A Small Textile Form with Profound Cultural Meaning: The Handkerchief in Turkish Culture

The handkerchief is more than an ordinary object of everyday life; it is a symbolic textile item that carries multilayered meanings within Turkish cultural memory. Throughout history, it has functioned as a means of communication, a mode of emotional expression, and a component of social rituals. In this context, it has come to be associated with human experiences such as love, separation, loyalty, longing, and mourning. Its cultural significance has been enriched through oral tradition, particularly in folk songs, and oral narratives, in which the handkerchief emerges as a powerful symbol of emotion and social connection. This study examines handkerchiefs from different regions of Türkiye in terms of their uses and meanings and discusses their place within a broader cultural framework. Varying in material, technique, and decoration, these handkerchiefs reflect regional aesthetic preferences, social structures, and emotional modes of expression. The study also explores the representation of the handkerchief in oral tradition in order to reveal its role in cultural transmission. The findings show that the handkerchief is not merely a functional object, but also an important medium of cultural identity, emotional memory, and social communication. In this respect, it may be regarded as part of the intangible cultural heritage.