A Rich Source For Our Cultural History: Sur-names
Surname is an original literary genre specific to the Turkish literature. The term in a sense means “the book of weddings and festivals”. The works falling under this genre were penned by the poets of Divan literature, prose writers and some historians. In general, they describe the festivals and ceremonies addressing the weddings of Ottoman princesses, the circumcision of the princes as well as their births. All details related to these celebrations are provided in a literary style which includes prose, poetry or the two combined. Some have also been written in the form of qasida (eulogy) and historical poetry.
MEHMET ARSLAN
