AZERBAİJAN FLORA FOLKLORE IN SHAKI-BALAKAN REGION: MYTHS, BELIEFS AND SYMBOLS

Abstract

Azerbaijan folklore is a traditional (family, ethnic, professional, religious), regional (custom, belief, technical skills, language) expressive culture that covers a wide range of creative and symbolic forms that are shared by different groups residing in the northwest region of Azerbaijan. Folklore reveals that our ancient predecessors had a profound understanding of the natural world and recognized and valued the function of heavenly power in the transitional period between life and death. The older generation made every effort to reduce practices that affect the environment. They were friends of ecology and nature. They revered trees in a variety of shapes as female, male, and genderless Gods throughout their rites. In our folklore, locations with a lot of trees or sacred tree talismans served a number of vital purposes throughout life, including protection and healing, as well as being dreaded for their corrosive force. The people admired the trees because they believed they held great wisdom and mighty energy, and were in awe of their divine power. Region people believe that certain trees bear signs of priesthood and prophecy. Pilgrimages to important sacred trees were also made.