Georgian Folk Carnival Rituals Among the Ethnic Georgians in the Republic of Turkey

The traditional Georgian folk carnival rituals, which ethnographers refer to by the general name - «Berikaoba-Keenoba», are typical for the whole of Georgia. All Georgian historical regions had its specific date and form of celebrating folk carnivals. Ethnographic material of the Georgian regions in the Republic of Turkey displays a wide information regarding the Berobana or Fadiko / Fatiko / Fatiko rituals. This date proved that the above-mentioned rituals are also part of the Georgian folk carnival system. The study of ethnic Georgian settlements in Tao-Klarjeti or the central and Black Sea regions of Turkey (in 2006-2019) revealed very noticeable local variations of the Georgian folk carnival system. It was proved that the folk carnivals of the Georgians in Turkey are an integral part of the common Georgian Berikaoba-Keenoba. It turned out that the folk carnival of Turkish-Georgians, according to all the main signs, comes from the entrails of a single culture and, at the same time, is characterized by specific local peculiarities due to local cultural type, long life experience in the Ottoman Empire and Turkish Republic and Islamic religion. Among the Georgians living compactly in the historical Tao-Klarjeti and other regions of Turkey, several local variations of the Georgian folk carnival system are preserved: «Berobana», «Berobie», «Fadiko», «Fatiko», «Game of Fatie», «Guriela» / «Kurela» «/» Kviriela «. These rituals were performed by the Georgians of Turkey on the Old New Year fest and the festivals of Shuamtoba / Marioba. Rituals here, as in the whole Georgia, consist of many historical elements. Clearly, the rituals date back to the archaic period, to rituals dedicated to the resurrection of mortal deities and the forces of nature, to which are added some elements of the Christian religion, and finally to terminology derived from Islamic culture. All the components of the Tao-Klarjuli New Year ritual are very similar to the local traditions of the various regions of Georgia, including the Tush-Pshav-Khevsurian, as well as Svan, Megrelian Christmas and New Year rituals (Tao-Klarjuli «Kurela» / «Kviriela» and Svan «Kviriola» and «Likuriel», Megrelian «Kirialesa», or Khevsurian Christmas plays, etc.); summer Berobana is similar to Adjaran and Meskhetian traditions. These rituals are part of the ethnic culture of the Georgians in Turkey and their identity. That is why the folk carnival elements were revived on the new holiday called «Georgian celebration»