In Turkey, Santa Claus is called Noel Baba, which translates to "Father Christmas". He is a popular figure during New Year's celebrations, bringing gifts for children and adults, and is deeply rooted in the history of Saint Nicholas, who was born in Patara and served as the Bishop of Myra (modern-day Demre) in Turkey.
What's Christmas called in Turkey? Being a Muslim country, Christmas isn't celebrated in Turkey. But Santa Claus is termed Noel Baba in Turkish, who is believed to bring gifts on New Year's eve in Turkey.
Saint Nicholas, aka Santa Claus, was born circa 280 in Patara, Lycia, an area that is part of present-day Turkey. He lost both of his parents as a young man and reportedly used his inheritance to help the poor and sick. A devout Christian, he later served as bishop of Myra, a city that is now called Demre.
Countries in which Christmas is not a formal public holiday include Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, China (excepting Hong Kong and Macau), the Comoros, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, the Maldives, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, the Sahrawi Republic, ...
In Iceland we open the presents on Christmas eve and have 13 Santa Clauses that visit the children. The first one arrives 13 nights before Christmas, the children put their shoes in the window and the santa puts a little present or a treat in their shoe (or a potato if they've been naughty).
The most universal greeting in Turkish is "Merhaba", translating to "Hello" in English. It is suitable for most situations, regardless of the formality of the context. For a more casual greeting, particularly among friends or acquaintances, "Selam" is commonly used.
Nasılsın? "How are you?" The original form of this sentence is Sen nasılsın? meaning "How are you?" in an informal context and Siz nasılsınız? in a formal context.
What do Muslims do instead of celebrating Christmas?
Muslims don't celebrate Christmas; instead, they observe two major festivals, Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (the Festival of Sacrifice), focusing on communal prayer, charity (Zakat), feasting, visiting family, and giving gifts, rooted in Islamic traditions rather than Christian ones. While some Muslim families in multicultural settings might join secular holiday activities or share meals with non-Muslim friends, their core religious celebrations are the Eids, emphasizing gratitude and community.
Long before the symbol of Father Christmas emerged in England, the separate legend of Sinterklaas was gaining ground in Europe. The origins of Sinterklaas can be found in the stories of St Nicholas, a 4th-century Greek bishop from Myra, now in modern-day Turkey.
What do Turkish people celebrate instead of Christmas?
Turks do not celebrate Christmas or the birth of Jesus but celebrate the coming New Year in a festive atmosphere filled with new hopes and promises. Expats may feel as if they are home for the holidays as the streets and cafés are decorated with lights.
Muslims don't celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday but we absolutely honor the story at the heart of it. In fact, Mariam or Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the most honored women in Islam. An entire chapter of the Quran is named after her.
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bhutan, North Korea, Libya, Mauritania, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Yemen do not recognize Christmas as a public holiday.
The beautiful beaches and warm weather along the Mediterranean coast also draw visitors from both Eastern and Western Europe. They may come to Demre as pilgrims, or, out of curiosity, wondering about the origin of Santa Claus, who is called Noel Baba or Father Christmas in Turkey.
The term “Belsnickeling” comes from Belsnickel, a companion figure to Santa Claus in German folklore. Think of Belsnickel as the stern equivalent to the jolly Saint Nick. Belsnickel traditionally dressed in furs (or sometimes rags, depending on the area) and carried a switch (a small wooden whip).
Saint Nicholas of Myra (traditionally 15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of Greek descent from the maritime city of Patara in Anatolia (in modern-day Antalya Province, Turkey) during the time of the Roman Empire.
The fig sign is a mildly obscene gesture that uses a thumb wedged in between two fingers. The gesture is most commonly used to ward off the evil eye, insult someone, or deny a request. It has been used at least since the Roman Age in Southern Europe and parts of the Mediterranean region, including in Turkish culture.
🌟 Learn Basic Turkish – Word of the Day 🌟 🇹🇷 Today's Word: Teşekkürler (Te-she-kür-ler) 👉 Meaning: Thank you / شکریہ / شكراً 💬 Translations: • In Urdu: شکریہ • In Arabic: شكراً (Shukran) ✨ Use it to show gratitude — it's one of the most useful words you'll say in Turkey!
🤝 General Tips Use your right hand when giving or receiving items. Avoid pointing your feet at people, especially in mosques. And when greeting elders, a slight nod or handshake shows respect. These small gestures can make your experience in Turkey even more meaningful.
