An Evaluation on Traditional Sohbet Meetings in Turkey

Depending on the return of the 21st century, the widespread of mass media such as radio, television, internet and telephone, and the different entertainment sectors that emerged parallel to them, have begun to eliminate the application area of traditional culture over time. In such an environment some traditional structures were continued to be adapted to the conditions of the age, while some were out of practice over time. Sohbet meetings both bearer of oral traditional culture and a form of entertainment is a social organization especially during the long winter nights coming together to spend a pleasant time within certain rules and providing social solidarity. In different regions of Turkey it is known different names such as: “Yârân/Yâren, Ates Gezmesi, Kursubası, Barana, Cumbus Âlemleri, Ferfene/ Herfene/Harfene/Erfane, Gezek, Helebis, Helva Meetings, Muhabbet Gecesi, Oturak Âlemleri, Sıra Âlemleri, Sıra Eğlencesi, Sıra Gecesi and Velime (Eyvan) Gecesi”, outside of Turkey; it is known such as: “Coro Bozo, Konusma, Gesdek, Mesrep and Muhabbet”. This article has been formed as a result of field research with 372 people in various places of Turkey including provinces, districts and townss between 2012 and 2016 and as a result of data obtained from studies in different libraries. It has been found out that the traditional sohbet meetings in Turkey are made in accordance with the traditional structure of some part and some part is updated according to the conditions of the present age as a result of the assemblies and researhes. There are also sohbet meetings which losing application area due to various reasons and we can learn information about it from a limited number of verbal and written sources. After the general information on the introduction about the traditional sohbet meetings, the local names of the sohbet meetings are arranged according to the locals. Then the spread of the sohbet meetings in Turkey is shown using the shapes and colors determined on the map together with the necessary explanations. Finally, in the context of developments in the modern world, the effects of mass media such as television and internet and associations have been emphasized in the continuation or forgotten of the meetings. In this way the local names of the traditional sohbet meetings in Turkey, the spreading area and the current situation are stated.