Farewell and welcoming ceremonies in Turkish folk beliefs

Human life is shaped by significant transitional stages such as birth, marriage, military service, and death. These transitions affect not only the individual but also their family and social environment on emotional and cultural levels. In Turkish folk culture, these periods are often marked by ceremonies, customs, and beliefs associated with welcoming and farewell practices. Welcoming a newborn, bidding farewell to a deceased person, greeting wedding guests, or sending off a soldier are examples of such practices. These ceremonies are often accompanied by symbolic actions such as offering food, reciting prayers, giving gifts, sacrificing animals, or performing gestures believed to bring good fortune or protection. These actions are rooted in the belief systems, traditions, and communal values of the society. This study focuses on the welcoming and farewell ceremonies observed in various regions of Turkey. Through examples such as the baby's forty-day ceremony, the reception of wedding guests, or the farewell of soldiers, the meanings attributed to these practices are examined. Throughout the thesis, the reasons, methods, and cultural meanings of these ceremonies are explained in a clear and simple manner, supported by region-specific examples. The purpose is to contribute to the preservation of this cultural heritage not only through oral transmission but also in written form.