Abstract
THE TREE CULT IN TURKISH CULTURE AND ITS REFLECTIONS IN TURKISH FOLKTALES
In Turkish culture, the tree is regarded not merely as a part of the natural environment but also as a significant cultural element symbolizing life, abundance, continuity, and harmony with nature. The tree cult is one of the oldest cultural elements in Turkish culture, symbolizing life, abundance, sanctity, and continuity. This study examines the manifestations of the tree motif found in Turkish folktales specifically in relation to the tree cult and its functions within the narrative. The tree, which holds significance across various spheres of Turkish culture ranging from daily life and belief systems to mythological concepts and the oral storytelling tradition also appears in folktales with diverse meanings and functions. In the folktales examined, the tree assumes various functions such as providing refuge and protection, sustenance, abundance, healing, the extraordinary, mystery, and a means of transition while in some narratives, it emerges as an element that directly influences the unfolding of events. Depictions of trees that speak, bear extraordinary fruit, regenerate themselves, or grant access to hidden beings or extraordinary realms demonstrate that this motif is imbued with significance far beyond that of a mere element of nature. In the folktales examined, the tree assumes various functions such as providing refuge and protection, sustenance, abundance, healing, the extraordinary, mystery, and a means of transition while in some narratives, it emerges as an element that directly influences the unfolding of events.
Keywords
Fairy tale, tree, cult, culture, tree cult.