Ayaz Ata

Ayaz Ata is a mythical/folkloric figure in the beliefs and folklore of certain Turkic communities, depicted as an elderly, wise, and benevolent character associated with the winter season, the annual cycle, and New Year celebrations. In contemporary academic and folkloric discussions, there are differing views on whether Ayaz Ata is an ancient and indigenous element of Turkic mythology or a syncretic figure that emerged in a later period through interaction with the traditions of Santa Claus and the Russian Ded Moroz. Consequently, the origins and status of Ayaz Ata remain a contested area in the study of Turkic mythology.

Ayaz Ata (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)

Various Names

In terms of nomenclature, Ayaz Ata appears under different names among various Turkic peoples and dialects. In Central Asia, he is known as Ayaz Ota or Ayoz Bobo; among Bashkir and Tatar communities, the figure known as “Qış Babay” (Winter Father) is sometimes identified with Ayaz Ata and is accompanied by a young female figure called “Kar Kız” or “Kar Güzeli.” In Azerbaijan, the pair of Şaxta Baba (Şahta Baba) and Qar Qızı (Snow Girl) fulfill a role similar to that of Ayaz Ata and Kar Kız in function and depiction. Professor Dr. Salih Yılmaz also associates Ayaz Ata with other mythical names such as Ayaz/Ayas Han, which express the concept of “cold lord”; in modern folk narratives, he is sometimes described as a kind of “Santa Claus” figure associated with winter and gift-giving.^【1】

Ayaz Ata’s Association with the Winter Solstice

The context most closely linked to Ayaz Ata is the celebration of the winter solstice and the annual cycle. It is known that the ancient Turks, from centuries before the Common Era, regarded the end of the longest night on December 21–22 and the subsequent lengthening of daylight as a “victory” and the beginning of the new year. The festival commemorating this event is referred to as Nardugan (Nardugan/Nartugan/Nardogan). Nardugan signifies the sun’s resurgence, or in a symbolic sense, its rebirth. The Turks decorated the akçam tree, held ceremonies beneath it, and offered gifts to the divine.

In Anatolia and Azerbaijan, terms such as “Çile gecesi” and “Büyük/Küçük Çile” are interpreted in some studies as local forms or continuations of the Central Asian Nardugan tradition. The intense cold following the longest night is understood in this context as both a cosmic cycle and a symbol of abundance.

Ayaz Ata’s Role and Function in Rituals

In these rituals, Ayaz Ata is portrayed as the symbolic bearer of the winter cycle and the new year. In some narratives, he is envisioned as the personification of the region’s wisest and oldest man, dressed in his most magnificent attire, with white hair and a white beard, leading the ceremonies. He is often accompanied by a young girl of grandchild’s age, known by names such as Kar Kız, Ayaz Kız, or Kar Güzeli.

It is believed that Ayaz Ata is a saintly or benevolent spirit who brings gifts to children and the poor, aids the destitute during harsh winter days, and thus balances the severity of winter with “kindness” and “abundance.” Some mythological interpretations suggest that Ayaz Ata is connected to cosmic elements associated with the onset of cold, such as the Ulyker constellation and openings in the sky, and acts as an intermediary between celestial beings to end the cold.

Relationship with Ancient Turkic Beliefs and Post-Islamic Interpretations

Ayaz Ata is also linked to other concepts and figures in Turkic belief history. Some folkloric interpretations draw attention to the connection between the ancient Turkic concept of yel (wind) and ayaz; according to some accounts, ayaz is the result of cold winds blowing through openings in the sky.

After the adoption of Islam, particularly among Northern Turkic groups, Ayaz Ata came to be associated with the role of a saint who helps those suffering in winter, functionally resembling the Islamic figure of Hızır. Some modern interpretations suggest that these attributes attributed to Ayaz Ata may have been transferred over time from earlier wind-related personifications such as Yel Ana or Yel Ata.

Debates on the Relationship with Santa Claus and Ded Moroz

The relationship between Ayaz Ata and Santa Claus and the Russian mythical figure Ded Moroz is one of the most contested points in the sources. Some scholars argue that the Turkic traditions of Ayaz Ata and Nardugan are independent of the Christian Santa Claus and the Russian Ded Moroz, representing a much older custom. Proponents of this view maintain that winter solstice celebrations among the Turks extend to very ancient times and that the Soviet-era institutionalization of Ded Moroz in Russia may have been partially influenced by Turkic culture.

Conversely, other researchers argue that in practice, Ayaz Ata today has become nearly identical to Santa Claus, and that the Çile/Nardugan night has gradually shifted toward New Year and Christmas-style celebrations, giving the figure a syncretic character in its current form.^【2】 Thus, Ayaz Ata is viewed from two distinct perspectives: on one hand, as a continuation of an ancient winter cycle tradition; on the other, as a contemporary folkloric figure deeply intertwined with modern New Year–Christmas culture.

Professor Dr. Ahmet Taşağıl states that there is no evidence of a mythical figure named Ayaz Ata in Turkic culture, that historical sources contain no information about Ayaz Ata or the Nardugan Festival, and that even among Turkic communities that adopted Christianity, such as the Gagauz and Chuvash, no trace of Ayaz Ata has been found.^【3】

Ayaz Ata in Contemporary Turkic Communities

In modern Turkic communities, the figure of Ayaz Ata continues to exist in varying forms across regions. Among Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Bashkir, and Tatar communities, it is observed that Ayaz Ata/Kış Babay and Kar Kız/Kar Güzeli appear during the coldest period of the year, bringing gifts to children, organizing festivities, and in some places, decorating trees.

In Azerbaijan, similar rituals associated with Çile gecesi or the winter solstice feature the figures of Şaxta Baba and Qar Qızı prominently; the giving of gifts to engaged couples and the setting of large communal tables are interpreted as symbols of abundance and social solidarity. The portrayal of Ayaz Ata as a mythological hero and New Year figure in the works of contemporary writers such as Chingiz Aytmatov demonstrates that this tradition has found a place not only in oral culture but also in written literature.^【4】