Lost Tradition in Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling: Importance of Kispet and Ceremony of Kispet Wearing

ABSTRACT.

The pressures of globalization have contributed to the disappearance of some traditional sports, as well as various other elements of national culture. The annual Kirkpinar oil-wrestling tournament, in Edirne in Turkish Thrace, has been held since 1362. In recent times it has lost many of its traditional rituals, despite its inclusion in 2010 in UNESCO's “List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” The ceremonies associated with wearing the kispet (the leather pants worn by the oil wrestler, also called kisbet) is one example of this loss of tradition. This ceremony contained both old Turkish beliefs and Islamic themes. The kispet is very important for the pehlivan (the name given to the oil wrestler, meaning hero). Today's wrestlers do not practice or know these old traditions and rituals, even though the kispet is still worn when wrestling. This historical research is important for keeping oil wrestling and its traditions alive, as well as its role in Turkish national heritage.

It is the aim of this research to examine the disappearance of the ceremony associated with wearing the kispet, and its place as an indispensable element of Kirkpinar oil wrestling. Live interviews and literature-tracking methods were used in this research. The results are a description of the ceremonies that are a part of wearing the kispet, which is characterized as a ritual in traditional Kirkpinar oil wrestling, having deep sociocultural and spiritual meaning.

Keywords::

• ceremony
• kispet
• Kirkpinar
• oil wrestling
• ritual.