1993

For the first time the representatives of the 3 big celestial religions have participated in the Santa Claus activities to start a dialogue between the religions.

Unfortunately in the past thousands of people had died because of the wars between the religions and today because of this prejudice on beliefs people are still staying far away from each other. So it was surely impossible not to accept people’s different beliefs in the Santa Claus and Call for the World Peace Activities.

It was surely impossible not to accept people’s different beliefs in the Santa Claus and Call for the World Peace Activities.

Cioffari Gerardo Catholic representative from Bari while expressing that St. Nicholas was a humanist and that tolerance was necessary for peace added, “the generation of such a desirable environment for a dialogue between the religions during these activities, held in commemoration of St. Nicholas who treaded these soils harbouring similar emotions, is a source of inspiration to the whole world. Unfortunately there isn’t dialogue between the religions in our world today. But I have seen the spark here.”

The Religious leaders who have participated in the activities also presented a joint “Peace Declaration” on the 6^th of December 1993: “Today as the representatives of the 3 celestial religions we call the world from this cute little Anatolian borough called Demre for the brotherhood love equal to love of God and for peace as its result. We humbly request from the leaders of our countries and the world to agree with the Peace Call from Demre where St. Nicholas had lived and died. We sincerely hope that our world will never face a war from now on. The belief to live for peace is the essence of all the 3 celestial religions. We, monotheists, without considering any difference, from one heart and one tounge, calling our world and the humanity for Peace: LET’S UNITE AND CALL THE HUMANITY FOR PEACE. We pray to God All Mighty to render us successful in our task and remain with our humblest wishes for a bright and peaceful future for humanity.”

Signatures of the Declaration: Mayor of Demre, The Chief Rabbi for the Jewish Congregation in Turkey, Religious leadership of the Catholic Community in Turkey, Fener Orthodox Patriarchy, Turkish Armenian Patriarchy, The Syrian Orthodox Bishop, Turkish Anglican Church, Protestant Churches in Turkey.

The essence of remembering the life story, starting in the 4^th century in Anatolia, of Santa Claus who is the friend of the children all around the world and organizing activities in the name of him was tolerance, peace and love. It was impossible to provide the world peace without tolerance.

In the year 1994, during the traditional activities we have united the tolerance and peace together. Santa Claus and the human love he symbolizes are over religions and Universal. Peace, love and child love do not change from religion to religion and are Universal values. At the activities held in the name of Santa Claus in Turkey suiting with his rightful fame, no difference have been considered and the world have been embraced with love.

If Santa Claus, the patron saint of children, sailors and cities, lived toda y he would certainly become an environmentalist because of the pollution which threatens our planet. This idea constituted the subject of the year. We know that environment was very important for peace and that one has to live in peace with the environment to be able to enjoy peace.

The idea of presenting a peace award in the name of Santa Claus was also firstly constituted in 1995. Santa Claus was the symbol to peace, love, brotherhood and all the goodness and a Peace Award presented in the name of him would be an important message to the world. And the first award has been presented to Ivar BUTERFAS who was a Jewish German citizen.

The subject in 1997 was art which has been the means to developments in the human history and civilizations. The art, considering no difference between the religions, languages and races, uniting the humanity in common feelings. Prof. Dr. Işın YALÇINKAYA participating in the activities have summarized our purpose: “... At the begining of the human history the art started in the system of beliefs and values and had different meanings parallel to every age’s values, necessities and aesthetic views. Today it is focused on contributing to peace, an esteemed purpose.”

Children of the world have met in Demre-Antalya with their beloved Santa Claus in the activites held in his name for the very first time.The Santa Claus activities began as the peace torch was lit and hundreds of white pigeons were let flying at a park in Istanbul. The day after children have visited the President of Turkish Republic in Çankaya-Ankara and the President met them in Santa Claus costume. The same day they have visited Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Atatürk the founder of Turkish Republic.

Children from all over the world enjoyed themselves in Antalya and slept less than usual during the activities. Our children have showed that Santa Claus is the living symbol of love, brotherhood, peace and goodness. Children of the world expressed their expectations and gave important messages for the world peace.

Children left the homeland of Santa Claus with pretty memories and new hopes so as to meet in 2000 for “Human Love”.

The owner of “Santa Claus Peace Award” was TRT (Turkish Radio & Television).

Starting a new year, a new century and a new millenium was very important for the foundation as it was for all the world. So as to live a new millenium with more love and peace the new millenium was to start with “Human Love”. The subject “Human Love” was determined by the children of the world participated in our activities in 1998. Children participated in the activites from 70 countries for one month were not speaking the same language, but the friendship they have established have showed us that “LOVE” was the most effective way to communicate. On the 31^st of December 2000, as we have promised in 1998, we were together wtih the children of the world in front of the clock counting down to the 21^st century in the Santa Claus Church’s garden. They have danced, made Anatolian folk dance and sang songs. They have started the new millenium wishing to live the beatuies they have lived during the Santa Claus Activities between the dates of 01-31 December 2000 again and these beatuies to be a sample for the world. They have met 2001 with “Human Love” for lovely, peaceful and warless years.

The reasons in determining this subject were, the historical statements “Peace in the Country, Peace in the World” and “War unless vital for a country is a murder.” of Atatürk who is accepted as the biggest soldier in the world and that soldier is the most important dissuasive universal power in today’s world against war and different attacks.

Unfortunately, the terrorist attack to the U.S.A. on the 11^th of September and the hot war winds starting to blow showed that the religions and the civilazitions are not the reasons of the war, that are necessary for the humanity, and the necessity to be defined correctly and to be believed. And in 2001 we have united the “Peace” and “Soldier” concepts for the first time in the world.

During the activites getting stronger with the participation of NATO, participant religion communities and country representatives have given very important messages for the world peace. And the 2001 “Santa Claus Peace Award” owner was the biggest military power NATO in the name of the soldiers of the world.

A common declarartion presented at the end of the activities: “Today’s civilian and military leaders should hand everybody at the same distance and provide the world peace without any blood. “Peace” is the best way to reach happiness and comfort.”

Our foundation thinking that peace should become widespread with all elements and in all fields of life is believing that peace will be possible just if people can love first themselves and then their families, environment, countries, different beliefs and thoughts.The reason in determining this subject is to remind that people elder than 60 years who are called the third generation should be listened, respected and behaved in the consciousness of sharing life and love and that their experiences should be utulized by the other generations.It should be learned by heart that old people expect more affinity and compassion just like a child.

Santa Claus Foundation organises “Call Activities For World Peace With Santa Claus” activities every year. In 2005, the foundation’s subject was designated as “Sexual Identities The Path To Peace”.

The Foundation transmitted its gains about different subjects in “the peace way” to the new activity in 2005. Because of that, especially our subject that we designated in 2005 “Sexual Identities The Path To Peace”, should be considered very well by everyone.

The foundation took great care in take pains to determine a more general statement than to determine a concept which describes just the sexuality. Up to that time, none of the people who joined our activities, have been treated unequally. That attitude has facilitated to be explained the “PEACE” in the activities which are orginised adına Santa Claus since 1993. Because, it was known that, most people are against to the everything that isn’t similar to them and everything that couldn’t think like them. Humans’ that unbelieveable reflex, which disturb or trouble themselves, was causing confusions in all areas of their life. That manner was seen as the common uneasiness of the humanity. For these reasons, the “PEACE DEMOCRACY” of the Santa Claus activities was developed. Now, we want to remind everyone that there are people, with their choises, with their life-styles and especially with their state of minds, whose existence is come from human history and they couldn’t be denied and we also want to remind everyone the reality that we share the same world with those people.

Before all else, with this invitation, we wish for all people to approach their equals with love and humanely.