Saya or Sayaqan is a summer feast and festival Turkic

Tengriism Tengrism (also known as Tengriism, Tengerism, or Tengrianism) is a belief-system originating in the Eurasian Steppe, Eurasian steppes, based on shamanism and animism. It generally involves the titular sky god Tengri. According to some scholars, ...

and Altai folklore.Türk Mitolojisi Ansiklopedik Sözlük, Celal Beydili, Yurt Yayınevi Arranged for the god that called Saya Khan (

Turkish Turkish may refer to: * Something related to Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities in the former Ottoman Empire * The w ...

: ''Saya Han'' or ''Zaya Han''). So this is a blessing, fertility and abundance ceremony.

Description

Saya (Zaya) was mythological male character associated with summertime in early Turkic mythology, particularly within Altai, Anatolia and Caucasus. He was associated with rituals conducted in rural areas during summertime. Turkic peasants celebrated the Summer Solstice on June 23 by going out to the fields. In Anatolian folklore, a familiar spirit called "Saya Han" lived in mountains who protects sheep flocks.

Saya Game / Play

Saya Play and songs have an important role in the emotional, and moral development of children in rural areas. They learn about solidarity and co-operation. Also, an old tradition is continued with this game. Children wander homes and collect food, for instance.

Celebration

The Saya festival (literally it can be translated as abundance) is related to a cult of a solar deity, with a fertility cult. Ancient Yakuts celebrated the New Year at the

Yhyakh Yhyаkh (, ) is the festival that celebrates the rebirth of nature after a hard winter, the triumph of life, the beginning of a new year in the Sakha Republic. Historic celebration is observed on the 21st June, the day of the summer solstice. ...

(23 June) festival. Its traditions include women and children decorating trees and tethering posts with "salama" (nine bunches of horse hair hung on horse-hair ropes). The oldest man, wearing white, opens the holiday. He is accompanied by seven virgin girls and nine virgin boys and starts the ritual by sprinkling kymys on the ground, feeding the fire. He prays to the Ai-ii spirits for the well-being of the people who depend on them and asks the spirits to bless all the people gathered.

Sources

* SAYA GELENEĞİ, Hazırlayan ve Yazan: Doğan SIRIKLI / Sivas Halil Rıfat Paşa Lisesi / Tarih Öğretmeni
"SAYA GELENEĞİ"

References

{{reflist

External links

Saya gezimi geleneği

Küreselleşme Karşısında Geleneksel Kültürümüzün Korunması, Kutlu Özen

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20131029200227/http://journaldatabase.org/articles/sayalar_sayacilar_iran_azerbaijan.html “SAYALAR” AND “SAYAÇILAR” IN IRAN AZERBAIJAN (URMIYE), Talip Doğan
Çoban Ve Konuk Ağırlaması
Turkish folklore Turkic mythology June observances Christmas-linked holidays Asian shamanism Religious festivals in Turkey Shamanistic festivals Summer solstice