The Birth Customs of Uighur Turks

The birth being one of the important transition periods of human life brings ego and integrity to mother, confidence to father and power to relatives and ancestors since every birth increases the number of members in family. Increase in ancestry means the raise in power and solidarity. As well as increasing the respect for woman, the birth secures the woman’s position among her relatives and society. As being the beginning of human life, the birth has a big importance for Uighur Turks, much the same it has for all Turkish Tribes. Correspondingly, there are various beliefs and customs relating to the birth in social life. In this paper, the information on beliefs and rituals regarding birth among Uighur Turks will be presented and the historical and social roots of them will be emphasized.