The Seven Lucky Gods usher in good fortune in the new year in Japan. Among them, Hotei plays the most prominent role, for he is considered not just a lucky god, but also a buddha.
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Articles on Santa Claus
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Hotei, a Japanese god who carries a large sack, has come to be identified with Santa Claus – except that he brings the goodies on New Year’s Day instead of Christmas.
As a migrant family, participating in this ritual made us feel and appear more Australian, if only to ourselves.
The number of candidates running in party primaries has ballooned since 2010. That may result in extreme, inexperienced or controversial nominees who do not represent a majority of voters.
Two Christmas traditions – those around the birth of Jesus and Santa who brings gifts to all – contain strong elements of magic.
A surge in stock markets towards year end goes against the idea of rational traders, yet it often happens.
‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ is one of the most famous American poems. But who wrote it?
A tale of gassy reindeer and psychedelic mushrooms.
Many early stories praise her work ethic and devotion. But with Mrs. Claus usually hitting the North Pole’s glass ceiling, some writers started to push back.
Millions of years of natural selection have prepared reindeer for Christmas Eve.
Christmas was popularized in the United States during the American Civil War, when Harper’s Weekly featured the image of Santa Claus visiting the Union Army on its front page.
The Christmas we celebrate today around the world, whether in northern winter or southern summer, has its roots in many cultures and traditions.
Holiday movies have been an essential part of the American winter celebrations. They offer a glimpse into how the world is could be, often in sharp contrast to reality.
In Australia, between 1930 and 1950, women repeatedly stepped in to play the role of Santa. So the figure in the red suit could be gender neutral today.
Many saints are venerated for specific reasons, professions or even nations. There are saints who are believed to provide assistance in selling a property.
Santa is the best part of Christmas for many children, but do they really believe in a magical man flying around the globe on Christmas Eve?
For many children, the anticipation of Santa’s imminent journey down the chimney to deliver gifts is nothing but magical.
A Protestant tradition with pagan roots, the Christmas tree is now a global phenomenon. It also reveals much about market economics, so let’s climb on the sleigh and take a ride around this holiday item…
The Santa myth tells us more about adults than children.
The Mueller report reveals that some U.S. citizens helped Russian government agents organize real-life events, aiding Russia’s propaganda campaign. Don’t be like them.
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Senior Lecturer in Philosophy and Education; Curriculum Director, UQ Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland
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Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Tennessee
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Adjunct associate professor, Southern Cross University
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University of Newcastle
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Senior Lecturer in Education, Queensland University of Technology
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Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast
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Clinician, Australian Catholic University
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Associate Professor, Ecology, Northumbria University, Newcastle
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Adjunct Professor, QUT Business School, and Director of Corporate Transition, Queensland University of Technology
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Lecturer in Human Geography, Newcastle University
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Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Senior Lecturer in Economics, Keele University
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Principal Lecturer in Wildlife Conservation, Nottingham Trent University
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Lecturer in Social Psychology, Lancaster University
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Professor of Political Science, University of Arkansas
