Saya or Sayaqan is a summer feast and festival Turkic
Tengriism
Tengrism (also known as Tengriism, Tengerism, or Tengrianism) is an ethnic and old state Turko- Mongolic religion originating in the Eurasian steppes, based on folk shamanism, animism and generally centered around the titular sky god Tengri. Te ...
and Altai folklore.
[Türk Mitolojisi Ansiklopedik Sözlük, Celal Beydili, Yurt Yayınevi] Arranged for the god that called Saya Khan (Turkish: ''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 ( Yakut: ''Ыһыах'') is the New Year holiday in the Sakha Republic.
Celebration
Sakha people celebrate the New Year twice a year – in winter with the rest of citizens of Russia, and in summer – according to the ancient tradit ...
(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"
See also
*
Paktaqan
*
Nardoqan
*
Paynaqan
*
Kosaqan
References
{{reflist
External links
Saya gezimi geleneğiKüreselleşme 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