Local Whistle (Düllüm düdük)

Making a whistle from a willow tree is a traditional craft, especially practiced in the spring with fresh branches where the sap is flowing. The branch must be fresh and full of sap so that the bark can be peeled off in one piece. To make a willow whistle, you can follow these steps: Materials Needed Fresh Willow Branch: Choose a branch that is not dried, about a finger's thickness, and straight. A Sharp Knife: Necessary for cutting and shaping the bark. Construction Steps Prepare the Branch: Cut a knotless and straight willow branch about 10-15 cm long. Determine the Mouthpiece: Cut one end of the branch slightly at an angle (to create the blowing point). Make an Air Hole: About 2-3 cm behind the mouthpiece, lightly hollow out a small "V" or rectangular notch (air hole) in the bark. Loosen the Bark: Gently tap the bark on the remaining part of the branch with the handle of a knife or a piece of wood. This process separates the bark from the wood. Older people used to recite rhymes during this process. Remove the Bark: Gently rotate the bark and slide it off the wood whole. Caution: Be careful not to tear the bark. Create the Sound Mechanism: Scrape a thin layer of the white piece of wood that comes out, between the air hole and the mouthpiece (air will pass through here). Assembly: Place the prepared piece of wood back into the bark.