rüzgârn

Rüzgârn is a term found in Turkish-language folklore and contemporary media that refers to the personification of the wind. Etymology: derived from rüzgâr, the Turkish word for wind, with a suffix that forms a proper name or spirit; early attestations occur in oral narratives from Anatolia and neighboring regions.

In traditional belief, rüzgârn is imagined as an elusive, mobile figure composed of air who can summon gusts, steer currents, and influence weather. It may appear as a shimmering silhouette or a swirling vortex and is often described as both benevolent and dangerous, bringing favorable winds for sailors and farmers, or fierce storms when angered. Folklorists emphasize its role as a mediator between people and the weather, a common motif in songs, proverbs, and seasonal rituals.

In modern culture, rüzgârn appears as a motif or character in literature, music, and film, used to symbolize change, mobility, or the unseen forces of nature. While it lacks a single, codified cult, regional traditions reveal variations in its portrayal and rituals associated with wind events. Scholarly treatment typically regards rüzgârn as a folkloric archetype rather than a historical deity, highlighting its regional diversity and persistence in collective imagination.

See also: wind deity, wind spirit, personification of wind in Turkic folklore.