Uzunyayla ？erkeslerindeki Ceug Kavram？na Oyun ve Karnaval Literatüründen Bakmak [Analysing the Jeug Concept in Uzunyayla with Play and Carnival Literature]

This study discusses the jeug ritual of the Circassians of Uzunyayla (an area in eastern Turkey) within the play and carnival literature. Jeug of the polytheist Circassian belief is a big ceremony composed of various elements as sacrament, play and sacrifice. Wuic ritual and the jeuguako/hatiyako character that has a very important place in these rituals are the two things that reflect the play and carnavalesk structure of the jeug ceremony of the Circassians of Uzunyayla. This paper reveals how jeug has continuities and disjoints in Uzunyayla from the polytheist Circassian belief by focusing on the jeuguako/hatiyako character. In conclusion, it can be said that despite its different meaning in the Circassian polytheist belief the jeug concept in Uzunyayla has protected some aspects of the play and carnaval characteristics while some has changed and the carnavalesk meaning has shrinked