1. The name Myra comes from the ancient port and capital city of Lycia, now in modern day Turkey. The name was popularly associated with the Greek name for myrrh (Greek for "bitter"), an aromatic resin obtained from a small thorny
tree. Myrrh was used widely for incense and fragrance, medicinal purposes, anointing the dead, and for flavoring wine. The city of Myra featured a large Greco-Roman amphitheater and once had a great temple to the goddess Artemis. The temple was later destroyed by the command of
St.
Nicholas, a popular bishop at Myra in the 4th century AD. St.
Nicholas was known for his charitable nature and humility. Several legends about him have been based on his kind and giving nature and have led to the development of Santa Claus. In another link to
Christmas, the name Myra is associated with the same "myrrh" that, according to
Matthew, was brought as a gift to the infant Jesus by the Three Kings, along with gold and frankincense.
2. A witty, charming, mysterious female.
They named their
baby Myra, because she was born near
Christmas, and therefore associated with St.
Nicholas as well as myrrh, a gift for the infant Jesus.
