THE WORLD OF PLANTS IN TURKISH FOLKLORE

The plant of Üzerlik:
In Turkiye Peganum harmala is called yüzerlik or
üzerlik. Dried capsules from this plant are strung and
hung in homes or vehicles
These are flowers of Üzerlik plants
it is used to protect against "the evil eye."
Blackberry Tree
Passing beneath a Blackberry Tree:
In Turkish folklore, childless women,
and cows that don't get pregnant,
and children wetting their beds are
supposedly cured by passing under a
blackberry bush known as "Avat"
(West Trabzon). “Avat is believed to
be a charm herb of paradise.”
Blackberries

Vine
Vine-breaking:
In Çarsibasi town, there is a way of testing
whether a marriage is propitious: when the new
bride enters the house, she is asked to break a
vine into three pieces, which are then planted in
the ground. If they sprout, this means the
marriage will be successful.

HOLLY TREES:
today peasants love trees as their children.There
is a story from 19th century show us that this
love comes from very old days. A hunter from
Mersin village cut a tree called kragen which was
idol of Akcaabat society (Since 1940). Then the
peasants called the police and said that the
hunter cut the Evliya (in Turkish and Arabic
Evliya means“Saint”). At first the police
understood that the hunter killed a man called
Evliya (Saint) but later they saw that the “saint”
was a tree so they let the hunter go.
Juniper –
Ardiç agaci:
Juniper is
believed to be
a holly three
and it is
forbidden to
cut junipers
in Anatolian
folklore.

Junipers
Nazar Tree: In Cappadocia region people believe that
if they hang nazars on trees their wishes will come true
Mesir: A mixture made of 41
different types of plants and species
Mesir is a very old tradition dating back to 500
years.
According to the story Ayse Hafsa Sultan who was
mother of Ottoman Emperor Suleyman the
Magnificent, she was deadly ill. No doctors could
give her a private medical treatment.

Muslihittin Efendi, the doctor of Sultan Suleyman prepared a
mixture called Mesir. After eating this mixture made of 41
different plants and species she was recovered.
Since 1527 a festivity is
organised every year to
distribute this mixture to
people.
For this, 22nd of
March was
selected because
it symbolized the
beginning of
Spring,
thousands of people gather in front of the Sultan
Mosque to catch the Mesir Paste wrapped in paper
and thrown from mosques rooftop.

Hidrellez is celebrated on 6th of May and its a symbol
showing winter ends and summer comes, in Izmir
Hidrellez is celebrated as a festival, here are some
traditions related with plants during Hidrellez.
Rose Tree:
Nettle and Yemisken
HOMETOWN OF TULIPS: TURKIYE

Everybody thinks that tulips come from
Holland. Actually, Tulips are native to Central
Asia and Turkey. In the 16th Century they were
brought to Holland from Turkiye, and quickly
became widely popular.
Today Tulips are cultivated in
Holland in great numbers
and in huge fields. Dutch
bulbs, including tulips and
daffodils, are exported all
around the world so people
believe that it's originated
from there as well. In fact
many cultivated varieties
were widely grown
in Turkey long before they
were introduced to
European gardens.
THE ERA OF TULIPS IN OTTOMAN
PERIOD

in the
Turkish
historytulips
tulips played
played aa
AlsoAlso
in the
Turkish
history
fascinating
role.The
Theperiod
period in
fascinating
role.
in our
ourhistory
historybetween
1718-1730
is calledisthecalled
"Tulipthe
Era",
underEra",
the
between
1718-1730
"Tulip
reign of sultan Ahmed III. This period is also
under
the reign of sultan Ahmed III. This
expressed as an era of peace and enjoyment.
period is also expressed as an era of peace and
enjoyment.
. In this period Tulips became a necessary essential
style of life within the arts, folklore and the daily life.

Tulip figures on fabrics, ceramics, calligraphy,
paper marbling, jewellery, embroidery, carpets,
miniatures
Thank you 

Presentation by:
students and teachers of Alaçatı
Atatürk Primary School
Çeşme – İzmir
TÜRKİYE
This project has been funded with support from the
European Commission.
This publication reflects the views only of the
author, and the Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of
the information contained therein.