The tradition of gezek at Kütahya

Human is a social being who lives in society and needs social interactions, too. In every period he has needed social interaction and will have in the future.Such wishes as spending time together, being together with others, coming together with their lovers at different times and places are the result of the need for social interaction.There have been various meetings done fort his need. One example of them is called ?Gezek?. These meetings whic are crucial for continuation and existence of folk culture, customs, unity and cooperation stil continue their existence even though they are not the same as in the past.Gezek which we can define as ?diner parties ?which are done in sequence and in winter when people have less work to do? has dictionary meaning like ?turn?. This custom whose past goes back to ?Ahilik Institution? and even Middle Asia Turkish culture, appears under the same and different names in different parts of Turkey. For instance; it is called ?Yaren? in county of Simav, ?Barana? in Balıkesir?, ?Yaren? in Akşehir and Çankırı, ?Gezek? in Isparta and ?Sıra Gezmeleri? in Gaziantep.The tradition of Gezek has continued for ages. Some similar characterestics (age, occupation etc.) affects the formation of Gezek groups. You can see the social, economical and cultural cooperation among the members of this group. People who join in these meetings take various responsibilities and gain the information which is needed to adapt to society they are in. Shortly, they have informal education which gains positive qualifications to them.Nowadays with the effect of tecnological improvements, there has been maany changes in social life and culture has been also effected by this improvements. However; Gezek continue its existence in spite of some minor changes. The study of this custom which is not come to an end but its future is uncertain has been done carefully by me.