photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Çanakkale >> Kilit Bahir - North of Dardanelles > 190-Çanakkale Kilitbahir grave
previous | next
11-DEC-2004

190-Çanakkale Kilitbahir grave

view map

I now have two stories about this grave (see below):

This is the Spoon Grandfather, a Moslem fold saint of uncertain origin. If your child is slow to talk, you place a spoon in the soil on the grave and take another. You then feed your child pilav from that spoon. After the child finally learns to talk, you thank the Spoon Grandfather by replacing the spoon. That way a continual supply of spoons is ensured. Many people pray to him for other things nowadays, but this is the original tradition.

The story about GRAND PHATHER with spoon.
The story takes place during Worl War-I through Gallipoli Wars against England,France and Anzac forces. Turkish troopers had have limited food during the war and some times lack of food for long days, may be months. It's told that an old man that holly type (white beard, influencing voice....etc.) feed the troopers which were fighting with enemy forces for days without eating any food. They say some squadrons that fight in front lines was fed by that old man with soop spoon bye spoon. And the Turkish soldiers gave him a name 'Kaşıkçı Dede', in English ,Grandpa With Spoon.But no one had knew from where he was coming and where he was going after he give out the soop.But it is told that the soop was endless.Every soldier drinks the soop that in the squadron.This story was not told once. Very large number of soldier from different squadrons told that story after the war. After War, the grave that you took the photo told that belongs to holy grandpa with spoon. This type of thinking also takes place in livings of old turkish tribes. We, as a nation, believe that one (good people thourogh his life) may come to earth to help people after his death. This comes from that tradition i think.

Sorry because of my poor english.İ hope you understand the story. There are different stories about this grave but the powerfull one is that i tell. People sticks spoons to this grave and wishes good harvest, may be like you say plenty of food, money...., Because they make a connection to the soop that never ends.:))

Nikon D70
1/800s f/4.5 at 12.0mm full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
comment | share
sev 18-Feb-2007 23:55
Hi I'm a guest an this site and from Canakkale. I love the pictures taken and feel home everytime I look at them. Thank you Emre for the explanation of the grave. Even I didn't know what the spoons had to do on the grave. I think your English is very good. Thanks again for all the nice pictures of Turkey
Dick Osseman04-Mar-2006 18:43
I thank Emre for the story, that was perfectly clear to me. Another question answered, thanks.