Button

A button is a clothing accessory, typically round and perforated, used to fasten two pieces of fabric together. While serving a functional role in garments, it has also acquired aesthetic, symbolic, and cultural meanings over time.

An Image Showing Buttons – Generated by Artificial Intelligence

History

The exact origins of the button cannot be definitively established, but archaeological evidence suggests its use dates back to around 2000 BCE. Buttons used to join two cords have been found in ancient Chinese tombs, while in Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations, buttons were used not only to fasten garments but also for decorative purposes. Some studies propose that buttons emerged in the region around the Caspian Sea for military purposes, facilitating practical fastening.

From the Middle Ages onward, buttons began to be widely used in men’s clothing. After the 18th century, they diversified in both artistic and craft dimensions, with types made from precious stones becoming popular as indicators of social status.

Etymology

In Turkish, the word “düğme” derives from the Old Turkic root “tüg-mek” meaning to tie or fasten. During the Seljuk period, it was used in the form “tügme,” and in Kipchak and Cuman Turkic dialects, it was recorded as “tüyme” and “tüvme.”

Applications

• Functional: Used to close garments, fit clothing to the body, and maintain fabric tension.
• Decorative: Some buttons are sewn solely for visual effect and are not functional.
• Status Symbol: In Ottoman court attire, buttons were made from precious stones such as diamond and ruby; in military uniforms, the number and shape of buttons indicated rank.
• Symbolic: The button is a cultural symbol associated with meanings such as fertility, abundance, protection, and good fortune.

Button Beliefs in Turkish Folk Culture

In Türkiye, there are numerous folk beliefs associated with buttons. These beliefs vary according to the button’s shape, number, color, and position on the garment.

• Existence and Form: Due to its circular shape, the button is associated with meanings such as fertility, cyclical renewal, the world, abundance, and infinity. Clothing with light-colored buttons or an even number of buttons is considered auspicious, while garments with an odd number or dark-colored buttons are seen as inauspicious.

• The Act of Sewing: Sewing a button onto clothing while it is being worn is considered unlucky. It is believed that this act may cause a person to lose their wits, have their fate sealed, or invite misfortune. This belief is linked to the concept of “imitation magic.” Just as buttons are sewn onto a shroud after death, sewing a button onto clothing while it is worn is equated with death.

• Protective Practices: When sewing a button, a thread, pencil, matchstick, piece of fabric, or bread is placed in the person’s mouth. These practices aim to protect against mental or physical harm. Similarly, a prohibition on speaking is also part of this ritual.

Symbolic Meanings

Both the presence and absence of a button carry symbolic meanings. When present, it represents order, connection, and unity; when missing or broken, it is associated with incompleteness, bad luck, and lack of status. These meanings are frequently encountered in Turkish folk narratives, folk poetry, and rites of passage.