TÜRKLERDE GÜNEŞE SAYGI: ÇİLE GECESİ
RESPECT TO SUN IN ANCIENT TURKS: CHILE NIGHT

Summary/Abstract: Çile gecesi (Chile night) is celebrated at the places of Iran. Turkey, Azerbaijan, where live Azerbaijan Turks. The longest night of the year is Chila night on the on the South part of Earth. This night is the beginning of Shams year, Dei month and the last night of Azer night. Chile is divided into two parts according its degree of coldness: Long Chile, Short Chile. Long Chile is lasted for forty day, from 21st December untill 31st January. Short Chile is lasted for twenty days. Begins from 1st Feburary and ends on 20th Feburary. The meaning of the word of “chila’ explained on Mahmud Kashgary’s dictionary of Divanu Lugati’t-Turk as “sprouting”, “beginning”. The engaged girls are given gift, and family tables are set for the bringing of blessing. Little girl is dressed in white to represent the winter. Ayaz ata (Santa Claus) comes and bestow the gift. Chile night especially celebrated as Nardugan holiday in Middle Asia. The meaning of Nardugan is sunrise. The topic will be seek with the methods of searching scanning and comparison. Especially, The traces of the old Turkish belief were sought during the holidays by mentioning the respect for the tree cult and the tradition of tree decoration in the Turks. In the study, it was concluded that Ayaz Ata was Santa Claus, that the Chile night shifted to New Year's and it was celebrated as New Year's.

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