Transition periods in folk culture of the district Derinkuyu in Nevşehir province

Taking into consideration that there are many definitions of culture it could also be defined as everything a mankind makes and produces throughout its lifetime. The folk culture on the other hand encloses the products that have a traditional value. The life cycles come at the top of the most dramatic fields of the folk culture. Birth, marriage and death designated as life cycles have a significant place in the Turkish culture. Thus, many customs, traditions, beliefs and faiths aggregated around these life cycles and shaped the culture. This study addresses the customs, beliefs and practices implemented by the people living in Nevşehir Derinkuyu district during the aforementioned life cycles. These practices were studied by way of comparison to other practices applied in Anatolia. The real reason for the implementation of these practices is to prepare the people for their new life, to congratulate, celebrate, bless and protect. Life cycles which have been addressed in this study have been divided into three main titles and each main title has been divided into subtitles by way of prior, order and after. The arrival to life starts with birth continues with marriage and ends with death. The study employs folklore research methods and techniques. The material and spiritual cultural elements as projections of the Turkish culture in the region were obtained in this perspective and their determined aspects were recorded. As a result of the performed comparisons it was determined that the cultural elements practiced and produced by the people in Derinkuyu show similarities and uniformity with those practiced by Turks in other regions. Key words: Turkish culture, Derinkuyu, birth, marriage, death