The folk calendar of Acıpayam (Denizli)

The folk calendar is a traditional knowledge system created by local communities through observations of natural phenomena and used to regulate the flow of time and agricultural activities. This thesis examines the impact of geographical characteristics on the folk calendar in the Acıpayam district, located in the southern part of Denizli Province. The study reveals the determining role of geographical elements such as climate, topography, vegetation cover, and soil structure in the formation and continuity of the folk calendar in Acıpayam. The research is conducted using an ethnographic research design, one of the qualitative research methods. Semi-structured interviews are carried out with 50 participants aged 50 and over living in the neighborhoods of Dodurga, Ucarı, Hisar, Darıveren, and Yeşilyuva within the district. Through these interviews, the local people's observations of nature, their knowledge of seasonal changes, agricultural and livestock practices, and the contemporary reflections of the folk calendar are evaluated. The data are analyzed using the descriptive analysis method, and it was determined that the folk calendar has been shaped through a close interaction with the physical and human conditions of the region. The folk calendar, as a product of the relationship established by the people of Acıpayam with nature, is both a reflection of local cultural memory and an important indicator for understanding the effects of geography on daily life.