The transition periods (The birth, the marriage, the death) in public culture of prizren Turks

This study focuses on beliefs and traditions and beliefs of transition periods of Turks who live in Prizren in Kosova. The most important transition periods of human life are birth, marriage and death. In these periods any individual is prepared for new life, new period in life with various practices and beliefs.Custom and usages, rules, traditions, practices and fashion named as social norms constitue the public culture. The public culture provides order and harmony in the social life of individual. Furthermore, it functions as a bridge between the past and future of societies and helps to protect nation?s wealth and unity on large scale.In the introduction part, the purpose, topic, scope and method of the research are introduced.In the first chapter, Kosova and Prizren chosen as research field are portrayed; the situation of Turks who live in there is mentioned. In addition, social norms which organise human life (traditions, custom and usages, rules, practices and fashion) are presented.The data obtained through the study about birth, marriage and death is introduced and evaluated in second chapter. This part is studied in three phases. The first sub-title of the chapter is ?birth?. Practices and beliefs related to birth are discussed as pre-birth, birth and past-birth. In the ?marriage? section chosen as second sub-title the marriage ways and phases are given as pre-marriage, marriage ceremony and past- marriage. The last transition period ?death? is the third sub-title. The traditions and beliefs about the death are also studied in phases pre-death, death and past death.Last chapter is devoted to a general evaluation of the research.The sources of information used in the research study are given under two headings of oral and written sources. The pictures taken in the field took place in appendix section.