The hearth cult in Hatay/Dörtyol

The concepts of fire and stove have many importances in the Turkish culture. It is known that the tradition of fire and stove is used actively in Turkish communities before and after Islam. In today's perspective it is seen that fire and stove, even though there are changes in methods of use, are still used in today's communities. It is seen that the concepts of fire and stove have a sacred place in Turkish mythology and known that people use fire and stove in important stages of their lives, such as birth, wedding and death. Along with this, fire and stove belong to an important place in ceremonies held at the end of a year and the beginning of the new one. It is also known that fire, with its cleaning characteristic, rids people of sins, and has a curing characteristic against illnesses. Because the concepts of fire and stove are used in every part of life, it is known that they are of great importance and sacredness and therefore are given offerings and sacrifices at ceremonies in certain periods. It is seen that the concept of stove isn't thought of apart from the concept of fire. Although stove has many different meanings, these meanings are given in this study in detail. The concept of stove, which is mainly examined in the study, gives information on how people who cure others with traditional methods and continue this tradition with a heritage implement it. Like the stoves in many regions of Anatolia; the stoves in Hatay Dörtyol, which are examined in this study, are seen being actively used by people for the cure of some illnesses despite the developing and ever-changing technology of the 21st century and the world of medicine. In this context, by conducting a field research we have had the opportunity to interview people who use the stove in Hatay Dörtyol, thoroughly examine how they continue this tradition and cure patients.