Kırk Basması

Kırk Basması is the collective body of folk beliefs and traditional practices aimed at protecting the mother and newborn child during the forty-day period following childbirth from evil spirits, the evil eye, illness, and various dangers. In Turkish folk culture, this belief is directly linked to the “lohusalık” period and involves a set of prohibitions, precautions, and ritual practices during the first forty days, when both mother and child are considered especially vulnerable. Central to this period are the principles that the mother and child should not leave the house, should not encounter other postpartum women, and must undergo specific protective rituals.

Historical and Cultural Background

In Turkish folk culture, the number “forty” has been sacred since ancient times and symbolizes transitional phases. The forty-day period is commonly observed during major life milestones such as birth, death, and marriage. The belief in Kırk Basması is an extension of this symbolic understanding to the postpartum period. Originating in Central Asian Turkic cultures, this belief was carried to Anatolia and enriched with local variations. Similar practices based on the number forty for purification and protection are also found among Turkic communities in the Balkans and Central Asia.

Duration and Practice Period

The Kırk Basması period spans from the moment of birth until the fortieth day. During this time, the mother and infant are referred to as “kırklı.” Family members and neighbors adhere to specific rules: the mother and child must not be left alone, loud speaking is avoided, and strangers are not permitted to enter the home. In some regions, a twenty-day intermediate period known as “yarı kırk” is also recognized, during which the mother and child are still considered unprotected against external influences.

Meaning of the Term Kırk Basması

The verb “basmak” here means “to afflict” or “to cause harm.” Kırk Basması refers to the belief that a postpartum woman or newborn may become afflicted if they encounter another kırklı woman, leave the house, or violate certain taboos. According to folk belief, this affliction manifests through symptoms such as fever, weakness, cessation of breast milk, irritability, or illness. Such conditions are described as “having suffered Kırk Basması.”

Protective Methods and Folk Practices

Rules Against Leaving the House and Meeting Others

One of the most widespread practices is that the mother and child must not leave the house during the forty days. It is also believed they must not meet other kırklı women or those who have recently given birth. If two kırklı women meet, it is thought that both will be “basılacak” (afflicted). To avoid this situation, known as “kırk karışması,” various precautions are taken.

Kırklama Ritual

Kırklama is the purification and protection ceremony performed on the fortieth day. This ritual typically involves the mother and child bathing together. Symbolic objects such as forty stones, forty flower branches, a gold coin, or a silver ring are placed in the bathing water, believed to bring abundance, prosperity, and health. In some regions, forty spoonfuls of water, forty grains of wheat, or barley are also added. After bathing, the water is sprinkled around various parts of the house, as it is believed to cleanse the home of evil spirits.

Protection from the Evil Eye and Evil Spirits

To prevent the mother and child from being affected by the evil eye, iron, scissors, or knives are hung on the door. Garlic, salt, or a page from the Qur’an is placed at the head of the bed. Blue beads, cumin seeds, dried herbs, or red ribbons are attached to the baby’s cradle. Visitors are discouraged from looking directly at the baby’s face; instead, they are encouraged to say “Maşallah” before bending over the cradle.

Practices Related to the Baby’s Belongings

Beliefs surrounding the baby’s first diaper, umbilical cord, first lock of hair, or first nail clipping are connected to Kırk Basması. The umbilical cord is usually buried or stored in a safe place within the home. The baby’s first diaper is sometimes buried beneath the house threshold, believed to provide protection from malevolent entities.

Intervention for Symptoms of Kırk Basması

If a woman or infant is believed to have suffered Kırk Basması, one traditional remedy is “kırk dökme.” In this procedure, water collected from forty different places is mixed and poured over the afflicted person from head to toe. Prayers are recited during this process, amulets are thrown into the water, and it is hoped that the person will return to their former state. In some regions, it is customary to pour this water on the doorstep or throw it outside before sunrise.

Regional Examples of Practice

Adana and Çukurova Region

In the Çukurova region, the belief in Kırk Basması is strongly maintained. Scissors, knives, a copy of the Qur’an, and blue beads are kept in the mother and child’s room. Pomegranate seeds, wheat, silver rings, and flower petals are added to the kırklama water. On the fortieth day, the mother and child bathe together, and part of the water is poured on the threshold.

Central and Eastern Anatolia

In Central Anatolia, the term “kırk karışması” emphasizes the need to avoid encounters between two kırklı women. If such an encounter occurs, an immediate kırk çıkartma ritual is performed. In Eastern Anatolia, the ceremony on the fortieth day is called “kırk hamamı”; the mother and child are taken to the bathhouse accompanied by female relatives, special prayers are recited, and they are washed.

Black Sea Region

In Giresun and surrounding areas, it is forbidden to keep sharp objects in the mother and child’s room during the forty days. Windows are rarely opened to prevent wind from entering. According to local belief, Kırk Basması occurs when the wind or the spirit of another kırklı woman touches the mother or child.

Social Function

The Kırk Basması tradition represents not only beliefs related to childbirth but also social solidarity. Visits from neighbors and relatives, the giving of gifts, and efforts to strengthen the mother’s morale are integral parts of this period. However, visits are often conducted on specific days and with caution. Bringing foods believed to increase milk supply, placing amulets on the baby, and participating in the kırklama ceremony are forms of social support.

Symbols and Belief Motifs

In beliefs associated with Kırk Basması, the number forty signifies purification, transition, and renewal. Materials such as iron, water, fire, salt, and bread are regarded as protective elements. Each of these is believed in folk tradition to have the power to repel evil spirits. Water represents purification, iron symbolizes strength, fire stands for cleansing, and salt embodies a balancing force that prevents decay.

Continuity in the Modern Era

With the widespread availability of healthcare services and the integration of modern medicine into childbirth practices, the belief in Kırk Basması has weakened compared to the past. However, in many regions, the rituals of “kırk çıkarma” and “kırklama” continue to be observed symbolically. Today, some families preserve these traditions as cultural heritage, celebrating the fortieth-day ceremony as a family occasion.

Kırk Basması is one of the most prominent and widespread postpartum beliefs in Turkish folk culture. This tradition, designed to protect mother and child from harmful influences during the forty-day period, is a cultural heritage formed by the fusion of ancient Turkic beliefs, Islamic elements, and local folk practices. At its core lie the symbolic meaning of the number forty, protective elements such as water and iron, postpartum taboos, and social cooperation. Although some formal changes have occurred in modern times, the Kırk Basması tradition continues to exist as an important birth ritual in Turkish cultural history.