Hıdırellez—also known as Ederlezi—is a vibrant spring festival celebrated annually on May 5–6 across Turkey, the Balkans, parts of Central Asia, and the Middle East. Much like nature awakening after winter, Hıdırellez is considered a time of renewal, prosperity, and hope.
Closely connected with nature, the celebration includes numerous rituals and ceremonies believed to bless families and communities with wellbeing, fertility, and abundance for the year ahead. These traditions also aim to protect livestock and crops. The beauty of Hıdırellez lies in its inclusivity—it brings together people of all ages, from children and youth to adults, dancers, and singers. Rooted in deep cultural meaning, these rituals offer a powerful sense of belonging, identity, and connection.
Historically, ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and elsewhere performed seasonal rituals dedicated to various deities to mark the arrival of spring and summer.
Here are some of the cherished traditions of Hıdırellez:
Cleaning the House Thoroughly Cleaning the House Thoroughly As part of spiritual and symbolic renewal, families clean their homes from top to bottom before Hıdırellez. This act not only clears away the remnants of winter but also welcomes freshness, health, and luck for the coming year.
Preparing Special Foods Families often prepare celebratory dishes using seasonal ingredients to share with loved ones. Meals are rich and plentiful, reflecting hopes for abundance. Fresh herbs, pastries, and symbolic foods are enjoyed together during gatherings.
Making Wishes Under the Rose Tree On Hıdırellez night, people write or draw their wishes on pieces of paper and hang them on the branches of a rose tree. Before sunrise the next morning, these wishes are gathered and released into water—symbolizing the hope that they will come true.
Leaving Coins for Abundance Another ritual involves placing a coin in a small red pouch under the rose tree overnight. This “blessing coin” is then kept in one's wallet for the rest of the year as a token of luck and prosperity.
Jumping Over Fire Lighting a fire and jumping over it during Hıdırellez is a symbolic act meant to ward off illness and misfortune—an ancient form of spiritual cleansing.
Releasing Wishes Into Water Wishes written on paper or placed inside apple peels and other objects are released into streams or rivers with a heartfelt wish that they will be fulfilled.
Leaving Food and Doors Open To invite abundance into the home, families leave their food containers, pantries, coin purses, and even doors and windows open at dawn on Hıdırellez morning.
Connecting with Nature Taking a walk in nature, spending time in green spaces, and picking fresh flowers are also meaningful ways of participating in Hıdırellez and embracing its symbolism.
Fire, Water, Earth, and Air are not merely natural elements in Hıdırellez rituals—they are ancient symbols rich with meaning, representing inner transformation and harmony with the universe.
Fire: Purification and Renewal
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Jumping over fire is believed to cleanse bad energies and illnesses.
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It symbolizes the burning away of burdens from the past and the creation of space for new beginnings.
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Used with intentions such as: “I move forward purified and am reborn.”
Water: Abundance and Spiritual Cleansing
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Throwing coins into water attracts prosperity and good fortune.
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Wishes are entrusted to the water to flow into the universe.
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Water also symbolizes spiritual awareness and purification.
Earth: Grounding and Manifestation
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Wishes are buried beneath rose bushes and entrusted to the earth.
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Represents the anchoring of desires in the physical world.
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Earth carries energies of life, abundance, and healing.
Air: Mental Clarity and Universal Connection
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Gathering wishes in the morning breeze sends intentions into the universe.
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Symbol of communication and wisdom, associated with Mercury and Jupiter energies.
These elements transform the Hıdırellez night into a kind of rebirth ceremony, where people align themselves with nature to encourage both inner and outer transformation.
In recognition of its cultural significance, Hıdırellez has been inscribed by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Its most beautiful quality lies in how it transcends borders—celebrated in diverse ways across many countries, yet uniting people through a shared hope for happiness, abundance, and new beginnings.
That’s why we chose to embrace the name and spirit of Hıdırellez. We wanted to share this powerful tradition with you—a tradition that symbolizes abundance and prosperity, as well as hope and new beginnings, and connects people through this celebration, even though it is observed in different ways across many countries.
That’s why we invite you to join the ritual!
