The culture and tradition of Ali Koç Father's Hearth in the Salihler and Büyükyayla villages of Eskişehir

This study focuses on the members of Ali Koç Baba (Ali Koçlu) Quarry, who migrated from Sungurlar village of Karinabad town of Bulgaria to Seyitgazi district of Eskişehir as a result of the 93 War between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire and founded Salihler and Büyükyayla villages. These villages, which resist change in their way of life due to their traditional structures, have exhibited a closed and distant attitude. This study aims to determine the areas of continuity and change in the folk culture elements of Ali Koç Baba in the example of Salihler and Büyükyayla villages. In order to prevent the folk culture elements formed in a long process from being forgotten and disappearing, the cultural elements of folk life preserved in this traditional environment were analysed. Ali Koç Babalılar are one of the rare communities that have partially succeeded in preserving their heritage with the characteristic of being a closed society in terms of belief. This study consists of an introduction and two chapters. The first part includes the history of Ali Koç Babalılar, the history of the places they lived in Bulgaria, the geographical location of Salihler and Büyükyayla villages, their history and origins. In the second part, information is given about their customs and traditions that constitute social life such as birth, marriage, wedding and funeral ceremonies. The basic concepts of the beliefs of Ali Koç Babalılar, special days related to Alevism, religious rituals, etc. have been identified and analysed by using written and oral sources.