Hıdrellez, is one of the seasonal festivals of all the Turkish world. Hıdrellez Day, which is known as Ruz-ı Hızır (day of Hızır), is celebrated as the day on which Prophets Khidr (Hizir in Turkish) and Elijas (Ilyas) met with each other on earth. The words Hızır and İlyas have since merged together and pronounced as Hıdrellez. Hıdrellez Day falls on May 6.
In the folk calendar used by the people, the year used to be divided into two: The period between May 6 and November 8 was summer, called the “Days of Khidr”, and the period between November 8 and May 6 was winter, called the “Days of Kasim”. May 6 thus represents the end of winter and the start of the warm days of summer, a cause for celebration.
There are various theories about the origin of Khidr and Hıdrellez. Some of these suggest that Hıdrellez belongs to Mesopotamian and Anatolian cultures, and others that they belong to pre-Islamic and thus shamanic Central Asian Turkish culture and beliefs. However, it is impossible to ascribe the Hıdrellez festival and beliefs surrounding Hızır to a single culture. Various ceremonies and rituals have been performed for various gods with the arrival of spring or summer in all eastern Mediterranean countries since ancient times.
One widespread belief suggests that Khidr is a prophet who has attained immortality by drinking the water/elixir of life, and who has become immortal and wanders around among people from time to time, especially during spring, and helps people in hardship and brings abundance and health. In Turkey, where belief in Khidr is widespread, some of the characteristics attributed to him are :
1. Khidr rushes to the aid of people, whose in difficulty and grants peoples’ wishes.
2. He always helps well-meaning people with good intentions.
3. He brings abundance and wealth wherever he passes.
4. He brings remedies to those who are troubled and healing to the sick.
5. He helps plants to grow, animals to reproduce, and human beings to become strong
6. He helps improve peoples’ fortune.
7. He is the symbol of good omens and good fortune.
8. He works miracles.
Hdırellez, one of Turkey’s seasonal festivals, is actively celebrated in the country. People prepare beforehand for Hıdrellez celebrations in villages and small towns, although rather less now in the big cities. These preparations concern house-cleaning, clean clothing, and food and drink. Before Hıdrellez Day, houses are cleaned from top to bottom, since people think that Khidr will not visit dirty houses. New clothes and shoes are purchased to wear on Hıdrellez Day.
Fasting, votive offerings are traditions in some parts of Anatolia to make prayers and wishes come true. Sacrifices and votive offerings should be for “the sake of Khidr”.
Hıdrellez celebrations are always performed in green, wooded places, near sources of water, or near a tomb or shrine. Eating fresh spring plants is another custom in Hıdrellez. It is also believed that picking flowers or plants in the countryside, boiling them and drinking the water will heal all illness and that this water rejuvenates and beautifies anyone who bathes with it for forty days.
Various dreaming practices are performed on Hıdrellez night (May 5th) in the belief that Hızır will bring blessing and abundance to the places he visits and the things he touches. Food bowls, pantries and purses are left open. Those who want a house, vineyard or garden believe that Khidr will help them obtain such things if they write, make a small model, painting or a drawing of their wish. These are then hung on the branches of a rose tree, left or buried under it on Hidrellez night. Another version of this is writing or drawing the wish on a small piece of paper and dropping it in flowing body of water such as a creek, river or the sea at dawn on Hidrellez day.
Bonfires will be built tonight, where people will be gathering around them to sing, dance and jump over the fire for cleansing. Of course, there will be plenty of food around!
Tonight, many will be incubating dreams, hoping to catch a glimpse of the events in the new season. Some girls hoping for a husband will go to bed after eating something salty and not drinking any water, hoping their future husband will appear in the dream presenting them a golden bowl filled with water.
Tomorrow morning, if you walk around the streets and look around shortly before dawn, you can see people rising and opening their windows and doors, inviting in abundance carried by Khidr to fill their houses!
This is a festival where we dream our best dreams and celebrate them in community. You are invited to join us in celebrating yours !
