TR
EN
New Year Celebrations as a Cultural Heritage in Trabzon: Kalandar Tradition
Abstract
This study comprehensively examines the historical origins, evolution, current celebration practices and social function of Kalandar, an ancient New Year’s tradition specific to Trabzon and its surroundings. Its origins date back to Ancient Greek and Roman times. Kalandar is not only a calendar ritual, but also a significant tradition that reinforces social solidarity, keeps collective memory alive and nurtures cultural pluralism. The study employed a variety of research methods, including a literature review, on-site observation of events and qualitative interviews with ten participants. The findings show that Kalandar celebrations include rituals such as domestic preparations, children going around the houses to collect food, village spectacles (especially the Karakoncolos stereotype), and lighting a fire and playing horon in the open area. These rituals emphasize values such as sharing, fertility, unity and a sense of community. The article also draws attention to the importance of preserving this intangible cultural heritage, which is at risk of being lost due to the impact of globalization and modernization. It states that Kalandar is included in Turkey's national inventory of intangible cultural heritage and has potential for cultural heritage tourism. In conclusion, it is emphasized that Kalandar tradition is an important cultural heritage element for Trabzon region thanks to its deep historical roots, rich cultural content and strong social ties.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
This research was supported by TUBITAK 2209-A “University Students Research Projects Support Programme” for the 2nd term of 2023.
Ethical Statement
It is declared that scientific and ethical principles have been followed while carrying out and writing this study and that all the sources used have been properly cited. For this research, an ethics committee certificate was obtained from “Trabzon University Social and Human Sciences Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee”. Number: E-81614018-050.04-2400061373, Date: 11.12.2024. Artificial intelligence was used in the English translation of this paper
References
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- Alay, O. (2018). Anadolu ve Kafkasya Kavşağında Geleneksel Bir Yılbaşı Kutlaması: Kalandar. Motif Akademi Halkbilimi Dergisi2, 11(23), 96–110. https://doi.org/https://motifakademi.com/blog/
- Arı, K. (2023). Büyük Mübadele (2. Baskı). Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları.
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- Bayraktar, T. (2022). Kalandar Gecesi - Yüzyılların Geleneği. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On1rzvTZ_HE
- Bayraktar, T. (2024). Kalandar Gecesi - Unutulmayan Gelenek. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQsLGtkmySI&t=479s
- Bülbüloğlu, D. (2022). Trabzon Yalı Mahallesi Örnekleminde Kalandar ve Alaturbi Kutlamaları. Avrasya Sosyal ve Ekonomi Araştırmaları Dergisi, 9(4), 1–14. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/asead/issue/73282/1145710
- Demir, N. (2012). Trabzon Yöresinde Zaman, Halk Takvimi ve Sayılı Günler. Journal of World of Turks, 4(1). https://www.dieweltdertuerken.org/index.php/ZfWT/article/view/329
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Sociology of Culture, Turkish Cultural History
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
July 15, 2025
Submission Date
March 14, 2025
Acceptance Date
July 2, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 8 Number: 4
APA
Eren Kanbir, A. (2025). New Year Celebrations as a Cultural Heritage in Trabzon: Kalandar Tradition. Uluslararası Ekonomi Siyaset İnsan Ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi, 8(4), 264-279. https://doi.org/10.59445/ijephss.1658140
AMA
1.Eren Kanbir A. New Year Celebrations as a Cultural Heritage in Trabzon: Kalandar Tradition. Uluslararası Ekonomi Siyaset İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi. 2025;8(4):264-279. doi:10.59445/ijephss.1658140
Chicago
Eren Kanbir, Ayşe. 2025. “New Year Celebrations As a Cultural Heritage in Trabzon: Kalandar Tradition”. Uluslararası Ekonomi Siyaset İnsan Ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi 8 (4): 264-79. https://doi.org/10.59445/ijephss.1658140.
EndNote
Eren Kanbir A (July 1, 2025) New Year Celebrations as a Cultural Heritage in Trabzon: Kalandar Tradition. Uluslararası Ekonomi Siyaset İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi 8 4 264–279.
IEEE
[1]A. Eren Kanbir, “New Year Celebrations as a Cultural Heritage in Trabzon: Kalandar Tradition”, Uluslararası Ekonomi Siyaset İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 264–279, July 2025, doi: 10.59445/ijephss.1658140.
ISNAD
Eren Kanbir, Ayşe. “New Year Celebrations As a Cultural Heritage in Trabzon: Kalandar Tradition”. Uluslararası Ekonomi Siyaset İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi 8/4 (July 1, 2025): 264-279. https://doi.org/10.59445/ijephss.1658140.
JAMA
1.Eren Kanbir A. New Year Celebrations as a Cultural Heritage in Trabzon: Kalandar Tradition. Uluslararası Ekonomi Siyaset İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi. 2025;8:264–279.
MLA
Eren Kanbir, Ayşe. “New Year Celebrations As a Cultural Heritage in Trabzon: Kalandar Tradition”. Uluslararası Ekonomi Siyaset İnsan Ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 8, no. 4, July 2025, pp. 264-79, doi:10.59445/ijephss.1658140.
Vancouver
1.Ayşe Eren Kanbir. New Year Celebrations as a Cultural Heritage in Trabzon: Kalandar Tradition. Uluslararası Ekonomi Siyaset İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi. 2025 Jul. 1;8(4):264-79. doi:10.59445/ijephss.1658140