Tracing a ritual: Bocuk Night
The most vibrant and contemporary center of the Bocuk Night tradition in Türkiye is the village of Çamlıca in the Keşan district of Edirne. About 13 kilometers from the district center, Çamlıca has preserved this ancient ritual for centuries and carried it into the present day. Once maintained as a local village custom until the 1980s, Bocuk Night was revived in the early 2000s and transformed into a professionally organized event. Led by the Çamlıca Village Headman’s Office, the celebrations have expanded since 2004, evolving into a large-scale winter fair. This transformation stands as a successful example of the local community’s commitment to protecting and sustaining its cultural heritage.
Today, for the people of the region, Bocuk Night remains a powerful symbol of unity and solidarity, much like other significant traditional celebrations such as Nevruz and Hıdırellez. The night’s core concepts, including magic, abundance, talismans, fertility, and supernatural beings, continue to be reflected in its costumes and practices, echoing ancient rituals. Organized with the support of the Çamlıca Village Headman’s Office, the event has grown into a major winter fair that now draws thousands of visitors. The tradition is no longer merely a local belief but a widely recognized element of the region’s cultural identity.
Modern Bocuk Night celebrations are typically organized around a three-day strategic program. For instance, activities begin on Friday, January 24, throughout the day and evening, with events designed for children and families. This approach plays an important role in ensuring the intergenerational transmission of the tradition and encouraging family participation. On Saturday evening, January 25, the focus shifts to activities and performances aimed at older age groups. Organizing the festivities in this way adds an economic dimension to the cultural event, securing its long-term sustainability and visibility. As a result, Bocuk Night is closely followed by major news agencies and television channels and is widely regarded as a national cultural value.
The origins of Bocuk Night
Bocuk Night is not a tradition unique to Thrace; it is also a tangible expression of the shared cultural heritage and collective memory that link Türkiye and the Balkans. For centuries, Turkish communities in Rumelia and Thrace coexisted with other Balkan peoples, creating a rich cultural synthesis in which Central Asian, Islamic, Anatolian, and Balkan traditions became deeply intertwined. This tradition emerged through historical processes shaped by reciprocal migrations between Türkiye and Balkan countries. Despite these migrations and historical transformations, Bocuk Night and similar winter rituals have remained deeply rooted in Thrace and Rumelia.
Bocuk Night is a natural part of the broad and complex network of Balkan folklore. In the Balkans, winter is seen not only as a season of cold and scarcity but also as a dark period haunted by fearsome mythical beings such as Karakoncolos, Damphir or Vampir, Samodiva, Zmei, and Drekavac. Through its witch and ghost figures, Bocuk Night fits squarely within this wider culture of fear, revealing how myths are shaped by dread.
Within the context of Balkan horror folklore, the potential of Bocuk Night is also being considered from a horror tourism perspective. The tradition bears striking similarities to Bulgaria’s Kukeri Festival, where people dress in animal skins and furs, wear frightening masks, and dance with large bells tied around their waists. At their core, Kukeri and Bocuk rituals serve the same purpose; by performing these rites just before the end of winter, it is believed that evil spirits are driven away, allowing the rebirth of nature and the arrival of spring to be celebrated.
Beliefs surrounding Bocuk Night
The defining element of Bocuk Night is the deep-rooted beliefs about supernatural beings that personify the fear and uncertainty of winter. This night is believed to be when witch-like figures known as the Bocuk Wife, Bocuk Mother, and Bocuk Grandfather roam the village. These figures embody the unpredictability and harshness of the season.
According to legend, when these Bocuk beings approach villagers, they test them with unsettling elemental questions such as “What are you doing?”, “Where are you coming from?”, and “Where are you going?”. To avoid harm and escape the Bocuk, the answers to these questions must include the word “black.” Doing so is believed to acknowledge winter’s dark, demanding power or to invoke a ritual language that binds the speaker to the earth and drives the malevolent presence away.
The traditional rituals of Bocuk Night
While the terror of the Bocuk figures is believed to unfold in the outside world, Bocuk Night takes shape indoors through a tightly knit social ritual. These practices are designed to preserve social and cultural cohesion during the cold and demanding winter months.
Sedenka: The stove that warms the community
The social center of Bocuk Night is formed by seated neighbor visits known as “Sedenka.” Harsh winter conditions can lead to isolation and psychological strain in traditional societies. Sedenka serves as a necessary gathering space designed to counter this isolation, strengthen social bonds, and put into practice a philosophy of unity and solidarity in the face of hardships symbolized by Bocuk.
Activities during Sedenka include conversation, posing riddles, and reciting traditional folk verses. This interactive entertainment goes beyond simply passing time; it transmits cultural knowledge from one generation to the next and reinforces the community’s shared memory. The host rewards the person who knows the most riddles. This tradition offers structured amusement that helps maintain the community’s mental and social balance during the stressful winter.
The symbol of abundance: Pumpkin
The most well-known and delicious ritual of Bocuk Night is eating pumpkin. On this night, pumpkin dessert is considered essential. The reason pumpkin holds such a central place lies in its symbolism; as a winter vegetable that can be stored for long periods, it represents the abundance carried over from the autumn months and the continuity of the harvest. Because Bocuk’s punishment is believed to include the threat of future crops failing to bear fruit, consuming the harvested produce on this harsh night is rooted in the belief that abundance will continue until the next harvest season.
A guide to preparing for Bocuk Night
Experiencing the mystical and playful chaos of Bocuk Night on site requires a bit of preparation. For travelers who want to become part of a ritual that stretches back thousands of years amid the biting cold of Thrace, here are a few essential tips:
When is Bocuk Night celebrated?
In the traditional calendar, Bocuk Night coincides with the winter solstice, around mid-January. In the modern festival calendar, however, the date is usually fixed to the final week of January to make participation easier. Before planning your trip, be sure to check the official date announced for that year by the Keşan Municipality or the organizing committee.
Where is Bocuk Night celebrated?
The heart of the celebration is clear: Çamlıca Village, part of the Keşan district of Edirne. From Istanbul, the village is about 2.5 to 3 hours by car. If you are traveling from more distant cities, flying to Istanbul, renting a car there, and continuing to Keşan via the Thracian vineyard route can make for an excellent weekend plan.
What should you pack?
Bocuk Night is a street festival, and keep in mind that it is celebrated on one of the coldest nights of winter. Dressing in layers, like an onion, can be a lifesaver. Thermal underwear, a beanie, gloves, and mud-resistant boots will be your closest allies. If you do not want to remain just a spectator, do not forget to pack white sheets, frightening masks, or face paint. The more terrifying you look that night, the more fun you are likely to have.
What you should experience?
The moment you step into the village square, you will feel as if you have walked onto a film set. Do not hold back; blend into the crowd. Watch the horror performances prepared by local youth, stop by the coffeehouses where Sedenka gatherings are held, and, most importantly, make sure to taste the famous pumpkin dessert.
Warming the coldest days of winter with the warmth of a cultural heritage that stretches back thousands of years, Bocuk Night is not just entertainment but also a mystical journey into the memory of Thrace. Breathing in this atmosphere, where myths of fear blend with the sweetness of pumpkin dessert and the intimacy of Sedenka conversations, promises travelers a truly unique experience. If you would like to take part in this mysterious Thrace tradition, be sure to follow the festival announcements.
