Is Santa from Turkey or Finland? The Truth May Surprise You

Where the Legend Really Begins: A Turkish Tale

Well, here's the thing — if we’re talking historical facts, Santa technically comes from Turkey. I know, I was surprised too the first time I heard it.

The original figure behind Santa Claus is Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop from Myra, which is now Demre, in modern-day Turkey. This guy was known for his generosity, especially towards kids and the poor. He once tossed bags of gold through a poor family's window to save their daughters from... well, let's just say, a very grim fate. That's how the whole “secret gift-giving” tradition started.

Who was Saint Nicholas, really?

He wasn’t chubby, didn’t wear red, and definitely didn’t live in the North Pole. But he was real. A Greek bishop, with a reputation that spread fast through Europe during the Middle Ages. His bones were even stolen (yes, stolen) and moved to Bari, Italy, which became a huge pilgrimage site.

I actually visited Demre once during a backpacking trip around the Turkish coast — didn’t plan to, just stumbled across this old stone church and found out it was the Church of Saint Nicholas. Kinda blew my mind.

So Where Does Finland Come In?

Okay, now let’s jump forward a few centuries. This is where things get... well, fuzzier.

Finland enters the scene thanks to folklore, snow, and clever marketing. In Lapland, up in the Arctic Circle, Finns claim that Santa (or Joulupukki, their version of him) lives in Korvatunturi, a remote fell on the border with Russia. Yeah, middle of nowhere.

Why Lapland makes sense (emotionally)

Let’s be real — when you picture Santa, do you think of sunny Mediterranean coasts? Nah. You see snow, pine trees, reindeer, northern lights... Lapland feels like Santa’s home. The whole setup is just perfect. I even had a friend, Markus (he’s Finnish, of course), who told me his dad used to pretend to call Santa from a satellite phone — like, direct line to Korvatunturi. As a kid, I’d have lost it.

The Evolution: From Saint to Santa

Honestly, it’s a weird but fascinating transformation.

Saint Nicholas becomes Sinterklaas in the Netherlands. Dutch immigrants bring him to America, where he eventually morphs into Santa Claus. Somewhere between Coca-Cola ads, Clement Clarke Moore’s poem (you know, the “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” one), and department store parades — we get the jolly red-suited guy we know today.

So… yeah, not Finnish or Turkish by passport. More like a cultural remix with a serious glow-up.

Wait — So Who "Owns" Santa?

This is where I go back and forth. My brain says Turkey, but my heart... it’s in Finland. I mean, they literally have an official Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. He’s got a post office. He gets like half a million letters a year from kids around the world. That’s hard to argue with.

But then again — if you ignore Saint Nick, you erase centuries of history. And honestly, that church in Demre? It feels sacred. Like, you’re standing where the legend really began.

Final Thoughts (and a Bit of a Messy Conclusion)

So... is Santa from Turkey or Finland?

Historically? Turkey.
Culturally and emotionally? Finland's got a solid claim.

It’s a bit like asking if pizza is Italian or American. Depends what slice you’re talking about.

I used to think Santa was just this made-up North Pole dude — never even considered he had a passport, let alone a Byzantine one. But after diving into all this, I’ve got a whole new respect for the mix of myth, history, and pure magic that makes up Santa.

And hey, maybe that’s the best part — he belongs a little bit to all of us.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.