Happy Santa or Laughing Buddha?
Buddhism has a figure strikingly similar to Santa Claus named Budai pronounced Hotei in Japanese. His name means "Cloth Sack," and comes from the bag that he carries. He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the Laughing Buddha. Budai's bag is said to be always be full of presents for children; he is often pictured with tots climbing all over him. In China and Japan he is a symbol of abundance and sometimes even overindulgence.
“10AM Santa’s coming to town”
