
Santa in Norway. Submitted photos
As a young man during the mid-1960’s, I spent a considerable amount of time traveling throughout Turkey and Europe. Because owning and driving a car was out of the question for a 17 year old, most of my traveling was done by bus and train. During one particular summer, I was traveling south, trying to get to the beautiful and historical seaside town of Antalya. After hours on a rickety, smelly old bus with uncomfortable seats I arrived at a small town called Kale (now called Demre) on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. As was the practice then, the bus pulled into a depot for a two hour break and everyone got out to stretch their legs and get something to eat. As I walked down the center of this ancient town, I noticed a sign indicating that this place was once a Lycian town called Myra, the home of Saint Nicholas of Myra – the original Santa Claus! Known to Turkish Children as Papa Noel or Noel Baba in Turkish, I was at the birthplace of Santa Claus!
I wanted to find out

St. Nicholas in Myra.
Myra, where St. Nicholas lived was one of the most important cities in antique Lycia. Coins have been found there dating back to 300 BC, but the city must have been founded centuries earlier. The city thrived as part of the Roman Empire and was home to many public buildings. Nicholas, however, was not born in Myra. He was actually born in the nearby

Papa Noel
Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith. He was exiled and imprisoned. After his release, Nicholas returned home and died on December 6, AD 343 in Myra. He was buried in his cathedral church. According to local legend a unique relic called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance which was said to have healing powers fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6th (December 19 on the Julian calendar).
Over the years, many stories and legends have been told of St. Nicholas’ life and deeds and he was finally transformed into Santa Claus as

Santa Claus Church.
One of the most prominent of these stories tells of a poor man with three daughters. The custom of the time was for the father of young girls to offer a dowry, something of value to prospective husbands. Since the father was so poor and could not afford to pay a dowry, his daughters did not have a chance to get married. This meant that he may have to sell them into slavery. On three different occasions, a bag of gold mysteriously appeared in their home, providing the much-needed dowries. The bags of gold which were tossed through an open window were said to have landed in stockings or shoes left by the fire to dry. This may have led to the custom of children hanging stockings by the fireplace or putting out shoes awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the same story was told with gold balls substituted for bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas.
Nicholas’ tomb in Myra became a popular place of pilgrimage. Some Christians at

Saint Nicholas
By his example of generosity to those in need, especially children, St. Nicholas continued to be a model for the compassionate life. By the end of the 1400’s St. Nicholas was the third beloved religious figure, after Jesus and Mary. There were more than 2,000 chapels and monasteries named after him. Over the centuries, St Nicholas’ popularity grew, and many people in Europe made up new stories that showed his concern for children. The American version, Santa Claus,

Demre Noel Baba op Plein
Over the centuries, customs from different parts of the Northern Hemisphere thus came together and created the whole world’s Santa Claus – the ageless, timeless, white-bearded and red -suited man who gives out gifts on Christmas. He now lives in and always returns to a place called Korvatunturi in Finnish Lapland.
Now, it is time for children of all ages to make their lists, be on their best behavior, go to bed early and wish for Santa to deliver their gifts on Christmas Eve. A wonderful tradition that started in Demre, Turkey many centuries ago still continues to excite all of us… young and old.
Merry Christmas!
Currently a member of Marco Island’s Code Enfaorcement Board, Tarik Ayasun has given many years of community service to various organizations.
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