NARDUNGA (SUNRISE)

"A nation that does not know its history is doomed to perish," said Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

As the New Year approaches, let us take a journey through history together. How did the Turks celebrate the New Year? Let's recall the reasons and traditions behind their celebrations. By remembering our past, we can consciously carry forward the traditions that we wish to preserve today. At the end of this article, we will leave it up to you to decide whether New Year celebrations were adopted from others by the Turks or if others adopted them from the Turks.

When we examine the meaning of the word "Turk," we encounter definitions such as "power, strength, might, solid, lawful (possessing law and order), and proliferating, expanding." According to the beliefs of the Turks before they transitioned to monotheistic religions, there was an "Akçam Tree" located at the very center of the Earth. In Turkish mythology, the Akçam Tree is considered the tree from which all of humanity originated, and it has been used as a motif in various forms throughout history. The Tree of Life motif, which appears throughout Turkish history, is also found in the handicrafts of the Navajo Native Americans, who are scientifically considered to have Turkish origins. This has been academically proven by Sn. Gülzade Kahveci. Today, the Tree of Life continues to be a symbol of eternity, with its roots extending deep into the ground like its branches reaching into the sky.

Reading the works of Sumerologist Sn. Muazzez Ilmiye Çığ, we learn that the Turks once celebrated a festival called "Çam Bayramı" (Pine Festival). She also shared that Central Asian Turkish societies considered the last day of the year to be December 21 and celebrated it as a festival. The tradition of celebrating the New Year was adopted by Christianity in 325 AD. Writer Zübeyir Batur emphasized that the "Nardugan Festival" took place on December 21, the first day when daylight begins to triumph over darkness. He further stated that the legend of Santa Claus is rooted in the ancient Turkish belief in the benevolent angel Ülgen.

"New Year - December 21"

Researcher of Ancient Turkish History, Zübeyir Batur, stated that the New Year, as we now know it on December 31, was introduced later into our lives. The Turks originally celebrated the New Year on the night of December 21-22, when the days started getting longer and the nights shorter. Batur explained, "The first full moon following this night was considered the first day of the new year, as December 21 symbolized the victory of the sun over darkness. The Turks celebrated this event during the Nar-Dugan festivals under the sacred Akçam Tree, tying ribbons to its branches to convey their wishes to the divine."

The Akçam Tree, also known as the Tree of Life, still appears in Anatolian rug patterns. The belief in a cosmic tree extending from the earth to the heavens exists not only in Turkish traditions but also in Sumerian customs. The Turks revered the sun, not as a god, but as a sacred entity. They viewed the battle between night and day as a struggle, with daylight emerging victorious on December 22. Thus, the "Rebirth Festival - Nardugan" held great significance in Turkish history.

The Benevolent Angel

Batur explained that the legend of Santa Claus originates from the ancient Turkish belief in the benevolent angel Ülgen: "He was depicted as having a long white beard and wearing a long robe. He resided in a Golden Palace within the Akçam forests. Among the Altai Turks, the realm of light and good spirits was in the upper world, humans lived in the middle world, and evil spirits resided below. As the Turks migrated westward, they carried their traditions and beliefs with them. These beliefs found their strongest expression in Anatolia, which was an extension of the Central Asian Turkish homeland. In the 3rd century AD, with the migration of the Huns from the Caucasus to the Atlantic, the monotheistic Tengri belief of the Turks profoundly influenced polytheistic Europe."

As the celebration of the sun's birth on December 21-22 evolved, it transformed into the Christian tradition of celebrating Jesus' birth on December 24-25. The customs of decorating pine trees, tying ribbons to branches, and exchanging gifts existed in Turkish culture long before Christianity.

Fire and the Sun in Turkish Beliefs

In addition to the Akçam Tree, the sun and fire held significant places in Turkish beliefs. The night of December 21, marking the longest night of the year and the beginning of winter, symbolized the sun's struggle against darkness. The Turks supported the sun by lighting fires throughout the night until dawn. When daylight finally arrived, they saw it as the sun's victory over darkness. The first full moon after December 21 was celebrated as the birth of the new year. The name "Nardunga" derives from the Mongolian word "Nar" (Sun) and the Turkish word "Tunga" (Birth), signifying the birth of the sun. The lighting of fires on long winter nights was not only symbolic of aiding the sun in its battle against darkness but also a means of ensuring survival during harsh winters.

During the first full moon after December 21, the Turks decorated evergreen pine trees with colorful fabric strips and strings as they made their wishes. They gathered under these trees with their loved ones, sharing food and music to celebrate the arrival of the new year. Even today, in some parts of Anatolia, people continue the tradition of tying colorful fabric strips to trees when making wishes. Doesn’t this belief sound very familiar to us?

Another notable tradition is the breaking of pomegranates on New Year's Eve as a symbol of abundance. While we now do this for prosperity, it is fascinating to consider how the Mongols associated the sun with the word "Nar" and how the Turks named their festival "Nardunga"—a term that means "Sunrise." This creates an intriguing connection between past and present traditions.

How Can We Apply This Knowledge Today?

We can light up the night of December 21, symbolizing the energy of fire. While lighting a candle for an extended period might be risky, briefly lighting one in the evening could symbolize activating fire energy. If you wish to honor the New Year according to Turkish mythology, note that the first full moon after December 21 will occur on January 14 at 01:27.

The true essence of New Year's celebrations is to leave behind past grievances and negativity, embracing the future with love, tolerance, and togetherness. The most meaningful ritual is to set our intentions for the new year while cleansing ourselves of the burdens of the previous one.

May the coming year bring increased love, peace, and joy to all, carrying the beauty of our hearts into our lives. May your longest nights be illuminated, and may your New Year be blessed.

Zeliha Sevinç

Sources: Türk Mitolojisi -Nuray Bilgili, Nardunga ve Türk yılbaşı kutlamaları üzerine çeşitli makaleler, Muazzez İlmiye Çınar-Sümerolog, Sn Gülzade Kahveci, Eski Türk tarihi Araştırmacısı Zübeyir Batur