The Return of the Exiles: Vargite Flowers Blooming
Vargit Flowers Signal the Arrival of Winter in Eastern Black Sea Region
As the temperatures in the Eastern Black Sea region begin to drop, the beautiful vargit flowers have started to bloom in the plateaus situated above 2 thousand meters. These flowers are considered to be a harbinger of winter, which prompts the local residents to return from the plateaus.
The vargit flowers are easily recognizable due to their tulip-like appearance. They grow to a height of 15-20 centimeters and bear purple and white leaves on their stems. These flowers serve as a reminder to the plateau dwellers that it is time to migrate.
Found throughout the Eastern Black Sea region, the vargit flower is often referred to as the “turn back” or “autumn rose” in certain areas. It appears every year during autumn, and the locals believe that it symbolizes the imminent cold weather and the arrival of winter.
Adding a touch of beauty to the Eastern Black Sea plateaus with their white and purple colors, the vargit flowers have started to bloom in the high plateaus of Trabzon’s Şalpazarı district. In response, the residents have started to return from the plateaus, where they had spent the last few months with their cows decorated like brides during May. Women and girls from the Chepni community, donned in flowered dresses, embark on a journey that covers several kilometers on foot, alongside their livestock, to return to their neighborhoods from Alaca, Kadırga, and Sis Mountain Plateaus.
Salih Usta, a 47-year-old resident from the Sinlice neighborhood in the Şalpazarı district, is one of the cattle herders who recently returned with their herds as the weather cooled down and winter arrived. He shares his experience, “When we move to the plateau, we embark on our journey with a sense of peace and joy, accompanied by our cows. When we decorate our cows for the plateau, they understand that they are going there and reach the plateau without any trouble. The joy we initially feel turns into a sense of sadness, as if we have lost someone dear to us. It is when the vargit flowers bloom on the plateau that we realize our time there is over. My wife, neighbors, and relatives, we were all in tears upon our return. We didn’t want to leave, but as the weather started to get colder, we had no choice but to return from the plateaus.”
The vargit flowers not only mark the changing of seasons but also evoke a range of emotions among the locals. They serve as a reminder that it is time to say goodbye to the plateaus and welcome the arrival of winter in the Eastern Black Sea region.
