Beliefs and Practices Related to Breast Milk in Turkish Folk Culture

Abstract

Breast milk is the first food substance a baby encounters upon entering the world. This life-giving fluid, which the newborn receives directly from its mother's body, is the first bond established with life. For this reason, it is regarded as a powerful and miraculous fluid in many cultures. Breast milk is more than just a biological fluid; it is a loaded cultural symbol. This study aims to analyse the use of breast milk in rites of passage and healing practices in Turkish cultural geography; in anonymous oral narratives such as folk tales and epics; in idiomatic expressions embedded in everyday language; and the value it carries in everyday life practices. To this end, the study begins by providing examples of the symbolic content of breast milk in world mythology, followed by an examination of how it is used in Turkish mythology as a vehicle for the transmission of identity, lineage, and cultural values.  The study, secondly, examines the forms of use and value of breast milk, an output of the female body, in the cultural sphere, and endeavours to reveal the value system centred on the female experience, productivity and sanctity embedded within these practices.