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Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University

What are the origins of Santa Claus?

Andrei Porzhezhinskii/Shutterstock

We’re all familiar with the jolly, white-haired and bearded overweight man who sneaks down chimneys on Christmas Eve delivering presents to children. But where did this come from?

With roots in Christianity, the origins of the world’s most beloved gift-giver transcend time, culture and religion.

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