Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) -- The day after Christmas was a tough one for Santa in his ancestral homeland of Turkey. 

A Muslim youth group held a demonstration Thursday in Istanbul, blasting the "jolly old elf" of legend and lore for contributing to moral decay and urging residents to turn against him. 

"Traditions such as new year celebrations, Christmas tree decorations, and Santa Claus leaving presents are leading to degeneration of our culture and leading to identity crises in our society. It tears our youth from their own culture and familiarizes them with the culture of the West leading them to embrace those values," the Anatolia Youth Association said in a statement. 

The group used an inflatable plastic Santa as a prop -- littering the ground below it with beer cans, a syringe and a cross to illustrate the dangers of inviting Santa into Turkish homes. 

They also distributed an image of a man delivering a brutal left hook to Santa's bearded cheek. 

Three years ago, the same group stabbed a blow-up Santa. 

Such sentiments are not widespread in Turkey. 

Many secular Muslims in Turkey decorate their homes with Christmas trees and Santas -- known in Turkey as "Noel Baba," or Father Christmas. They exchange gifts not on Christmas, but rather New Year's Day. 

Despite Thursday's unpleasantness, Turkey and ol' Claus go way back -- all the way to 4th Century. That's when, as religious tradition has it, the Christian St. Nicholas secretly gifted money and other items to residents around his home in what is now the southern Turkish city of Demre, becoming the model for the modern Santa Claus. 
What custom is controversial in Turkey? Who doesn't like the custom? How long has Santa been associated with this country? Who is Santa patterned after? What religion is he? What did he do? Where? Where is that? Does all of Turkey agree with the demonstrators? What other religion celebrate the tradition? Are they religious? How do they celebrate? Do they exchange presents on Christmas? Do they some other time? Is Santa known by anything else? What did the demonstrators do to show their displeasure? What did this signify? What else did they do? What did they do three years ago? Where was this demonstration?
Santa A Muslim youth group Since the 4th Century. St. Nicholas Christian Gave money and other items away Demre Southern Turkey No Muslims Secular Decorate with Christmas trees and Santas Do they some other time? on New Year's Day. "Noel Baba," or Father Christmas Surrounded a plastic Santa with beer cans, a syringe and a cross the dangers that would invade Turkish homes. Handed out an image of a man hitting Santa. Stabbed a blow-up Santa. Istanbul