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Santa Claus 'buried in Ireland'

Friday, 18 December 2009

Santa welcomes the Belfast City Hall tree to its traditional spot

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The saint who the legend of Santa Claus is based on is believed to be buried in Kilkenny, according to local historians.

The remains of St Nicholas of Myra, the philanthropist who lived in the 4th century and was the bishop of Lycia, are thought to have been moved to Jerpoint Abbey some 800 years ago.

During his life, St Nicholas left anonymous gifts for the poor and his well-known generosity propelled him to sainthood shortly after his death in 346, inspiring the legend of the jolly man in the red suit.

One story attributed to St Nicholas was that of a a poor man with three daughters who didn’t have the money to buy their dowries and thus save his children from slavery. As the girls came of age and the man’s angst increased, bags of gold were tossed through a window or down a chimney over three nights - providing him with the funds he needed to save his girls.

It is thought that the man who inspired the tradition of leaving presents under a Christmas tree, came from a wealthy family and he is believed to have given much of his fortune away. Early pilgrims visited the cathedral in Myra to pay their respects to the bishop.

The bishop was originally buried at a local church in Myra, in modern day Turkey, when he died. Historians now believe his body was later moved to the abbey in Ireland by early crusaders.

Chairman of Callan Heritage Society Philip Lynch said that the remains were twice transferred across Europe in the 12th century.

Mr Lynch claims a French family called the de Frainets moved the saint’s remains from Myra to Italy in 1169. A relative called Nicholas de Frainet then took the remains to Ireland when his family relocated there and built a dedicated Cistercian abbey to the saint at Jerpoint.

“St Nicholas Church is still standing and there is a slab on the ground which marks St Nicholas's grave,” he said.

Few locals know of the much-loved figure’s link with Kilkenny.

“It is an amazing story and yet very few people in Ireland know about St Nicholas's connection with this country,” he said. “Every year now we get visitors to the site, but still not that many.”

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21 Comments

'inspiring the legend of the jolly man in the red suit.'

Why make the Irish out to be the claimers of EVERY myth and legend. Perhaps this inspired the legend of Santa Claus, but Coca Cola were responsible for the image of the man in the red suit! It was a marketing campaign - that is why the colours the image wears are the same as on the Coca Cola bottles and cans.

Posted by Lorna | 21.12.09, 18:25 GMT

Ah, sure and where else would he be happy. Merry Christmas.

Posted by Patrick Corr | 19.12.09, 09:53 GMT

santa is dead-I did not know that !

Posted by john mckillop | 19.12.09, 06:44 GMT

Buried in Kilkenny? Next you'll be telling me he invented hurling...

Posted by DM | 18.12.09, 23:30 GMT

Well dig him up, I'm still waiting for my Raleigh Chopper!!!!!!!

Posted by Malachy Mulligan | 18.12.09, 20:45 GMT

Santa's buried in Ireland - did the Real IRA do it?

Posted by Glenn S. | 18.12.09, 20:23 GMT

What Santa is dead and buried, well I be knocked down with a feather after all these years I have been looking forward to being one of the first people on the planet to get a visit from him, but he never comes no I know why:

Posted by Des | 18.12.09, 20:06 GMT

I reckon there will be alot of Cavan people taking their kids to kilkenny on christmas eve from now on... lol.

Posted by James | 18.12.09, 19:08 GMT

the saint that is familirised with santa is buried in ireland not sanat...edgitS!

Posted by d | 18.12.09, 16:03 GMT

The truth is every Irish child who begins to question the existence of Santa is taken by their parents to Santa's grave. A little reality never hurts a growing child.

Posted by Hari Seldon | 18.12.09, 16:02 GMT

It's little wonder that blarney is associated with the Irish. Next thing they'll be establishing a shrine so that tourists will flock to it. Some people will do anything to get their country out of a financial crisis.

Posted by Ed | 18.12.09, 15:59 GMT