General Information
Nahiya (Subdistrict)
Efrîn
Also Known As
Khalidiya, Khalta, Khalti, Xalta, الخالدية, خالدية, خالديه
Tribes
Milan, Xaltî
Families, Clans, etc.
Xubarî, malbata Rêno
Photos
Basic Information about Xalta
Source: Afrin Flo
Trees: dara gûzê
Wells: bîr, bîra erebî
Other Landmarks: mekteba gundê Xalta
Summaries
I. Summary from TirejAfrin Site (English) of Xalta
Source: https://www.tirejafrin.com/site/kura%20afrin%20markaz-xata.htm
According to the book Çiyayê Kurmênc (Efrîn): A Geographical Study by Dr. Mihemed Ebdo Elî: Xalta, Xalidiye /279 inhabitants - 200 hectares - 5km - 566m/:
Xaltî, Xalta: The name of a Kurdish clan from the large Milan tribe. It is also the name of a known region in northern Kurdistan that was the homeland of the ancient Khaldi people.
It is a small village on Çiyayê Lêlûn, Rûbarî section, and it is among the properties of the family of Hec Nesîb Axa Xubarî.
According to the book (in print): Efrîn... Her River and Her Green Hills by the writer Ebdulrehman Mihemed from the village of Qetme:
Xalidiye: A village in Çiyayê Lêlûn, belonging to the sub-district of the central villages and region of Efrîn, Heleb governorate. It consists of a small farm situated on the Çiyayê Seman range and a plain planted with olive trees. It contains about 10 houses.
The origin of the lands goes back to the Xubarî family. It is bordered to the north by Kefer Mêz, to the south by the village of Kûbelê, to the east by Enab and Meryemîn, and to the west by a mountain range and the village of Erşqîbar down the valley.
There are no notable services in it. Its houses are made of reinforced concrete and are 35 years old. The main source of income is the cultivation of grains and olives and livestock breeding.
Sources:
- Book: جبل الكرد (عفرين) دراسة جغرافية Çiyayê Kurmênc (Efrîn): A Geographical Study by د. محمد عبدو علي Dr. Mihemed Ebdo Elî.
- Book: عفرين .... نهرها وروابيها الخضراء Efrîn... Her River and Her Green Hills by عبدالرحمن محمد Ebdulrehman Mihemed from the village of Qetme.
II. Summary of Xalta from Afrin Flo
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCXRft8xoWA
The documentary focuses on the village of Xwelta, also referred to by the reporter as Xalta. The residents describe the settlement as kevnar, indicating it is ancient. One villager named Rênas suggests the history runs very deep, rhetorically mentioning ten thousand years to emphasize its age, though the exact foundation era is unknown. The historical narrative of the village is defined by water scarcity. In the past, the ground beneath the houses did not yield water, forcing the entire community to rely on a single, central well known as bîra erebî. Villagers would draw water from this source and carry it on their backs to their homes. This communal reliance persisted until residents began digging their own private cisterns.
A central feature of the village landscape is a massive walnut tree, identified as dara gûzê. An elderly resident recounts the history of this tree, estimating it to be approximately one hundred years old. He explains that lightning once struck the tree, splitting it two meters deep. Despite this destruction, the tree regenerated from its roots and grew back to its current large size. This location holds social significance as a gathering place where villagers used to set up çadir or tents.
The social structure highlighted in the footage revolves around specific households and individuals. The reporter interacts with Rênas and sends specific greetings to malbata Rêno. Another resident, Mistefa, is featured as the host films his courtyard and offers greetings to him in Turkey, indicating a population that has partially migrated. The request to film the village came from Ebû Cano, linking the diaspora with those remaining. The village infrastructure includes a school, mekteba gundê Xalta, where children are observed playing. The village is characterized by the presenter as beautiful and polite, maintaining connections between the residents and their relatives abroad.
Transcriptions and Subtitles
| Source | Video | Subtitles | Transcript |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afrin Flo 1 | Watch Video | Download SRT | View Transcript |
Foundation/Origin Information of Xalta
A small village on Mount Liloun- Rubar section, it belongs to the properties of the Haj Naseeb Agha Ghabbari family. The origin of the lands belongs to the Ghabbari family.
Source: TirejAfrin Site
established by people of the Amka tribe.
Source: Afrin Flo Transcript
Possible Village Name Meaning of Xalta
Khalti, Khalta: Name of a Kurdish clan from the great Milillan tribe, as it is also the name of a known region in northern Kurdistan that was the homeland of the ancient Khalidi people.
Source: TirejAfrin Site
derives its name from the Kurdish word for maternal aunt, "xaltîk," in honor of its first female settler.
Source: Afrin Flo Transcript