INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE ELEMENT GEZEK CULTURE: THE CASE OF ÇANAKKALE

Abstract

The aim of this study is to contribute to the survival of the “gezek tradition” that has continued from the past to the present during the month of Ramadan in the districts and villages of Çanakkale province, as an intangible cultural heritage element by revealing its unique characteristics and differences according to the villages. For this purpose, during the month of Ramadan 2025, gezek invitations in different districts and villages of Çanakkale were visited and what dishes were made, who gave gezek invitations in what way and according to what rules in the villages were investigated. In the research, photographs were taken of the places where gezek invitations were given, and detailed information about gezek culture was obtained by interviewing village headmen and family members who gave gezek invitations. Within the scope of the research, 2 districts and 7 villages were visited. The information obtained from the research was analyzed with content analysis.

It was found that the Gezek tradition continues in the Ayvacık district center and its villages, and that the way the dinner invitation is given changes according to the village's past traditions and current economic situation. It was found that in the economically strong villages, the dinner invitation is given in turns, in the villages where the economic situation is variable, the well-off person gives the dinner invitation (optionally), and in some villages, the Gezek tradition is continued by purchasing materials in a collective manner