Where Santa Claus is buried

Italy Located in the Basilica of San Nicola, Bari town are the remains of the character considered to be "the origin of the legend of Santa Claus".

Every child knows that Santa Claus travels around the world in his reindeer-pulled sleigh, delivering Christmas presents down chimneys, and then returns home to the North Pole.

When tourists visit Bari, a small town located at the heel of Italy's boot, they will be told another story, about a thousand-year-old tomb that is said to contain the remains of Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas (Nick).

Saint Nicholas is recognized worldwide as the inspiration for the legend of Santa Claus. Nicholas was a real saint, born in Myra, an ancient town in Türkiye.

The Basilica of San Nicola in Bari, which houses the remains of St Nicholas. Photo: Alamy Stock

Saint Nick was born around 270 AD and died 67 years later. He is revered throughout the Mediterranean for his generosity, especially in Bari. It is believed that his extraordinary generosity led Bari sailors to steal his remains in 1087 and transport them to their town.

Today, most of the remains believed to belong to St. Nicholas rest beneath the Basilica of San Nicola, the town's largest church, and are visited by devotees and tourists from all over the world.

Local director Antonio Palumbo says Bari people pride themselves on three things: good food, pristine beaches and St. Nicholas. They keep pictures or statues of the saint in their wallets and cars as good luck charms and see him as a hero. As a result, they are somewhat confused when faced with Christmas and believe that St. Nicholas has nothing to do with modern Christmas traditions.

Maria Rita Mauro, head of the local Tourism Promotion Office, said people worship St. Nick because he is their patron saint. "We don't consider him Santa Claus, we simply consider him St. Nick," Mauro said.

Bari's St. Nick celebrations begin on the night of December 5. People attend Mass at dawn the following morning and enjoy hot chocolate, pancakes and corn fritters. This is followed by a street festival with music as the statue of St. Nick is paraded through the old town to the giant Christmas tree. Bars and pastry shops are busy.

Basilica of San Nicola seen from outside. Photo: Alamy Stock

Although the people of Bari are reluctant to acknowledge the connection between St. Nick and Santa Claus, wanting to protect the image of their beloved saint, the local church supports the connection. Father Giovanni Distante of the Basilica of San Nicola, said that "they are the same person".

"Santa Claus is simply an evolution, a transformation of the figure of Saint Nicholas, a saint respected all over the world," said Father Distante. Father Gerardo Cioffari said that the image of Saint Nicholas delivering gifts is "a historical event" and not simply a legend.

Things are slowly changing in Bari as more and more people are looking to leverage this connection to turn the town into a tourist attraction, especially during Christmas.

Paco Ricchiuti, head of Velo Service, a local travel agency, has started to cash in on this connection. He organizes guided tours of the local basilica and museum, which houses relics of St. Nicholas, and the stadium that bears his name. In the historic district of Bari Vecchia, visitors can admire many murals of the local hero, including one depicting St. Nicholas practicing yoga.

Tourists take photos with a St. Nicholas impersonator during Paco Ricchiuti's tour. Photo: CNN

Tourists can also drink the famous San Nicola beer made from local ingredients and buy souvenir T-shirts with San Nicola's image on them. But experts still say the town should do more to attract visitors.

"I'm so happy that Santa Claus is actually buried in my hometown. Bari is where the legend of Santa Claus originated. People all over the world envy this and we don't realize how lucky we are," said Paco Ricchiuti.

Anh Minh (According to CNN )

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