İŞLEVSEL HALK BİLİMİ KURAMI ÇERÇEVESİNDE TÜRK HALK KÜLTÜRÜNDE MENDİL
HANDKERCHIEF IN THE TURKISH FOLK CULTURE WITHIN THE FRAME OF THE FUNCTIONAL THEORY OF FOLKLORE

Summary/Abstract: Handkerchief is an object which is frequently needed in daily life, used in every stage of life from birth to death and shows a symbolic language property from time to time. It is primarily used in wiping the hands, face and nose, drying off the sweat and carrying a variety of things. It is also used as a dining board. Handkerchief is used as a complementary product in men’s suits or women’s local dresses. It is offered as a present for newborn babies, boys who have undergone a circumcision, young men who are to do military service, guests who pay a visit to condole, newly wed couples and those who pay a visit for exchanging bairam greetings. The Turkish culture attributes a lot of meanings to handkerchief. Within the frame of customs such as birth, marriage and death, it is possible to say that a handkerchief has many functions like giving information, reporting, providing communication, having luck and giving as present. Sometimes the handkerchief becomes the health language of a person. Those who embroider a handkerchief reflect what is in their heart on it. Lovers express their love, desire to get married or intention to part through the handkerchief. In addition, every piece of embroidery processed on the handkerchief expresses sorrow, love, longing and happiness. Those who seek to find a cure to their illnesses tie a handkerchief to tombs, mausoleums and trees they believe to be healing. Girls who desire to get married and cannot wave a handkerchief in specific times and in specific places. Handkerchief is used in beliefs related to good luck and bad luck, enhancement of milk and honey and practices related to Hidirellez. Handkerchief is mentioned in a variety of ways in folk songs, Turkish poems, myths, puzzles and fairy tales. Handkerchief which is one of the most important accessories of public storytellers is also used in specific children’s games and traditional Turkish theatre. The present study discussed the functions of handkerchief which has a noteworthy place in both human life and the Turkish culture. In order to determine the usage areas of handkerchief, the study used a variety of research and evaluated the data acquired within the context of the functional folk science theory.

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