May 17 Holiday

Mayıs Yedisi Festival is a traditional calendar holiday associated with the arrival of spring in the folklore of the Eastern Black Sea coast, rooted in rituals of fertility, purification, and renewal. Celebrated on the seventh day of May according to the Rumi calendar, this festival has been shaped by collective practices preserved in the memory of communities primarily in Giresun, Ordu, and Trabzon coastal settlements. Mayıs Yedisi is a cultural practice centered on rituals involving water, stone, and the symbolism of the number seven, aiming to establish harmony with nature, seek abundance, and promote health.

The Mayıs Yedisi Festival is part of the folk calendar based on the Rumi system and represents a transitional period tied to seasonal cycles. Although its origins cannot be precisely dated through written sources, it is evident that the festival has long been sustained within the folklore of the Eastern Black Sea coast. The timing of the festival is linked to the beginning of agricultural activities and the renewal of nature.

^{Mayıs Yedisi Celebrations} (Anadolu Agency)

Mayıs Yedisi offers a highly structured field of ritual practice, whose primary aims are fertility, purification, and protection. Water occupies a central position in these rituals. Sources such as the sea, streams, and springs are regarded as sacred; individuals perform purification by bathing in, entering, or making contact with these waters. Practices such as leaping over seven waves, washing the face with seawater at dawn, and drawing water from rivers are particularly prominent in this context.

Rituals involving stones are primarily intended for making wishes and purifying oneself from misfortune. Participants turn their backs to the sea or river and throw stones, believing this act symbolizes leaving negativity behind. In Giresun, stone-throwing and circumambulation rituals performed around Giresun Island are notable regional examples of these practices.

^{Making Wishes by Throwing Stones} (Anadolu Agency)

The number seven is a defining symbol in the Mayıs Yedisi Festival. Practices such as repeating rituals seven times, leaping over seven waves, or using seven stones are linked to beliefs in the sacredness of this number. This symbolism reflects the widespread cultural reverence for numbers within Turkish folk belief systems.

While the Mayıs Yedisi Festival shares a common framework across Eastern Black Sea coastal settlements, it manifests distinct local variations based on regional conditions.

• In Giresun, celebrations are concentrated around the point where the Aksu River flows into the sea. Rituals such as crossing the Sacayak, throwing stones into the sea, and circumambulating Giresun Island are prominently observed in this region.

• Similar rituals are practiced along the coasts of Ordu and Trabzon, with emphasis on contact with the sea, immersing animals in water, and family participation in communal rites. In Beşikdüzü district of Trabzon, rituals performed around Deliklitaş reflect the local diversity of ceremonial practices.

The traditional Mayıs Yedisi Festival has evolved in the present day into more organized events under the name "Mayıs Yedisi Festival." While ritual elements have been preserved, the transformation has incorporated stage performances, local product promotions, and tourism-oriented activities. This shift has led to a partial transformation in the festival’s meaning.

The Mayıs Yedisi Festival is regarded as a factor that strengthens social cohesion. During the event, the gathering of local communities facilitates the transmission of cultural heritage and integrates regional products into the economic sphere. However, it is also noted that despite its tourism potential, the festival still faces limitations in terms of promotion and organization.