The activity was organized with the purpose of sharing anitem of Turkish culture with Erasmus students through the Hıdırellez wish ceremony. We wished for them to be able to experience the traditional celebration, wish collectively, and share a unique moment in which we can exchange something important from our culture.
We gathered together to celebrate Hıdırellez, a culturalholiday in Turkish society marking the coming of spring and new hopes. We began the activity with lighting a candle to create a meaningful setting. We introduced the backgroundof Hıdırellez, its cultural heritage, and value of the wish ceremony. We invited visitors to write or paint their wishes on paper, relating to the tradition in their own way.
We had 35 guests attend who took part in the ritual and enjoyed it to the hilt. We reminded people to keep their wishes secret and not tell others because tradition says they shouldn't say anything so maybe they won't come true. A couple of our guests did have a time locating a rose bush to put their wishes, but they still performed the ceremony to the best of their capability.
After finishing the activity, everyone returned home and completed the ritual by digging beneath a rose bush intheir own gardens, as was done in the tradition. In the morning, they threw them away in water, and some postedpictures of doing so with our community. It was a very nice but sentimental cultural experience.
Follow us