Ethnographics Gallery University of Kent

Turkish Village

Copyright 1965, 1994 Paul Stirling. All rights reserved.

Paul Stirling
CHAPTER NINE

MARRIAGE

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Page 183

guests are made the butts for a variety of practical jokes.
At this point a form of dance practised in Sakaltutan and immediately neighbouring villages reaches its climax. A dozen or so men dance in a circle. One man goes into the circle and braces himself with his arms folded behind his back, and another jumps in and, with wild leaps and fierce shouts, punches him in the middle of the back. The puncher then takes the place of the victim, and another volunteer leaps into the ring, to deliver a punch and in his turn to become a victim. Mostly, the punching is moderate, and if anyone punches to hurt, he can expect the next man to do likewise. But, on one occasion, just before the bride left her home, the young men on the two sides were leaping into the ring alternately and punching as hard as they could. The village has stories of men's backs being broken at this game. In Elbashï it was regarded as typically uncouth, and unsuitable for civilised villages.

Meanwhile, the women guests are entertained by the girl's close womenfolk. Four of the visiting yenge, and one woman of the girl's side, also called yenge, take the bride into an inner room or cave where, solemnly lamenting and weeping, they dress her for her new husband. From this moment until she is alone with him, she is not allowed to speak, but weeps constantly. When she is ready, they leave her alone and rejoin the company. Finally a large meal is served, separately to the men and the women, and the groom's party prepare to depart in procession, as they came, headed by pipe and drum. The yengeler bring up the rear, with the bride in their midst. With much weeping and kissing of hands, she takes her leave, and mounted if possible on a white horse - (in fact, the means of transport I came across included a donkey, a horsedrawn cart, a lorry, a taxi, and the bride's own two legs) - she sets off, alone among the people of her new environment.

Numerous rites at the threshold of the new house are reported from all parts of Turkey. In Sakaltutan, the bride entered her new home under the legs of the mother-in-law, who was held up for the purpose. In Elbashï she was showered with nuts and coins by the groom. Once arrived, often in the morning, she must wait alone and silent until evening for her groom to come to her.

On the return of the party bringing the bride, the festivities in general end, and the drummer and piper take their leave.

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