Occupational folkore of Gaziantep artisans in present-day

In this study, by the use of area research techniques, the folklore materials, made up by the profession experiences of artisans of Gaziantep, have been dealt. By benefiting from the techniques of area research such as interviewing, observation and questionnaire, meetings have been conducted with one hundred and nine artisans located in the city center of Gaziantep. In the first section of this study which is composed of six sections, the effects of trade life on artisanship in the region has beenillustrated by giving information about the field of research. In the second section, conceptual frame has been mentioned; the scientific studies about the professions of the groups have been introduced and information about the history of folklore profession studies have been given. In the third section, the historical and the cultural background of artisanship has been indicated in-depth. In this direction, starting from the type of feta in the Age of Ignorance, the Futuvvet organization, ahi-order, the Ottoman guilds and the process that leads up to the organizations that artisans are bound to in present-day have been explained comparatively. The traces of ahi-order have been followed in Gaziantep and the artisan's connection to values of ahi-order has been identified. In the fourth section, information about the concept of profession has been given, the professions have been categorized and the traditional professions that exist in Gaziantep in present-day have been introduced. In the fifth section of the study, besides the data collected through area research, the oral literature of current Gaziantep artisans has been dealt by both functional and structural approaches. In this section, the types of Folk Literature which are meant to be told in a conversational tone and the ceremonies special for artisans have been analyzed. In the sixth section, the beliefs such as handsel (first sale of the day), devil's eye, magic, abundance (asked from Allah), and good luck have been determined and the reasons of existence of these beliefs have been clarified in accordance with the old Turkish and Islamic beliefs.