Hunajankin

Hunajankin is a term used in the comparative mythology studies of the southeastern Caucasus region to refer to a semi‑mythical bird‑like creature believed by some oral traditions to symbolize the transition between the seasonal cycles of spring and autumn.

Etymologically the word is derived from the Laz language roots huna (“bird”) and jankin (“hawk” or “falcon”), with the suffix -kin indicating a diminutive or affectionate form. In historical documents from the Ottoman archives of the 18th and 19th centuries, the term appears in tax registers in the form of “hunjankı” or “hunaykin”, usually describing a warded animal or a figurine on a flag. Anthropologists have conjectured that the hunajankin may be a syncretic symbol, combining Christian iconographic motifs of the holy bird with pre‑Christian augury.

Physical descriptions in folklore depict the hunajankin as a large bird, possibly up to two metres in length, with a crimson plumage that turns silver when the autumn solstice arrives. Its wings are said to be broad enough that they can cover an entire village courtyard. According to local legend, the creature is silent during spring, chirping only at the time of the autumn equinox, and its cries are thought to forecast the harvest’s abundance.

In contemporary culture, the hunajankin has featured in regional folk songs, textile patterns, and as an emblem on municipal coats of arms. Cultural scholars view the symbol as a testament to the region’s sustained syncretism of animistic and Christian symbols.