Greek children cheer Istanbul up in the Christmas

[Kemalisté]

The students of the Zografeion Lyceum in Istanbul, handed out muffins and sang Christmas songs in the famous Taksim Square, one of the most crowded areas in the city.

60 students of the school walked from Galatasaray High School to the Greek consulate, handing out Christmas muffins and singing Pontic, Greek and Turkish songs for the crowd. Yani Demircioğlu, the school manager, who contributed to the activity by playing accordion, said that they were enjoying continuing an old tradition of them in Istanbul. Demircioğlu explained that according to their tradition, the muffin which a gold is hidden in gets cut after the midnight, and the one who finds it gets accepted as the lucky of the year.

Özcan Şabudak, the deputy manager of the school, saying that they have been carrying out this activity for 3 years, pointed out that the Pontic and Greek songs talk about the Christmas.

http://cdn.internethaber.com/gallery/25965/1.jpg
http://cdn.internethaber.com/gallery/25965/2.jpg
http://cdn.internethaber.com/gallery/25965/3.jpg
http://cdn.internethaber.com/gallery/25965/4.jpg
http://www.bianet.org/resim/olcekle/43848/501/260

It's a great thing to see such beautiful footages in Istanbul. I'd like to taste one of those Christmas muffins. :)

[RussiaPrussia]

west turks have obviously many greek blood so they should find to their old indigenous roots in jesus.

[Anglojew]

The students of the Zografeion Lyceum in Istanbul, handed out muffins and sang Christmas songs in the famous Taksim Square, one of the most crowded areas in the city.

60 students of the school walked from Galatasaray High School to the Greek consulate, handing out Christmas muffins and singing Pontic, Greek and Turkish songs for the crowd. Yani Demircioğlu, the school manager, who contributed to the activity by playing accordion, said that they were enjoying continuing an old tradition of them in Istanbul. Demircioğlu explained that according to their tradition, the muffin which a gold is hidden in gets cut after the midnight, and the one who finds it gets accepted as the lucky of the year.

Özcan Şabudak, the deputy manager of the school, saying that they have been carrying out this activity for 3 years, pointed out that the Pontic and Greek songs talk about the Christmas.

http://cdn.internethaber.com/gallery/25965/1.jpg
http://cdn.internethaber.com/gallery/25965/2.jpg
http://cdn.internethaber.com/gallery/25965/3.jpg
http://cdn.internethaber.com/gallery/25965/4.jpg
http://www.bianet.org/resim/olcekle/43848/501/260

It's a great thing to see such beautiful footages in Istanbul. I'd like to taste one of those Christmas muffins. :)


60 kids out of 70 million. Not exactly a great testament to cultural diversity.

[Talvi]

I really liked Kahve Dünyasi in Izmir, they had some Christmasy decorations up and I think there were some logos with Santa, reindeer and snowman. Really nice atmosphere.

[Kemalisté]

I really liked Kahve Dünyasi in Izmir, they had some Christmasy decorations up and I think there were some logos with Santa, reindeer and snowman. Really nice atmosphere.

They were most probably for the New Year. New Year is generally celebrated in a highly Christmas-influenced way in Turkey.

[Su]

I really liked Kahve Dünyasi in Izmir, they had some Christmasy decorations up and I think there were some logos with Santa, reindeer and snowman. Really nice atmosphere.

We don't celebrate Christmas but we celebrate the new year and for the celebration we use Christmas influenced decoration :picard1: And we got new years parties and people give gifts to each other.

[Talvi]

We don't celebrate Christmas but we celebrate the new year and for the celebration we use Christmas influenced decoration :picard1: And we got new years parties and people give gifts to each other.

I also saw Turkish TV commercials with Santa.

I dont see why you would need to use Santa for new years. Also, I think Christmas is a sign of globalization. You dont have to :picard1: because youre such a muslim.

[Hayalet]

Yep, Turkey pretty much celebrates Christmas as well as Valentine's Day due to commercialism.

[MfA_]

Didnt Santa live in Antalya anyway?

www.antalyamuzesi.gov.tr/tr/noel-baba-muzesi

[TheMagnificent]

Didnt Santa live in Antalya anyway?

www.antalyamuzesi.gov.tr/tr/noel-baba-muzesi

Yes, in the city of Myra, near modern-day Demre:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas

But if I'm right, the current typical depiction of Santa Claus (in red clothes) was popularized by The Coca-Cola Company's advertising campaigns in the '30s and '40s.

[Su]

I also saw Turkish TV commercials with Santa.

I dont see why you would need to use Santa for new years. Also, I think Christmas is a sign of globalization. You dont have to :picard1: because youre such a muslim.

Why do Turks need to copy it? As a Turk I am unhappy that we copy Christmas celebration as in new year celebration. If we are so desperate to celebrate the new year, why didn't we invent our own figures/characters/decoration material etc. for the new year, own creation of decoration. I call our behaviour as "wannabe" but also "bad copy".

[gregorius]

Didnt Santa live in Antalya anyway?

www.antalyamuzesi.gov.tr/tr/noel-baba-muzesi

actually in holland there is sint nicolaas who was from mira turkey now,
They celeberate it 5 dec
the actual santaclaus who has a red clothes and stuff is diverged from sint nicolaas.
Santaclaus~sintNicolaas

[Guapo]

actually in holland there is sint nicolaas who was from mira turkey now,
They celeberate it 5 dec
the actual santaclaus who has a red clothes and stuff is diverged from sint nicolaas.
Santaclaus~sintNicolaas

You mean Dutch Sinterklaas

[gregorius]

Yes sinterklaas is Sint Nicolaas, but for the kids its easier to pronounce sinterklaas

[Guapo]

Yes sinterklaas is Sint Nicolaas, but for the kids its easier to pronounce sinterklaas

That's where you get the English bastardization of Sinterklass to Santa Claus, lol.

[TheMagnificent]

Yes, Sinterklaas looks more like a Catholic bishop.

[MfA_]

Yes, Sinterklaas looks more like a Catholic bishop.

The wiki link you posted mentions Dutch sinterklaas it's a wrong pronouced version of saint nikalous.. But santa claus derives from the dutch version..lol it's like matrooshkas

[gregorius]

anyway i dont think sinterklaas and chrismas had a common thing, its a commercial cocacola thing

[Lathander]

They say Santa Claus is a mix of Odin,Thor and Saint Nicholas.


Why do Turks need to copy it? As a Turk I am unhappy that we copy Christmas celebration as in new year celebration. .

We actually just celebrate new year.The pine and Santa Klaus are not popular except shopping centres and cafes.No one would put effort in the make-up of the three and a big-fat-old man sneaking into your house is not a much liked idea.

[Su]

They say Santa Claus is a mix of Odin,Thor and Saint Nicholas.



We actually just celebrate new year.The pine and Santa Klaus are not popular except shopping centres and cafes.No one would put effort in the make-up of the three and a big-fat-old man sneaking into your house is not a much liked idea.

In my family kids get told Santa Claus / Noel baba will bring them gifts in new years night 31.Dec and the parents secretly buy stuff (I am sure there are other Turks who do the same, maybe not all Turks, but there is a good number of them doing this) and pretend that Santa Claus brought them, also as far as I know many Turks give gifts / buy gifts for the new years night just like people doing during Christmas celebration.

Also Turks, at least many, eat roast Turkey for the new years day celebration just like people who do for Christmas celebration etc. Many things are common, which is a sign for a bad copy.

Also I believed in that Santa Claus is coming on 31. Dec bull-shit when I was a kid and later when I got told by my mother that it was not for real, I was upset LOL

[Lathander]

In my family kids get told Santa Claus / Noel baba will bring them gifts in new years night 31.Dec and the parents secretly buy stuff (I am sure there are other Turks who do the same, maybe not all Turks, but there is a good number of them doing this) and pretend that Santa Claus brought them, also as far as I know many Turks give gifts / buy gifts for the new years night just like people doing during Christmas celebration.


No,santa claus thing is non-existent in Turkey.Maybe it is different for UK turks,I don't know.

[Azalea]

In my family kids get told Santa Claus / Noel baba will bring them gifts in new years night 31.Dec and the parents secretly buy stuff (I am sure there are other Turks who do the same, maybe not all Turks, but there is a good number of them doing this) and pretend that Santa Claus brought them, also as far as I know many Turks give gifts / buy gifts for the new years night just like people doing during Christmas celebration.

Also Turks, at least many, eat roast Turkey for the new years day celebration just like people who do for Christmas celebration etc. Many things are common, which is a sign for a bad copy.

Also I believed in that Santa Claus is coming on 31. Dec bull-shit when I was a kid and later when I got told by my mother that it was not for real, I was upset LOL
First time I hear this. :D I don't know of any Turkish family (even the most 'sosyeti' ones) that celebrates New Year like this.

We did celebrate Sinterklaas though.

[Talvi]

Why do Turks need to copy it? As a Turk I am unhappy that we copy Christmas celebration as in new year celebration. If we are so desperate to celebrate the new year, why didn't we invent our own figures/characters/decoration material etc. for the new year, own creation of decoration. I call our behaviour as "wannabe" but also "bad copy".

Because its fun!!! We have fun holidays!!! All you have is starving yourself. Dont be such a party pooper.

[Azalea]

Because its fun!!! We have fun holidays!!! All you have is starving yourself. Dont be such a party pooper.

Ramadan is not a holiday. Idiot.

[Azalea]

Anyway I would choose cocuk bayrami, seker bayrami, ramazan bayrami etc. over Christmas anyday. :D

[Pontios]

Globalization. Soon we will go to Saudi Arabia and think we are in America :laugh:

[Su]

Anyway I would choose cocuk bayrami, seker bayrami, ramazan bayrami etc. over Christmas anyday. :D

Yes, the best thing is bayram :D

[Su]

Actually we should do globalization of our bayrams :wink :clap

[Talvi]

Ramadan is not a holiday. Idiot.

tssk, tssk, watch your language.

[Azalea]

Actually we should do globalization of our bayrams :wink :clap

Even über Dutch supermarkets and wearhouses like Albert Heijn & Hema start selling baklava and other Turkish goodies when bayram is comming. :D

[gregorius]

^well maybe in rotterdam and in den Haag but not were i live

[Azalea]

I live in a small town in Limburg..if even the Hema's and Albert Heijns here sell them, then I am sure the rest of the Hema's and Albert Heijns in the Netherlands sell them too.

http://www.etnomarketing.nl/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Ramadan_AH.jpg

http://static2.parool.nl/static/photo/2010/9/16/2/20100909155206/media_xl_284477.jpg

[Kemalisté]

I also saw Turkish TV commercials with Santa.

I dont see why you would need to use Santa for new years. Also, I think Christmas is a sign of globalization. You dont have to :picard1: because youre such a muslim.

Why shouldn't we ? Santa Claus is believed to be born and live in Turkey throughout his life. We should own him in culture.

[Partizan]

tssk, tssk, watch your language.

Talvi, some Turks you encounter IRL might be Atheist but many are Muslim. So, you had better to be respectful while talking about Islam if you don't want to be targeted.

[gregorius]

Why shouldn't we ? Santa Claus is believed to be born and live in Turkey throughout his life. We should own him in culture.

actually it was greece back than not turkey

[Talvi]

Talvi, some Turks you encounter IRL might be Atheist but many are Muslim. So, you had better to be respectful while talking about Islam if you don't want to be targeted.

No religion deserves respect imo. However, I did refrain from personal insults.

[TheMagnificent]

actually it was greece back than not turkey

Lycia, to be precise, which was an administrative division (diocese) of the Roman Empire at that time.

[Partizan]

actually it was greece back than not turkey

You mean Roman Empire I think. There was no Greece with modern definition back 1830.

Anyway, I have no claim on Saint Nicholaus or whatever. I have my own Dede Korkut, Ebu Dharr, Hajj Baktash Wali, Abū Ḥanīfa, Manas, Yunus Emre and many more Turkic and/or Muslim figures. Those are enough for me.

[Mortimer]

nice

[Mortimer]

I welcome a tolerant and multi-cultural Turkey. I could picture myself spending a year as guest in Turkey

[Linet]

Why shouldn't we ? Santa Claus is believed to be born and live in Turkey throughout his life. We should own him in culture.

:picard2:

:picard1:

:picard2:

:picard1:

What Turkey ? :icon_ask:
Byzantine empire you mean :chin: ? The empire of the Greeks :cool:? Yes sure he was Greek we know that :rolleyes:...its about time you learn it as well :eyes

[Mortimer]

:picard2:

:picard1:

:picard2:

:picard1:

What Turkey ? :icon_ask:
Byzantine empire you mean :chin: ? The empire of the Greeks :cool:? Yes sure he was Greek we know that :rolleyes:...its about time you learn it as well :eyes

He was Anatolian probably not Greek. Just like Africans were never British because they were part of British Empire. Also I dont see why Turks shouldnt use Santa. It is Commercial just like Coke and Pop Corn and Burger. It is universal globalist culture.

[Linet]

He was Anatolian probably not Greek. Just like Africans were never British because they were part of British Empire. Also I dont see why Turks shouldnt use Santa. It is Commercial just like Coke and Pop Corn and Burger. It is universal globalist culture.


No darling :no: , we know his ancestry even his parents :old ....he was Greek :cool:.. try to use wiki...sometimes is usefull :eyes


Ps. Did you see me saying probably-maybe- should be Greek :chin: ? i said he is...i didnt play with probabilities :)

[Mortimer]

No darling :no: , we know his ancestry even his parents :old ....he was Greek :cool:.. try to use wiki...sometimes is usefull :eyes


Ps. Did you see me saying probably-maybe- should be Greek :chin: ? i said he is...i didnt play with probabilities :)

i said probably because im not certain but i assumed he was anatolian.

[Linet]

Well, why to assume since i gave you the answer anyway? :icon_ask:
Well, he was Greek from the city of Myra and archibishop of our church... :fpope:

[SKYNET]

Santa Claus is believed to be born and live in Turkey throughout his life.


serious? :D



Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and simply "Santa", is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. During the Christianization of Germanic Europe, this figure may have absorbed elements of the god Odin, who was associated with the pre-Christian midwinter event of Yule and led the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky. The modern figure of Santa Claus was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, was part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of Christian bishop and gift giver Saint Nicholas.


more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

[Mortimer]

serious? :D



Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and simply "Santa", is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. During the Christianization of Germanic Europe, this figure may have absorbed elements of the god Odin, who was associated with the pre-Christian midwinter event of Yule and led the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky. The modern figure of Santa Claus was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, was part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of Christian bishop and gift giver Saint Nicholas.


more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

In a globalist world it doesnt Play role what the origins are. Santa is Commercial. I dont see why People around the World shouldnt use the Image if they like. Westerners go to yoga classes, eat Indian and chinese style Food or have small Buddhas in their appartments.

[Hochmeister]

This is St Nicolas according to a reconstruction

http://www.cirota.ru/forum/images/75/75319.jpeg
http://www.cirota.ru/forum/view.php?subj=72210

[Mortimer]

east med and alpine. could be turk

[Hochmeister]

That;s interesting. :)
I've opened a topic about Santa's classification: http://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1251711#post1251711

[SKYNET]

In a globalist world it doesnt Play role what the origins are. Santa is Commercial. I dont see why People around the World shouldnt use the Image if they like.



Santa is Commercial :)

http://conservativenewjersey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/merryxmas.jpg




Westerners go to yoga classes, eat Indian and chinese style Food or have small Buddhas in their appartments.

wtf :confused:

[Talvi]

In a globalist world it doesnt Play role what the origins are. Santa is Commercial. I dont see why People around the World shouldnt use the Image if they like. Westerners go to yoga classes, eat Indian and chinese style Food or have small Buddhas in their appartments.

and people like that most likely have interest in Asia, or they got the buddhas as souvenirs. Ive bought my parents all kinds of souvenirs like that and their origin sure matters.

[Mortimer]

and people like that most likely have interest in Asia, or they got the buddhas as souvenirs. Ive bought my parents all kinds of souvenirs like that and their origin sure matters.

but santa is commercialised now. deal with it. it is not exclusively european anymore

[SKYNET]

but santa is commercialised now. deal with it. it is not exclusively european anymore



we know, he is commercialised


http://conservativenewjersey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/merryxmas.jpg

[gregorius]

I live in a small town in Limburg..if even the Hema's and Albert Heijns here sell them, then I am sure the rest of the Hema's and Albert Heijns in the Netherlands sell them too.

http://www.etnomarketing.nl/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Ramadan_AH.jpg

http://static2.parool.nl/static/photo/2010/9/16/2/20100909155206/media_xl_284477.jpg

Albert heijn in Groningen(oude ebingestraat) verkoopt ze iig niet. Niet alle AH's hebben hetzelfde assortiment.

[Talvi]

but santa is commercialised now. deal with it. it is not exclusively european anymore

I dont need santa when I can do fun stuff like this:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HBgbPs2nL7w/Sx5WYVwldZI/AAAAAAAABjg/_n9Qh7713Mo/s400/S6302367.JPG

pre-christianized customs ftw!

[Mortimer]

we know, he is commercialised


http://conservativenewjersey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/merryxmas.jpg

whats up with this Picture? of course he is. People all over the world use santa Claus for new years or Christmas.

[gregorius]

You mean Roman Empire I think. There was no Greece with modern definition back 1830.

Anyway, I have no claim on Saint Nicholaus or whatever. I have my own Dede Korkut, Ebu Dharr, Hajj Baktash Wali, Abū Ḥanīfa, Manas, Yunus Emre and many more Turkic and/or Muslim figures. Those are enough for me.

yes you are right, what i meant to say that he was greek.

[Mortimer]

I dont need santa when I can do fun stuff like this:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HBgbPs2nL7w/Sx5WYVwldZI/AAAAAAAABjg/_n9Qh7713Mo/s400/S6302367.JPG

pre-christianized customs ftw!

then do it and dont be jelly or ridicolously overprotective of "european culture". the natives and arabs were first to smoke pipe or use pepper. now everyone does. deal with it that santa exists everywhere just like coke

[Talvi]

then do it and dont be jelly or ridicolously overprotective of "european culture". the natives and arabs were first to smoke pipe or use pepper. now everyone does. deal with it that santa exists everywhere just like coke

Im not sure which post of mine are you referring to. Do you mind quoting since I dont remember being jelly. In fact I think I was the first who said that celebrating Christmas means globalization.

[Mortimer]

Im not sure which post of mine are you referring to. Do you mind quoting since I dont remember being jelly. In fact I think I was the first who said that celebrating Christmas means globalization.

ok misunderstanding then. the message goes out to those who said turks shouldnt use santa

[SKYNET]

whats up with this Picture? of course he is. People all over the world use santa Claus for new years or Christmas.

huh? I'm talking about the origins of santa

[Mortimer]

huh? I'm talking about the origins of santa

his origins are from the coke TV Commercial. Period

[Siberian Cold Breeze]

Anyway, I have no claim on Saint Nicholaus or whatever. I have my own Dede Korkut, Ebu Dharr, Hajj Baktash Wali, Abū Ḥanīfa, Manas, Yunus Emre and many more Turkic and/or Muslim figures. Those are enough for me.

Turkic Santa for Turkic Ice Man

This is "Chysh Khan" -The Bull of Frost - The Cold Keeper - The King of the Winter (Yakutia, Siberia)

http://i.imgur.com/htA0u.jpg

By Yakutian Siberian legend Ox of Cold creates the winter by its breathing. Annually the russian Ded Moroz gets from hands of Chyskhaan Symbol of the Cold with which begins the pre-newyear journey on country. Chiskhaan is living on the Pole of Cold but also have a Yakutsk Residence - "Permafrost Empire"
Chhysh Khan is said to be a modern incarnation of the mythical image of Yakut Bull of Winter. The image (and the name Chysh Khan) is alleged to well-known Yakut fashion designer Avgustina Filippova. Chiskhaans residence as it is due to the Cold Keeper is located at the Pole of Cold in Oimyakon. Every year fairy-tale characters from all over the world arrive to Oimyakon to visit Chyskhan and to symbolically take over the Cold from the Keepers hands and to share their experience of the current New Year preparations.

According to Yakut legends every autumn the Bull of Winter comes out of the Arctic Ocean and gives out the cold. In spring on the first St. Athanasius day (around March, 7) it casts one of its horns and on the second St. Athanasius day (around March, 22) the Bull sheds of his second horn. Then his head knocks down, and by the time of ice break his carcass is carried back to the Arctic Ocean.
It is supposed among historians that the Bull of Winter image in Yakut mythology and folklore is emerged as affected by the impression mammoth remains had on ancient Yakuts. At times of Yakut migration to the Middle Lena it could have been found everywhere frozen in the ice.

Bull of Frost dwells in Tomtor, Oymiakon ulus, which is the coldest place in Siberia.Winter lasts for 9 months in Tomtor, where the lowest temperature registered in Tomtor is -71,2 degrees Celsius.Due to the climate, there are no bulls or cows there.
So Scholars confirm that Bull of Frost is actually Mammoth, which is important personage in shamanic traditions.For example, a large wooden representation of Mammoth was in a western "gallery" of Evenk shaman's tent etc.
Recently Yakutian Bull of Frost-Mammoth befriended Siberian Grandpa Frost (Ded Moroz) and became popular in Siberia. However some Christians are not happy to see their children playing with "Shaman's Mammoth".

Notably the mammoth and the bull make up two aspects of the Bull of Winter image, one is of unknown animal and the other is of long forgotten ancient Yakut deity of the Bull (Bug-noyon).
Whereas according to native mythology all spirits, itchi, are personified, i.e. the Yakuts communicate with them, make sacrifices, conduct ceremonies in order to win their favourable disposition, the Bull of Winter image is deprived of all this.

As consistent with Yakut traditional mythology, the Bull is the incarnation of inevitable forces of nature (frost, cold and winter) therefore it comes from the North out of the water (of the Ocean). It is portrayed as a huge blue spotted white bull with enormous transparent horns and frosty breath. When it walks round, everything freezes over, so all humans and animals suffer from the cold at the time.
By the end of January the winter and the frost reach an all-time high level, so on the day just before the end of January the Mighty Eagle, the child of the warm skies, comes from the South, shovels off the snow from its nest and emits his first ringing screaming. Because of that screaming, the Bull of Winter retreats: it alternately loses both his horns and his head...

[PeacefulCaribbeanDutch]

Asians and Middle Easterners who celebrate christmas as just a "fun none religious holiday" make me sick.

[Siberian Cold Breeze]

Asians and Middle Easterners who celebrate christmas as just a "fun none religious holiday" make me sick.

What about new years eve ..?

Actually Christmas was a pagan celebration before ..anyway..

[Corvus]

Asians and Middle Easterners who celebrate christmas as just a "fun none religious holiday" make me sick.


Don`t be so exclusionistic. The vast majority of athestic and agnostic Europeans celebrate Christmas too.
The Czech Rep. (most atheistic European country) to give you an example doesn`t pay much attention on Christian festivities but still everbody there celebrates Christmas nowadays.

[iNird]

Asians and Middle Easterners who celebrate christmas as just a "fun none religious holiday" make me sick.

But it is a fun and commercialized pagan holiday.

[Queen B]

serious? :D


Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and simply "Santa", is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. During the Christianization of Germanic Europe, this figure may have absorbed elements of the god Odin, who was associated with the pre-Christian midwinter event of Yule and led the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky. The modern figure of Santa Claus was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, was part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of Christian bishop and gift giver Saint Nicholas.


more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

They are talking about this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas