What is Sivlilik?

Sivlilik is a cultural tradition in Konya where children visit homes in their neighborhoods to collect cookies every year during the day. Dating back to the pre-Ottoman period, Sivlilik is one of the celebrations that children especially look forward to.

Before the start of the three months (The three months are the months of Rajab, Shaban and Ramadan, which are in the Hijri calendar and are holy according to the religion of Islam.), the tradition of "şivlilik" is also on the agenda.

In Konya, which was the capital of the Seljuk state, the beginning of the three months has been celebrated for hundreds of years with the custom called "şivlilik".

The celebration of "şivlilik", one of the oldest religious traditions dating back to the pre-Ottoman period, begins one day before Laylat al-raghaib (the night of prophet Muhammed’s conception).

After the evening prayers, the children take to the streets with their parents and wait for the neighborhood elders to light a fire in a suitable area.

Some of the children gathered around the burning fire jump over the fire. The fun and celebrations continue until late into the night.

On Sivlilik day, neighbors are given dishes such as baked, poppy or tahini buns, while children are given raisins, leblebi (roasted chickpea), dried fruit or packaged products such as wafers and chocolate. Today, local administrations organize various activities to protect this cultural heritage.