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Soldier Wedding in Kaynarca
- Journal of Folklore Research
- Indiana University Press
- Volume 43, Number 2, May-August 2006
- pp. 175-185
- Article
- Additional Information
Young male Turks are obligated by law to serve in the military, and military service is seen by many as a rite of passage into manhood. In the Thracian region of Turkey, a ceremony called the "soldier wedding" has developed for sending young draftees off for their military service. Structured similarly to a wedding ceremony, this event involves virtually everyone in the community. This article follows one such ceremony in the town of Kay-narca and describes the activities and attitudes that surround it.