Transition periods in central villages of Ardahan

Dating back to very old times, Ardahan has been a center of many civilizations and a cradle of various cultures. The transition periods, around which a majority of cultural values are shaped, maintain their existence with their utmost vitality in Ardahan. Some traditions, practices and beliefs clustered around birth, marriage and death, which we name as transition periods, make the individual happier during the passage to new periods in addition to helping him live in harmony with his family and the other members of the community. This work describes transition periods in central villages of Ardahan and consists of Preface, Introduction and four parts apart from birth, circumcision, wedding and death. The Introduction is focused on history and geographical position of Ardahan. The first chapter is on Birth, Prenatal, Birth order and Postnatal periods. The second chapter is on Circumcision, Pre-circumcision, Circumcision order and Post-circumcision periods. The third chapter is on Wedding, Pre-Wedding, Wedding order and Post Wedding periods. The fourth chapter is on Death, Pre-Death, Death Order and Post-Death periods. As a result of this study, it has been found out that there are many similar beliefs and cultural values between the central villages of Ardahan and both Central Asian countries and Anatolia as regards transition period beliefs and practices. Key Words:Transition periods,Birth, Wedding, Circumcision, Death, Belief