there is a vest called “delme”. They usually wear woven baggy trousers. They wear wool socks and shoes on their feet. Except the festival days, men and women wear almost the same clothing all year round. New and different clothing are made ready after the harvest time or during the festival days.

 

WEDDING TRADITIONS

 

Today, like in all parts of Anatolia, people marry their son after they come back from Military Service, and their daughters when they are at the age of marriage.

 

a)      Looking for girls for marriage:

 

A girl whom the son of the family has liked is determined at first. One or two women go to the girls home to see whether she is willing or not. If she is willing, then the future father-in-law and/or mother-in-law go to her house.

b)Father-in-law 

Some respectable people from the boy’s home go to the daughter’s home to ask for their daughter. After a chat for a while they ask for their daughter “In the name of Allah, the God, and His Messenger”. The daughter’s family usually says “If it is in our fate, the marriage will happen” and asks for time to investigate the boy’s situation and think. After a while the boy’s family goes to the girl’s house again to learn the result. The girl’s family, having investigated the boy, either say that they refuse the proposal, or say that they accept it. Then two families begin to plan what to buy before the marriage.

 

c) Engagement:

 

      Clothing and jewels are bought before the determined date. The engagement is done either at home among family members or at a hall according the financial situation of the families. The determination of the place for the engagement is up to the daughter’s house. If the engagement is going to be held at a hall, a crowded visitor group is invited and a respected family member puts the rings on the fingers of the couple. After that the boy’s family gives presents, money or valuable things to the girl. Then a big cake called “The Engagement Cake” is eaten and people have fun, and then the ceremony ends.        

 

d) The Wedding:

 

Both parties ask to each other whether the preparations are finished or not 15 days before the wedding. If the preparations are not ready, the wedding is postponed for 1 or 2 months. If the preparations are ready, the official process is started for the marriage. The daughter is taken to the city center and the official process takes place. A piece of rug ca. 1 meter made from cotton flannel or printed cotton is bought for the guests. This is called “Gönüllük” in the city. The wedding usually lasts for one week. At the beginning of the week a flag is put at the roof of the boy’s house. Beginning from the first day, women gather in the boy’s house and they have fun.

 

On Tuesday, neighbouring villages are invited. The people from the neighbouring villages are welcomed by a crowd consisting of the musicians and the village people with a person holding a flag in front of the crowd. The boy’s family welcomes the guests and in the evening people have fun, women and men in separate places. On Wednesday, everybody comes together in the village square. Everybody has fun and dance from the beginning of the day till evening and young people wrestle.  

 

A shooting tournament is held in which people try to shoot a pitcher from a distance. The winner of the wrestling is given a goat as a reward. The person who hits the pitcher is given the title “bodyguard of the groom” as a reward. Because, if the groom is not protected, he will be “kidnapped”. To “rescue” him, money should be given to the people who had rescued the groom. People gather in the boy’s house in the afternoon. Then the flag is taken down from the roof and women wearing traditional costumes go to the boy’s house with the flag holder in front. The daughter’s family do not open the door unless a tip is given. The boy’s family gives a tip and then the door is opened. Then women enter the house and men go back to the boy’s house with the musicians. The same night men have fun untill late at night.

     

h) The night in which henna is applied:

 

The women who come to the girl’s house have meal. After the meal they have fun. Some women sing this song and bring the girl.

      Kız anası, kız anası

      Hani bunun öz anası

      Çağrın gelsin kız anası

      Yaksın elinin kınası

 

      Kız anası, kız anası

      Hani bunun öz anası

      Çağrın gelsin kız anası

      Yaksın elinin kınası

 

      And the girl  in turn sings the following song:

      Bahçenizde ot mu idim,

      Üstünüze yük mü idim,

      Bir kız size çok mu idim,

      Oy anam oy, vay anam vay.

 

     

Women take the girl amongst themselves and make the girl sit on a cushion three times. Some henna is brought and applied to the girls back of the neck, and to the palm of her right hand. Her head is covered with red and green scarf.

 

      After the henna ceremony, other women apply henna and they eat nuts. After all these funs the close friends of the bride leave singing the following song:

 

      Tuz çömleği, tuzsuz olmaz

      Büyük evler kızsız olmaz

      Kız eşim kız ayrılalım

      Sabah olsun bir olalım.

 

 

      Tuz çömleği, tuzsuz olmaz

      Büyük evler kızsız olmaz

      Kız eşim kız ayrılalım

      Sabah olsun bir olalım.

 

i)      The bride goes to the groom’s house:

 

      Other girls who has stayed with the bride gets up early in the morning and they take the bride’s trousseau out. A woman from the boy’s house brings the bridal dress. After she takes a tip, she delivers it. The bridal dress is put on the bride after it is turned three times around the bride. And a fez is put on the head of the bride. A red scarf, and over this, a green scarf, and over this, a white scarf is put on the head of the bride. A golden jewel is put on top of all this, and then the bride says farewell to all the people in her house.

 

Segmens who come to the bride’s house to take the broom load the belongings of the bride to a car. The brother of the bride ties a scarf around the waist of his sister and helps his sister to get on a bay horse. One of the elderly leads the way and they have a tour in the village square. They walk near the cemetery and finally the bride is brought to the groom’s house.  

 

      The groom waits in the front steps of the house. The mother, father, relatives and guests give their presents to the bride and then she gets off the horse; and together with the groom she jumps over the sacrificed animal and enters the house. While she is entering the house, the groom throws the change money which he prepared before to the crowd. Meanwhile some people fire their guns, and some others dance. After a while the wedding ceremony ends. Finally the guests coming from neighbouring villages return to their homes.

 

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