In Turkey, Santa Claus did not arrive with reindeers and a sleigh, but… paragliding. Ilker Özgüven, a paraglider fan, dressed up as the popular Christmas character and jumped from the Amanos Mountains in Iskenderun, carrying a bag full of gifts. After flying for about 20 minutes, he landed in the city’s Atatürk Square, where he handed out presents to children and posed for several photos. “I did this to cheer up the children. We have had a difficult time because of the pandemic, I hope better days are coming. I ask people not to forget to cheer up children,” he said. Santa Claus is a very popular figure in Turkey: it was here, in the town of Demre, where Saint Nicholas was born, a 4th century bishop who is the origin of the modern legend of Santa Claus.
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Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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