Folk beliefs are the name given to the whole of beliefs that emerge and change in line with the needs of the people and are believed to be true among individuals and societies. Folk beliefs determine the attitudes, reactions and behaviors of people in the face of a number of situations and events that people face. They have an important part in every stage of human life from birth to death and maintain their existence in the cultural memory of the human being. Istira, tibika and ummu subyan is a belief which is based on women who do not have children, have frequent miscarriages, whose child dies in the womb, during childbirth or shortly after birth. In particular, ummu subyan and tibika were considered as a demonic being that should be feared and avoided among the people. The belief of ıstira is seen in Alanya, Manavgat and Akseki regions, the belief of tibika is seen in Osmaniye, Mersin, Adana, Niğde and its surroundings, the belief of ummu subyan is seen in a large part of Anatolia, especially in Sinop and Karaman. A number of rituals are performed to protect the woman and the baby from Istira, tibika and ummu subyan. Before or during pregnancy, the mother is taken to the family chamber, and after the birth, she goes back to the family chamber again with the child. In this study, the concepts of suffering, medicine, and ummu-subyan and folk beliefs about them are mentioned. A literature review was conducted on the words ıstira, tibika and ummu subyan. The beliefs of ıstira, tibika and ummu-subyan are exemplified by the information obtained from various sources. In addition, as a result of the fieldwork carried out in Alanya, information about suffering and illiteracy was obtained from the source persons. In line with the information obtained from both written and oral sources, the place of suffering, ummu dwarf and medicine in folk beliefs has been emphasized. The concepts of ıstira, tibika and ummu-subyan were handled and evaluated separately. The effects of these on the mother and the child are mentioned and the ways of protection from them are explained.

Folk beliefs, ummu subyan, ıstira, tibika, birth, tradition.