15.02.2025 17:20
In the Hacılar district of Kayseri, at the foothills of Mount Erciyes, approximately 300 out of 1,200 wells, which date back around 500 years and were originally constructed to meet water needs, are still used today to obtain cold water during the summer months. The wells, which reach a depth of 7 meters, are filled with tons of snow during the winter months. In the region, the majority of the wells have been sealed with covers that will remain closed until summer.
In the Hacılar district at the foot of Mount Erciyes in Kayseri, approximately 300 of the 1200 wells built around 500 years ago to meet water needs are currently used to obtain cold water during the summer months.
THE LIDS WERE CLOSED UNTIL SUMMER The wells, which reach a depth of 7 meters, are filled with tons of snow during the winter months. The local people brought clean snow that accumulated in rocky and shaded areas at the foot of the mountain in bags before the end of winter and packed it into the wells. Most of the wells in the region were filled with snow masses, and the lids were closed until summer.
THEY COOL OFF WITH SNOW AND ICE WATER Starting from the beginning of summer, the snow in the wells, which are used like refrigerators, partially melts, and the water obtained is drawn up with buckets for drinking. The snow taken out with buckets is eaten with yogurt, molasses, walnuts, and hazelnuts poured over it. The district's residents cool off with snow and ice water from the wells in the hot weather, which reaches 35 degrees in the summer months.
"IT'S A BIT HARD TO PASS ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS" Mahmut Gengeç, who says it is difficult to keep this culture alive in the region with snow wells, stated, "These snow wells have existed for 500 years as far as we know. We fill these wells every year. In the summer, we distribute it to those who come and go. We have been filling these wells for years. However, we couldn't fill them last year because there was no snow. This year, God has given us snow. Hopefully, we will fill them completely and distribute them to those who come and go in the summer. The snow this year is very clean. We already put our first snow in November. This is our second filling. The snow we filled before had collapsed. We are refilling. The snow will be very clean. We use it with tea, molasses, everything. It is crystal clear water. It is a bit hard to pass on to future generations. We are afraid of our tradition disappearing. There are probably around 2000 wells like this in Hacılar. About 200-300 of these wells are filled. The rest remain completely empty. Also, this job is hard. Filling with snow is very difficult. It's not easy," he said.
"WE CAN'T FIND LABORERS TO FILL THE WELLS" Gengeç, who stated that they cannot find workers to fill the snow wells, said, "Young people seem to be a bit uninterested in this work because they generally study and become employed. Therefore, they do not come here. Even if they come, they come for fun. We cannot find laborers to fill the wells. We only fill them ourselves. It has been passed down from our parents. Hopefully, they will continue the tradition. Because in the hot summer, a patient says, 'find me a handful of snow.' It doesn't happen in Erciyes. It becomes glacial. Because it is glacial, they want snow. They want a handful of snow when they are on their deathbed or elderly. That is why we fill these wells for them. We will continue this tradition until we die. We fill the snow with relatives in a cooperative manner. Otherwise, we cannot find people. When we ask, no one comes," he expressed.
"IT'S A WONDERFUL FEELING TO SUSTAIN THIS TRADITION" Ahmet Gengeç, who stated that they fill the wells for summer, said, "We inherited this tradition from our ancestors. We do not know the exact date, but it has been between 500 years. We continue this tradition. It is a wonderful feeling to sustain this tradition. We gather with friends and fill the snow wells in a cooperative manner. We do this for summer. In the past, our ancestors used to say, 'son, the snow in summer is the snow in winter.' They said that because we put snow in winter, there will be snow in summer. This snow is used for our trees, our food, everything. It makes perfect tea. Friends also eat it with molasses. The tea is so good that you can never get enough of it. We definitely have concerns about passing it on to future generations. Young people do not seem to be interested in this work, but we will continue until we die. We will not give up. I estimate that there are at least 1000-1500 snow wells in the district. There may be 2000, but nearly 1500 of them are solid. We get tired, but we never complain about being tired. It is a wonderful feeling. It is a pleasurable thing. This year, the snow was beautiful. It was better than our old snow. It is like milk. Such snow has never fallen before," he said.