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Christmas, one of the most extravagant and famous holidays of the year. December 25th is a day filled with laughter, presents and love. But how did Christmas become Christmas? How did this festival come to be the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ? How was Christmas celebrated in the past, and how has the past affected the present?

Where can you find glittering Christmas lights twinkle beside the soft, warm glow of red lanterns? In Singapore, it is a familiar sight. Streets come alive with doors draped in Christmas wreaths, the rhythmic energy of dragon dances, children in Halloween costumes weaving past homes bright with Deepavali colours, and markets overflowing with festive treats from every culture imaginable. Here, holidays coexist; they overlap, mix and evolve seamlessly, creating a vibrant cultural tapestry that is unique.

By Shams Tlili Introduction “Freedom Writers” is a 2007 film recounting the story of American teacher Erin Gruwell. Receiving majorly favourable reviews and praised for …

While a typical “white Christmas” is associated with snow, fireplaces, and America’s favourite evergreen trees, Fiji is centred on Christian worship, with special church services, nativity plays, and carolling filling Christmas Eve and Day. Christmas is one of the three most significant holidays in Fiji, rooted in the early Christianization of the islands and evolving into a versatile festival of togetherness, food, and fellowship.

10 years of production, 42 episodes, over 50 credited performers, and a budget of $480 million on season five alone. Stranger Things has certainly evolved. From its beginnings as a dubious proposition, rejected countless times by numerous networks, to shaping a devoted fan base driven by their appetence for nostalgia and the innovative spin the show takes from conventional storytelling. The Duffer Brothers were able to span the multigenerational divide with the program’s meticulous recreation of the 1980s, depicting the era’s aesthetics, music, fashion and making artful allusions to the pop culture at the time.

The history of the Lunar New Year started about 3000 years ago, with a beast named “Nian (年)”, which means “year” in Chinese. According to Chinese mythology, the beast would attack villagers with its sharp teeth. The beast resembles a lion, a unicorn, and an ox since they share similar features.

An art form, a culture, an expression of identity, just one plant incorporates all these beautiful meanings. Just one brown paste provides jobs, joy, and enriches culture.

By Diya Harish Holidays are often defined as timeless occasions which are rooted in culture, faith and family. Yet many of the traditions that we …

Japan is known for its unique take on Christmas – a secular, commercial, and romantic holiday. But what are its origins? Why is it celebrated as yet another Valentine’s Day? Today, very few Japanese are Christian, mainly due to the historic policies of the ruling shogunate, which saw Christianity as a political threat to its authority and national stability, leading to its brutal suppression and a nationwide ban for over 250 years.

We are all aware of our anxieties and concerns, which grow as the progress through secondary school continues. Concerns about assessments, as well as the frequent changes that secondary school entails, follow us throughout our school days. Everyone requires a coping method to deal with stress and change, and different people employ various strategies.

Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth invites you into the sweltering world of Crossmore, an Irish Catholic town so quaint it’s almost claustrophobic. For Lucy and her tightly-knit group of friends, it comes alive in the summer, during long days spent sunbathing and long nights where the town’s pretty young things gather for the space of a few bottles.

With the themes of first love, heartbreak, friendship, and grief, The Summer I Turned Pretty has all the ingredients for a moving teen drama. Yet, instead of being swept up in belly’s journey, many viewers were left frustrated by her choices and questioning how the supposed heart of the story became its weakest link.

New Year’s are universally recognised as fresh starts, an empty calendar, or rather canvas waiting to be painted with uncharted ambitions, emerging responsibilities and ultimately, novel difficulties. It’s a strange yet greatly assimilated notion. One could have endured a harrowing year of persistent struggles, but as the clock strikes midnight on the 31st, for many, it’s as if all is renewed, and they’ve been granted a new chapter in their life’s stories.

It’s Halloween season, and the days of sharing stories of the supernatural have returned. One such tale is that of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII.

By Mali Martel Simonetti  Art, being a profoundly subjective field of study, invites a kaleidoscope of approaches and perspectives from artists around the globe. According …

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, “Brat Summer” is a term coined by the internet, derived from the smash-hit Brat album produced by Charli XCX, an innovative, half-desi, singer, songwriter, and producer. Described by USA Today as “an embrace of a hot-mess pop star aesthetic, prioritising club culture at its core,” Brat  Summer is essentially playing with the very relatable idea of ‘fun and dirty’ according to ’80s and ’90s experiences, mixed with Millennials’ and Gen-Z’s ideals in 2024.

By Liana Martin The beginning of fall marks a time of change. Leaves begin to fall, days become shorter, and the sticky summer wind is …

By Jacob Goldstein Chappell Roan, born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, is one of this generation’s popstars. Specializing in cross-genre style pop, rock, and electronic music, she …

All Baldur’s Gate 3 romance options.

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” Victor Hugo’s words may as well have been an understatement. Music is the voice for the mute. Melodies are the colours for the blind. It lifts spirits and sparks revolutions. With such power that it wields, it is also feared.

The movie The Princess Bride (1987) is considered a cult classic, and in my biassed opinion, is easily one of the best movies ever.

I knew anime adaptation would be great. However, for the number of things the show did correctly; there were an equal number of things done wrong.

By Samaira Kalia For me, reading is something I do every day and something I can do for hours. I’ve read fiction and non-fiction, fantasy …

Star Trek, since the beginning of its inception, has always been a franchise revolving around crafting “the ideal future”; the depiction of human civilization as having transcended the terrestrial maladies of our history.

Discover Darando’s journey of untapped potential, vibrant artistry, and enduring influence, a testament to his timelessness

STOP SAYING THAT THE SIMPSONS PREDICTED THE FUTURE!

For years, the corset has spurred conversations within the fashion community, representing ideas of oppression, power and femininity.

Barbie tells the story of a “Stereotypical Barbie”, who traverses into the real world, and discovers the complexity of womenhood.

Why is such a seemingly small footballing country like Saudi Arabia suddenly paying so much attention to football?