DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2663-4619/127/201-212
Chinara Rzayeva 
Nakhchivan Branch of the Azerbaijan
National Academy of Sciences
Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan
PhD in Philology
cinarerzayeva@yahoo.com.tr
Ethno-Cultural and Functional Characteristics of Women’s
Head Coverings in Azerbaijani Folklore
Abstract
This article systematically examines Azerbaijani clothing terminology specifically yaylıq, örpək, şal, and kəlağayı-within the context of ethnic identity formation and the preservation of cultural values. The primary objective of the study is to determine the significance of clothing terms in the collective identity and cultural memory of the Azerbaijani people. Folklore samples, including epics, fairy tales, bayatis, and ritual texts, serve as the foundational sources reflecting the historical memory, social relations, and cultural worldview of the nation. In this study, clothing names are analyzed not merely as artifacts of material culture, but as symbolic indicators expressing social status, gender distinctions, age categories, regional characteristics, and aesthetic taste. The research identifies that clothing elements such as the yaylıq and örpək perform protective, distinctive, and regulatory functions within folklore texts. The findings indicate that these terms act as key markers of national and ethnic identity, playing a vital role in the intergenerational transmission of collective heritage. Through the use of clothing terminology, the society’s value systems, ethical norms, and social behavior models are encoded and preserved. The article also reviews the linguistic and ethnographic aspects of these terms, analyzing their semantic features and functional weight. In this framework, the role of clothing terminology in safeguarding cultural memory and ensuring the continuity of ethnic identity is emphasized. Ultimately, the study concludes that the clothing names utilized in folklore texts are an integral part of the ethnic identity and cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people. Furthermore, the role of the yaylıq in the formation of ethno-cultural identity within Azerbaijani society is investigated through empirical methods. The research was conducted using observation, surveys, and statistical analysis. The empirical component classifies the modern symbolic functions of clothing elements based on the results of surveys (n=130) conducted in both urban and rural environments.
Keywords: Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan, status of women, cultural memory, ethnic identity, cultural values, headgear