In the mystical realms of Central Asia, the Balkans, and Anatolia lies an ancient celebration shrouded in the beauty of nature and the spirit of renewal. Hıdırellez is an enchanting festival that marks the beginning of spring and the awakening of the Earth. As an eastern version of Beltane, it has been celebrated for centuries, spreading its magic across cultures and generations.

UNESCO registered Hıdırellez in the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” in 2017. Hıdırellez, primarily celebrated in Turkey, is also observed in several other countries where similar traditions exist under different names. Balkan countries like Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Serbia, similar spring festivals occur, known as Saint George’s Day or “Đurđevdan” in Serbian. These festivals share common themes of welcoming the spring and celebrating renewal. In Bosnia and Herzegovina they are celebrated as “Ederlezi,” particularly among the Romani population, with festive music and dance. The night connecting May 5th to May 6th is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

The Story of Hıdırellez

At the heart of Hıdırellez lies the tale of two legendary figures: Khizr (Hızır) and Elias  (Ilyas). Hıdırellez is known as the day when Hazrat Khidr and Hazrat Ilyas met.

The origin of this holiday dates back to the pre-Islamic period. Hıdırellez, named after the combination of the names of Hızır and Ilyas, and their reunion has been celebrated for centuries.

Tale says that Khizr and Elias set out to find the fountain of youth. However, they fall apart during their journey and go on different paths to find Zulkarneyn, the fountain of youth. Their paths cross again on the day. The day spring begins! So together they sit under a fountain and begin to eat. When they are about to eat the dried fish, the water from the fountain drops onto the fish. The fish suddenly comes to life and escapes from their grasp. Khizr and Elias have found the water of immortality! They drink right away. An angel suddenly appears next to them, offering the reward of immortality. They will be immortal, but to have a good life that will last forever, they have to take care of life itself.

The Angel assigns Khizr to rush to the aid of the creatures living on land and Elias to rush to the aid of the creatures living in the sea. So, whenever anyone is in trouble, they prey to them. Every year, at the first day of spring Khizr and Elias meet, become one body and rush to the aid of what is needed. That’s why every spring, people present their wishes to Khizr and Elias through various methods.

When To Celebrate Hıdırellez?

Khizr is a wise and immortal figure in Islam, associated with the color green, symbolizing life and abundance. Elias, a revered prophet in various religions, is known to bring rain and fertility. The legends say that these two benevolent figures met on the day, May 6th, at a rose garden near the shores of a serene river. Where they found the fountain. This auspicious meeting gave birth to Hıdırellez, a celebration of nature’s awakening and the spirit of abundance. The main celebrations set the night that connects May 5th to 6th in both belief.

Magic of Khizr

Khizr has been assigned to come to our aid. So the qualities believed to be possessed by Khizr are healing, health, good luck to people, resurrection in nature, awakening, and the reflection of vitality to people. Like the pre-Islamic “wise old man with a white beard” archetype, he is considered as a savior power that is sought for help, consulted, expected to guide, and believed to bring peace, happiness, health, and prosperity.

How to Celebrate Hıdırellez

The celebration of Hıdırellez begins on the eve of May 5th and continues into the next day. This joyous festival combines ancient rituals, colorful customs, and the unyielding belief in the power of nature and divine intervention. Here’s how people celebrate Hıdırellez:

Purifying Fire

Spring festivals always comes with a bonfire. Similarly on Hıdırellez night, the people of Anatolia enjoy some fire. They preferably wearing white clothes, go to green and abundantly watery fields before sunrise to have fun. Fires are lit. Because one of the most popular activities on the night of Hıdırellez is jumping from the fire. Jumping from the fire is the most common ritual of Hıdırellez, and it is believed to protect the fire jumper from the evil eye and disease.

If you have a small backyard or a close little park around your home you can set a Hıdırellez fire (in a way that does not harm nature). Don’t forget to throw a few pieces of bay leaves and sage into the fire. Then jump over at least 3 times, in one direction. Intend to get rid of the anger, grudge and greed in your soul and to be filled with love for all of nature and life. Just like Khizr and Elias.

This fire tradition has its roots in ancient shamanistic beliefs, which involved worshipping fire as a purifying force that cleanses people of their sins and protects them from evil spirits.

There are different interpretations of why people jump over fires during Hıdırellez. One explanation is that the flames represent the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds, and by jumping over it, people can move from one realm to the other. Another theory is that the fire symbolizes the sun and that by jumping over it, people can renew their energy and vitality, just as the sun brings new life to the earth in the spring.

Wish From a Rose

Among the Hıdırellez traditions, the most common one is making wishes on a rose tree. On the Hıdırellez evening, wishes are written or drawn on a piece of paper. If you want a house draw your dream house, or if you want that job draw yourself in that office! Alternatively, you can also write a letter to Khizr, presenting your wishes to him.

Either way, it is essential to know what this day represents while making wishes. Khizr reunites with Elias. Therefore, you should first embrace their joy. Start by greeting them and mentioning their names when writing your wishes.

After pouring your wishes onto the paper, bury them under a rose tree or tie them to a branch in a small pouch. If you have a rose at home, you can also use its flower pot. On Hıdırellez morning, your first task will be to go to the rose tree and retrieve those papers. Then, you will take your wishes and release them into the water. A sea, a stream, or a lake.

So, what do you think about Hıdırellez? Would you like to offer them your wishes?