مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - A STUDY ON DEATH BELIEFS AND RITUALS IN ARAB (NUSAYRI) ALEVIS OF KARAAGAC

Abstract :

One of the main objects of Turkish folklore research is to move the local cultural elements to the national culture and to move the national cultural elements to the universal culture. The local cultural studies which are the beginning of this process are valued more and more in the process of globalization with the increasing importance of the local elements. Located in the Mediterranean region Hatay/Antakya, with the emphasis on both historical processes and the geographical location of the property due to the cradle of civilizations, nations, and gradually regain junction formation and in the exercise of its products is also important in terms of originality of folk literature is offered. The continuous synthesis of the blending and thousands of years social formation of departs have a great role in the emergence of these products. Tangible and intangible cultural values peculiar to the region have been subject to research. Disturbingly up a large part of the population in Hatay Arab Alevis (Nusayri)of the customs, traditions and religious forms of execution have often attracted the attention of researchers, but yet there has not been a study of this area in terms of folklore yet. The main subject of this work is Arabic Alevis namely Nusayri Alevis who live in many different parts of Turkey especially in Hatay and its districts. In addition, it is necessary to point out that they also live in Syria. In this work the death beliefs, funeral practices, sepulchre traditions and rituals of Alevis who live in Karaagac town in Hatay are personally investigated. Seyh Hüseyin Sanlı, the most famous of faith leader in this region, and other seyhs about this subject to whom we could get information, were visited for this work.