Hıdırellez: what it is, how it is made and what it means

Hıdırellez is a spring festival celebrated in Turkey, the Balkans, and parts of the Middle East, marking the meeting of the prophets Hızır (Al-Khidr) and İlyas (Elijah). Held from the night of May 5 to May 6, it features rituals for health, luck, and the renewal of nature, blending ancient, Christian, and Islamic traditions.

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Celebrated on May 5–6 to mark the arrival of spring
Linked to the meeting of Hızır (Al-Khidr) and İlyas (Elijah)
Recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage
Traditions include jumping over fires and making wishes under rose bushes

What is Hıdırellez?

Hıdırellez is a springtime celebration with rituals held outdoors, often near water sources or shrines. People clean their homes and gardens, wear new clothes, and prepare special foods, especially lamb dishes. Ceremonies include jumping over fires, making wishes under rose bushes, and gathering in groups for music, dancing, and games. The festival is marked by a sense of renewal and hope for health, luck, and happiness.

Where does Hıdırellez come from?

Hıdırellez has roots in ancient spring and summer rituals from Central Asia, Anatolia, and the Mediterranean. It blends Turkic, pagan, Christian, and Islamic traditions. The name comes from the prophets Hızır (Al-Khidr) and İlyas (Elijah), whose meeting is said to bring fertility and renewal. Over centuries, the holiday absorbed local customs, including elements from the St. George cult in Christian communities, and was recognized by UNESCO as part of the cultural heritage of Turkey and North Macedonia.

How Hıdırellez is made

Preparations begin with cleaning homes and buying new clothes. On May 5, people gather near rivers, springs, or shrines, often bringing food and musical instruments. Fires are built for people to jump over, symbolizing purification. Wishes are written on paper or shaped in the earth and placed under rose bushes overnight. Special foods, especially lamb, are cooked and shared. Some communities play fortune-telling games with personal items placed in a pot under a rose bush.

When and where Hıdırellez is used

Hıdırellez is celebrated mainly in rural areas and small towns, but also in cities. Families and friends gather outdoors for picnics, music, and dancing. Rituals for health and luck include jumping over fires and bathing in holy water. The festival is seen as a good occasion for young people to meet potential partners. Wishes for prosperity are made, and the day is believed to bring blessings from Hızır and İlyas.

Forms of Hıdırellez

The festival goes by different names in various regions, such as Kakava among Roma in Edirne, Xızır Nəbi bayramı in Azerbaijan, and Dita e Shëngjergjit in Albania. In some places, it is linked with St. George’s Day and local pagan traditions. Rituals and foods may vary, but the themes of renewal, health, and luck are common. In Syria, people gather around ancient trees, while in Albania, it is also called Summer Day.

What Hıdırellez means

Hıdırellez symbolizes the arrival of spring and the renewal of life. It is a time for hope, health, and happiness. The meeting of Hızır and İlyas represents the fusion of land and water, bringing fertility. The festival is celebrated by both Muslims and Christians, showing its inclusive nature. In 2017, UNESCO listed Hıdırellez as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for Turkey and North Macedonia.

The flowers of Hıdırellez

RoseWoody perennial plants with showy, often fragrant flowers in many colours

Days and festivals

Hıdırellez

Questions people ask about Hıdırellez

Where is Hıdırellez celebrated?

Hıdırellez is celebrated in Turkey, the Balkans, Azerbaijan, Syria, Iraq, and among Turkic communities, with local variations in rituals and names.

What is the meaning of Hıdırellez?

It marks the meeting of the prophets Hızır and İlyas, symbolizing the arrival of spring, renewal of nature, and hopes for health, luck, and prosperity.

What rituals are part of Hıdırellez?

Common rituals include cleaning homes, jumping over fires, making wishes under rose bushes, preparing special foods, and gathering outdoors for music and dancing.

Is Hıdırellez a religious festival?

While it has roots in both Islamic and Christian traditions, Hıdırellez is mainly a cultural celebration with rituals for spring and renewal, observed by people of different faiths.

What flowers are used in Hıdırellez rituals?

Roses play a special role, as wishes are often placed under rose bushes overnight as part of the festival’s customs.

Good reading and sources

Spring celebration, HıdrellezUNESCO, Article

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Hıdırellez", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Sōgetsu: Paul Davis, CC BY-SA 2.0, source

Bonsai: Ragesoss, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Tokonoma: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, source

Hanami: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Corn dolly: Renata ( talk ), Public domain, source

Buta: Thomas Watier, Public domain, source

Rose: User:Tigerente, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

language of flowers: Alphonse Mucha, Public domain, source

Nowruz: Katzenfee50, CC0, source

Hıdırellez: Правительство Республики Крым, CC BY 4.0, source