Don't you know the legend and truth about Santa Claus? Well, read on.
And if you do know it, read it too.
"Red clothes with a hat with a white pompom, a long white beard and a sleigh led by reindeer? Such an image of St. Nicholas reigns supreme in the popular imagination.
Meanwhile, its prototype had little in common with this picture. He did not live in frosty Lapland either, but came from the town of Myra, which is now called Demre and lies in the historical area of Anatolia, Turkey.
The real Saint Nicholas lived at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries and was the bishop of Myra in Asia Minor. Thanks to his wealthy parents, he inherited a significant fortune, which he willingly shared with the poor. People appreciated him for his piety and mercy, and also saw him as a miracle worker. According to legend, he resurrected three young men who were killed for failing to pay the bill for an overnight stay at an inn.
One of the most popular Christmas Eve traditions is associated with the figure of Nicholas of Myra. He allocated his fortune to provide a dowry for three poor sisters, who were able to get married. He threw a purse of gold down the chimney to each of them. As luck would have it, the oldest daughter was drying her socks on the fireplace at that time. The gift went straight into the stocking and that's how a Christmas tradition was created.
Saint Nicholas died on December 6 in 345 or 352. Thanks to his generosity and the miracles he performed, he was declared the patron saint of sailors, marrying girls, lawyers, bakers and travelers. His relics are now in Bari in southern Italy, where they were deposited in a church built in his honor.
Legend of Saint Santa Claus appeared in pop culture again in the 20th century in the United States. At the same time, in Finnish Lapland, Santa Claus became the hero of a local radio broadcast. This program was so popular that even a Santa Claus Village was established there. Meanwhile, the place that shaped the extraordinary character of the saint should be sought in Turkey.”
Demre is 180 km from Side. It's a bit too far for our time limits and the efficiency of the scooter.
So we weren't there, but I think it's worth knowing where the hero of our childhood "appeared” from.
