THE COMMON TRADİTİONS AND VALUES OF TURKİC PEOPLES:FOLK CALENDAR (BASED ON THE MATERİALS OF CRİMEAN TURKS)

Throughout history, humans have sought to create systems to structure time in order to understand their past, present, and future, as well as to comprehend the world around them. Observing the movements of the moon and the sun, they developed their own calendars. Naturally, every culture ties the beginning of its calendar to a particular origin story, often passed down from generation to generation. In the cultural heritage of Turkic peoples, continuity and tradition are deeply rooted and consistently observed. This is supported by research in historical archaeology and cultural anthropology. Many customs found in intangible cultural heritage today serve as indicators of shared values among Turkic communities, even those living in different geographic regions. Although these communities have historically been subject to various ethnogenetic processes, traces of unity can still be seen in collective memory and customary law. In this regard, folk calendars and festivals play an important role and remain relevant subjects of study. The folk calendar is a system of timekeeping based on orally transmitted traditions and practical experience, passed down as cultural heritage by ethnocultural communities. It differs significantly from official calendars, dividing the year, months, and days according to unique logic and terminology. Natural phenomena and agricultural activities—especially those related to farming—often determined the structure of this time system. The Turkic calendar, widely based on the solstices, reflects this logic. Among ancient Turks, a lunar calendar was initially used, while the Gokturks introduced a solar calendar known as the "Twelve Animal Calendar." Overall, the folk calendar is a valuable source for learning about ancient Turkic societies. Contrary to the modern concept of the calendar, the first day of the year for Turkic peoples was the first day of March, coinciding with the celebration of Nowruz. The calendar festivals of the Crimean Turks show a strong resemblance to those of other Turkic groups, including Azerbaijanis. This resemblance is evident not only in the dates and rituals but also in the names of the celebrations. Interestingly, many of these traditions, including those originating from pre-Islamic beliefs, have survived and affirm the genetic and cultural kinship among Turkic peoples. Keywords: custom, Turkic peoples, Crimean population, calendar, festivals, cultural heritage