Shivliness is celebrated in the night that connects the first Thursday of the month of Recep, which is the beginning of the three months according to the Hijri calendar, to Friday. in Konya It is a tradition to celebrate the oil lamp. In this tradition, which has been maintained since the Ottoman period, one week before the oil lamp, children walk around with drums, pipes and lanterns and announce the coming of the oil lamp. On the day of Regaip Kandili, children go around the houses in their neighborhoods to collect cookies and sweets. This tradition coincides with January in 2023. In particular, it starts with the lantern procession on January 25 and the children gather their shivliness on January 26.
Shivli celebration tradition during the Ottoman Empire, Sultan II. It was started by Selim and has been continued ever since. Today, local administrations organize various activities in order to protect this cultural heritage. The name of the event; natural events and local narratives, and the emergence of the event; It is based on the tradition of distributing food, snacks and giving gifts, which are related to the narratives in Islamic culture.
Rajab, Shaban and Ramadan are three important months for the Islamic world. It is narrated that our Prophet (saas) said about these three holy months: “Recep is the month of Allah, Shaban is my month, and Ramadan is the month of my nation.” The beginning of these three holy months is realized with the celebrations that have become an important culture in Konya. Among these celebrations are the ‘Lantern Procession’ and ‘Shivlilik’ traditions. This event is a tradition in the morning of Regaip Kandili, which celebrates the beginning of the three months, when children go from door to door collecting sweets from houses. The words of one of the poems that children read during their home visits are as follows: “Sivli sivli puffed, early risers baked, We need two buns, a burrito”
What is done in the tradition of Shivliness?
Shivlilik night celebrations are considered a day when children are remembered and made happy. Homeowners distribute cookies such as raisins, roasted chickpeas, figs and buckwheat, and nowadays, more candies. On the same day, “baki” is made from leavened dough in almost every house, and flour halva made with molasses is added and distributed to neighbors. Men light candles in the neighborhood mosque. Grave visits are made between the afternoon and evening prayers, and the mawlid is read in mosques during the night prayer. On the day of Shivliness, family elders, neighbors and relatives are visited and “blessed prayer” is wished. During these visits, first a meal and then a snack consisting of snacks and fruits are served. This tradition continues its existence from past to present as a day when the feelings of unity and togetherness are reinforced.
