Cirit

Cirit is a game played on horseback and has a history stretching from Central Asia to Anatolia. Its name derives from a wooden staff approximately 1.5 meters long, made of oak, which players use during the game. This staff is called a “cirit,” and the word means “palm tree with its outer shell removed” in Arabic.

Cirit (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)

How Is Cirit Played?

Cirit is typically played during the spring months between two teams of 10 to 15 players. Each player carries a cirit staff while mounted on horseback. The teams line up facing each other at a distance of about 100 meters. The game begins when one player rides toward the opposing team and throws his cirit at an opponent. This triggers a chase! Players gallop their horses at high speed and make sudden movements in an attempt to hit their opponent with the cirit. The game is played in two halves and lasts approximately one and a half hours in total.

To score points, a player must strike an opponent with the cirit; hitting the horse results in a point deduction. The highest score is awarded to the player who catches the cirit thrown at him in midair. Additionally, a player who rides very close to his opponent without throwing the cirit but merely intimidating him earns high points. The most exciting moments of the game occur when horses gallop at full speed, stop abruptly, players lean down to pick up a cirit from the ground, or catch a cirit in midair!

The History of Cirit

In ancient times, Cirit was played by the Turks as a military training exercise to develop horsemanship and spear-throwing skills. It was a highly popular sport during the Ottoman Empire. Some sultans, such as Ahmed I and Murad IV, played cirit themselves. In Ottoman times, cirit was played in palaces, at weddings, and on special occasions, thrilling spectators.

Cirit (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)

Cirit Today

Today, cirit is especially popular in Eastern Anatolia, particularly in Erzurum. While it is now mostly performed as a tourist spectacle, it remains an excellent sport showcasing horsemanship and cirit-throwing skill.

Why Is Cirit Special?

Cirit is not merely a game; it is a sport that demands courage, skill, and team spirit. It teaches harmony with horses and quick thinking. Both riders and horses undergo rigorous training for this sport. Spectators are awed by the speed of the horses and the mastery of the riders during cirit matches.