Niğde düğünlerinin kaybolmaya yüz tutan geleneği: “yenge kaldirma”
A Disappeared Tradition in Nigde: “Yenge Kaldirma”

Summary/Abstract: Weddings are very important social environments for the determination of cultural values. Special entertainments, meals and rituals with thousands of years of history take place in weddings in the whole Turkish world. One of the elements attracting attention at these weddings is the “yenge”. Yenge (wives of brother or uncle) term has more meaning than relation to kinship in Turkish weddings. Yenges have been tasked with performing traditions such as stealing the nails, throwing stones, sinking the finger of the bride into honey or carrying the dowry and guide to the bride at the weddings. The tradition of taking a bride in some areas is called “yenge bindirme”. Yenges have always performed their duties in the presence of various musical instruments. A special tradition has been identified that is linked to the phenomenon of “yenge” and is now facing disappearance in Niğde weddings. This tradition, carried out mainly in some villages of Niğde such as Ovacık, Gölcük, Karacaören, Güllüce, is given the name “yenge kaldırma”. This study, which is based on field research and literature review, it has been examined the phenomenon of “yenge” in Turkish weddings. It has been examined the tradition of “yenge kaldırma” in traditional Niğde weddings and emhasized the place and importance of the drums and shawns accompanying this ritual.

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