Aksu Deresi

Infobox River TR
river_name = Aksu Deresi


caption = A nice view of Aksu Deresi near Pınarlar village in Dereli
origin = Karagöl
mouth = Black Sea
basin_countries = Turkey |

Aksu is one of the main water streams of Giresun Province located in eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey.

Description

Aksu Deresi borns in Karagöl which is a rural highland area located very near to provincial borders of Giresun, Ordu and Sivas provinces. Karagöl is the name of a mountain chain of Giresun mountains lies in the south of Dereli district of Giresun, and its summit is 3107 meters high. There is a beautiful crater lake on its summit in 3107 m. Aksu creek flows down to Black Sea passing Kızıltaş, Sarıyakup, Pınarlar ve Güdül villages. Its embouchure is just located next to eastern part of Giresun city. It is 60 km long.

Aksu Village

Aksu is also the name of a small village (köy in Turkish), located upper basin of Aksu Deresi in Dereli district of Giresun Province.

Aksu Festival

Aksu Şenliği ("Aksu Festival") with its short name is an arts and culture festival organized by Giresun Municipality between 20 May and 23 May of every year. This annual event is held in the mouth of Aksu Deresi in the east of Giresun city center. Until 1977 it has been celebrated as a provincial level conviviality with the name “Mayıs Yedisi (May 7th)”. May 7 the of Arabic Hegire Calendar (same date May 20 in Julian day) is considered as an old fest day that has a special meaning in Turkish traditions. In this date probably some Shamanistic rituals are realized by the local people. The name of Mayıs Yedisi was replaced with "Aksu Festivali" ("Festival of Aksu") in 1992, and it was celebrated as a national level festival. In order to attract foreign participants from abroad and taste of different ethnical cultures, the name of event was changed to “Uluslararası Karadeniz Giresun Aksu Festivali (International Giresun-Aksu Festival of Black Sea)” again. Since 1992, it has being organized as regional and international level event on folk culture and arts with mainly contributions from Black Sea countries such as Azerbaican, Georgia, Ukraine and Russia.

The rituals section of the festival consist of three main events in the first day after opening ceremony:

a) Jumping over a sacayak

Sacayak (pronounced as "such-i-uck") or "Sacayağı" is a Turkish word that is the name of an iron three-legs pedestal to support a Turkish cooking instrument, Sac which is used to fry meat. Sacayak also can refer to the boilers and other cooking cups over fire in rural areas. The first ritual of the festival symbolizes the continuity of abundance of humanbeings offsprings. Ancestors of Turks in ancient times believed in that if they jump over it for three times they could have the children if they do not. They symbolized that "sacayak" as a symbol of woman uterus. So, it was believed that if women, especially having no child jump over a sacayak in 7th May they will have a child immediately if they wish for them during jumping.

b) Stonening the creek

In this ritual, people throw a total of 15 pebbles (7 times as double and once as single) to the bed of Aksu Deresi. Seven is a very sacred number in Turkic beliefs. The last thrown single pebble is to enforce to happen the wishes. While they are throwing pebbles to Aksu stream, people says "Derdim, belam denize!" (nearly means "All troubles and messes, go away to the sea!"). It is believed in that the spring is a season that renews the nature, and is also time to cancel from all of bad things inside body and souls.

c) Cruising around the Giresun Adası

This is the last ritual of festival. The people turns around the Giresun Adası (Giresun Island). The tour with a boat begins and ends in front of Hamza Taşı.

External links

* [http://www.giresun.bel.tr/iframe.php?file=calismalar/aksu_senligi.php Views of 28th Aksu Festival at the Web site of Giresun Municipality]