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In this village, the wedding celebrations continue as the father and uncle escort the bride to where the horse awaits. Once the bride mounts the horse, they head to the groom’s home. A customary route takes them around the mosque, and tourists can join the bride’s group if interested. Upon arriving at the groom’s home, they inquire about the groom’s whereabouts. After a brief wait, the groom arrives, passing under the horse’s neck to symbolize unity. Coins and wheat are thrown over the bride’s head, and the groom embraces her, marking the start of the festivities.

Festive Entertainment and Local Cuisine

The celebration kicks off with a dance between the bride and groom in the center. Local dishes, including keşkek, sarma, pilaf, otlubörek, helva Gift Presentation Ceremony at the Engagement, and salad, are served on copper plates and trays. The drink options range from t

In this village, the engagement celebrations include a special event known as “Bringing the Gifts of the Engagement.” Witnessed by the community head and others, the gifts intended for the bride are opened on the square. These gifts, ranging from dresses to gold jewelry, are meticulously counted and handed over to the bride’s parents. The gold jewelry presented often weighs between two and four kilos. The bride is then invited to the square, where the jewelry is offered to her. The symbolic wedding on the first day concludes with joyful dancing.

“Sheer Paralama” – Cutting and Distributing Candies

On the second day of the wedding festivities, a delightful tradition known as “Sheer Paralama” takes place. The bride and groom leave the bride’s house, with the bride’s face covered. Candies brought from the groom’s house are cut into pieces over the bride’s head. Following this sweet gesture, the groom

In this village, a special tradition is upheld during weddings: the pounding of wheat for the main dish called “kek” in a historical stone mortar. As this happens, men engage in the lively zeybek dance, a traditional dance of Western Anatolia.

Unique Musical Traditions at Symbolic Weddings

During weddings, the bride’s and groom’s houses play different music. Even at symbolic weddings, this tradition remains intact, with the music of the hosting house taking center stage. The musical instruments used in the bride’s house are known as “soft instruments” and include the violin Traditional Wedding Horse Ride and Celebration, cumbiig (a mandolin with a metal body), and darbuka (a drum-shaped instrument with a skin covering the top). In contrast, the groom’s musical instruments consist of the zurna (a primitive double-reed instrument) and a drum.

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