Changes in the birth, circumcision, marriage, and death traditions in the process of modernization: The case of Solhan district of Bingöl province

Each nation own its own cultural traditions. These traditions form a bonding connection between the individual and the society and maintain order and balance in the society. Nevertheless, a change in society's cultural traditions was inevitable as a result of the changes in the living conditions of the societies or their contacts with different cultures. In order to understand the changes in society, it is useful to look at the important transition periods for human life which exist in almost every society. The social change in the modernization process of the Solhan, District of Bingöl Province and its surroundings has been researched through the birth, circumcision, marriage, and death customs. This study was carried out to reveal the change in cultural customs in Solhan District of Bingöl Province, as in the whole world, in the last two hundred years. By pointing out the effect of Western-type modernization on Turkey with industrialization, the effect of the development of the state's social policies on education, transportation, communication and communication on the change has been emphasized. The changes in cultural traditions that have occurred since the end of the Second World War until today have been revealed over three generations. As a result of the questions asked to the participants, it was aimed to reveal the social change that occurred by considering the variables of age, gender, education, occupation and place of residence. In our study which is based on field data, it has been determined that there are significant changes in the birth, circumcision, wedding, and death customs of the society in the modernization process of Turkey. It can be said that many variables such as education level, communication, correspondence, and transportation means are effective on these changes. In particular, it is clearly seen that the change between the three age generations creates a clear differentiation in subjects such as the use of time and space and economic relations.