Azerbaycan, Trakya ve Anadolu Folklorunda Düğün Merasimi Oyun ve Gösterileri

A wedding is a significant ritual in Turkish culture and many other cultures, symbolizing the union of two individuals and their families through marriage. The wedding ceremony in both Azerbaijan, Thrace and Anatolia begins with the selection of a bride, followed by the proposal, engagement, wedding preparations, henna night, the wedding itself, and ends with the unveiling of the bride. Each of these wedding customs is performed as a separate ceremony, each with its unique features, and different plays and spectacles are held at each stage. In the article, games and performances related to wedding traditions are categorized under seven main headings: games played during the proposal process, games and performances during the engagement ceremony, games played during wedding preparations, games and performances during the henna night, games played on the wedding day, games played after the wedding, and children's games related to wedding traditions. This article notes that the plays and spectacles at wedding ceremonies are not limited to those performed only in Azerbaijan, Thrace and Anatolia. It also highlights the similarities and differences of the same plays and spectacles specific to both regions. Additionally, the article provides the meanings of the names of the plays and performances unique to each region, explaining their connections to the plays and performances. It has also been observed and demonstrated that traces of the ancient Turkish belief system, religious and folk beliefs, and folk traditions are present in both the names and the content and meanings of these plays and spectacles.