by Hannah, age 10 from Detroit, asks Noel Baba about the historical Saint Nicholas and his roots in ancient Turkey.
A Letter to Noel Baba from Hannah in Detroit, Michigan
Dear Noel Baba, my name is Hannah and I am ten years old. I live in Detroit, Michigan, and I learned that Saint Nicholas was a real person, so I have questions for you:
- Are you the same person as the historical Saint Nicholas?
- Did you come from Turkey, because that’s where Saint Nicholas was born?
- Do Turkish children leave out treats for you?
- Do you come down the chimney?
- Do you come on Christmas Eve in Turkey?
- Do you have helpers or elves?
- Do you have reindeer to pull your sleigh?
- Do you visit all children, or only Christians in Turkey?
- Do you wear a red suit like the American Santa?
- Your name means Father Christmas in Turkish, are you like Santa Claus?
- Geography: What strait separates the European and Asian sides of Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul?
- Social Studies: Saint Nicholas was a real historical bishop born in a region that is now part of modern Turkey. What was the name of the ancient city where he served as bishop?
Thank you, Hannah
Noel Baba Writes Back
Are you the same person as the historical Saint Nicholas?
Yes, Hannah, my story traces directly back to the real historical Saint Nicholas, which makes my roots a bit older and more grounded in real history than some other Santa traditions.
Did you come from Turkey, because that’s where Saint Nicholas was born?
That’s exactly right. Saint Nicholas was born and served as a bishop in a region that is part of modern day Turkey, which is why my story is so closely connected to this country.
Do Turkish children leave out treats for you?
Some Turkish families, especially Christian communities, do leave out small treats, though Christmas is celebrated by a smaller share of the population there overall.
Do you come down the chimney?
Chimney, yes, following the same general tradition as many other Santas around the world.
Do you come on Christmas Eve in Turkey?
Christmas Eve, mainly among Turkey’s Christian communities, since most of the country celebrates other holidays as its main winter celebrations.
Do you have helpers or elves?
A few helpers assist me, though my story stays closer to my historical roots as a generous bishop than to a big toy factory operation.
Do you have reindeer to pull your sleigh?
I do keep a sleigh and reindeer in modern illustrations, though older stories about the real Saint Nicholas focus more on quiet acts of generosity than flying travel.
Do you visit all children, or only Christians in Turkey?
I focus mainly on Christian families in Turkey, since Christmas itself is celebrated by a smaller religious community there, even though my name and story are known much more widely.
Do you wear a red suit like the American Santa?
Yes, a red suit in most modern pictures, blending my older bishop’s robes with the newer, more familiar Santa Claus look.
Your name means Father Christmas in Turkish, are you like Santa Claus?
Noel Baba does mean Father Christmas in Turkish, and yes, I am considered the same figure as the Santa Claus you know, just connected back to my real historical roots here in Turkey.
Geography: What strait separates the European and Asian sides of Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul?
The Bosphorus Strait cuts right through Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, separating the European side from the Asian side, a beautiful and busy waterway I enjoy flying over each December.
Social Studies: Saint Nicholas was a real historical bishop born in a region that is now part of modern Turkey. What was the name of the ancient city where he served as bishop?
The real Saint Nicholas served as a bishop in the ancient city of Myra, now called Demre, located in modern day Turkey, sometime in the 3rd and 4th centuries. His real life reputation for generosity and kindness eventually grew into the legendary gift giving figure that inspired both me and Santa Claus around the world.
