OK, you got me! I'm glad you found me, Tully, because unc was adamant about not winning again and I was concerned that if you didn't find me tonight he'd get his shot in the morning.
This almost sounded threatening!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by uncle phil
don't let me win this one, nick..
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The reason I'm in Demre is because that's the home town of St. Nicholas of Myra. Demre is the modern Turkish city where Myra used to be.
The tradition of Saint Nicholas Day, usually on 6 December, is a festival for children in many countries in Europe related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts. The American Santa Claus, as well as the Anglo-Canadian and British Father Christmas, derive from these legends. "Santa Claus" is itself derived from the Dutch Sinterklaas.
Metamorphosis in Demre
The metamorphosis of Saint Nicholas into the more commercially lucrative Santa Claus, which took several centuries in Europe and America, has recently been re-enacted in the saint's home town: the city of Demre. This modern Turkish town is built near the ruins of ancient Myra. As St. Nicholas is a very popular Orthodox saint, the city attracts many Russian tourists. A solemn bronze statue of the Saint by the Russian sculptor Gregory Pototsky, donated by the Russian government in 2000, was given a prominent place on the square in front of the medieval church of St. Nicholas. In 2005, mayor Suleyman Topcu had the statue replaced by a red-suited plastic Santa Claus statue, because he wanted the central statue to be more recognizable to visitors from all over the world. Protests from the Russian government against this action were successful only to the extent that the Russian statue was returned, without its original high pedestal, to a corner near the church.
Russian Orthodox statue of Saint Nicolas, now in a corner near the church in Demre.
Noel Baba at the square in front of the church in Demre.