A small town in Turkey, Demre, each in December is always sumringah. It was here, in the city whose inhabitants are predominantly Muslim, Christmas character of Santa Claus comes.
Loh? Instead of Santa Claus from the North Pole? Paunchy, wearing a thick red, white beard hung down, and riding a reindeer? Apparently not. Archaeological evidence states of Santa Claus comes from Demre, Turkey, and he was not fat.
The legend of Santa Claus or Nicholas credible historians have existed since the year 343 AD. In this figure Nicholas died in Demre, which formerly City Myra. Myra-speaking population at the time of ancient Greece. He is best known by the name of Nicholas of Myra. His figure can still be seen on some sculptures at sites in Demre.
"Nicholas aka Santa Claus is real! He lived and died here. He spread Christianity," archaeologist Turkey, Nevzat Cevic, who studied ancient Christian civilization.
But his description differs 180 degrees. Nicholas of Myra is a well-built man, with a vest shirt, cloth trousers rolled up to the knee. He is Christian pastors that destroy pagan temples and built churches on top.
So where does the legend of Santa Claus are popular now? According Cevik, gradually the figure of Nicholas legend adapted and blended from the Scandinavian countries. From here, the character Nicholas polished again by the U.S. origin of fiction writers of the 19th century.
"Santa Claus is now the American creation," says the mayor of Demre, Suleyman Topcu.
And for the people of Demre, Nicholas is sustenance. Almost all residents utilize Nicholas figures for lent. Starting from the drawings, glass, to sculpture.
Every December, the city of Demre turn into fat. Hundreds of thousands of tourists flowing in here. Want to make pilgrimages to the church as well as original tomb Nicholas.
Whereas the majority of citizens of Demre converted to Islam. In Demre, every time of prayer, sound azan echoed everywhere, from the minarets that very much.
"Funny thing is, there's nothing to celebrate Christmas here," said Line Yuksel, a resident of Demre. Yuksel originally tomato farmers and traders. He is exporting from a number of greenhouse tomatoes in Demre.
But the last few years, he swerved. Business tomatoes no longer a priority. Yuksel chose Nicholas souvenir business. "We like Nicholas. After so long, we can make money thanks to him," Yuksel said.
Source:www.republika.co.id
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