# Santa's "Ho Ho Ho" called insulting to women **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2007, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531 "2007-11-15T14:08:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/21 "2007-11-15T20:18:58Z")
At Christmas a few years ago, my Chinese friend whose last name is Ho had two banners hung up on the railing of their balcony. Each banner said “Ho Ho Ho.” So between her two parents, her three siblings, and her, there was one “Ho” for each of them. I wanted them to stick Post-Its with their names above each “Ho.” ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/22 "2007-11-15T20:20:02Z")
That’s sad. Really sad. Worse than altering the lyrics to White Christmas to make it more compatible with someone’s ideals for Christmas Eve. (Real lyrics–“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas”, suggested new and improved lyrics–“I’m praying for a White Christmas”. Great. Let’s make God sound like a cosmic weatherman, who will bring us snow if we just pray hard enough.) (Aside–the above anecdote is in response to a proposed _instrumental_ performance of White Christmas in a church service “late” on Christmas Eve. Not online recreational outrage. Not sure what the timing of the service is, so I don’t know how late it actually may be.) ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/23 "2007-11-15T20:44:38Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Well, let’s examine this, shall we? Obviously, “Ho, Ho, Ho” is now too offensive. Is it too late to move back to “Slut, Slut, Slut”?QUOTE] The new saying just revert back to the original Ole English “Whore, Whore, Whore” ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/24 "2007-11-15T20:51:15Z")
Or back a bit further to, “Slattern, Slattern, Slattern.” ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/25 "2007-11-15T20:51:59Z")
“Trollop, trollop, trollop”? ETA: Sounds like what a horse does. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/26 "2007-11-15T21:01:44Z")
“Tart, tart, tart”? ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/27 "2007-11-15T21:17:30Z")
[QUOTE=labtrash] [QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Well, let’s examine this, shall we? Obviously, “Ho, Ho, Ho” is now too offensive. Is it too late to move back to “Slut, Slut, Slut”?QUOTE] The new saying just revert back to the original Ole English “Whore, Whore, Whore” [/QUOTE] Fat old fuck never brought the three whores he promised me, either. ---
**Author:** ![Juggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/juggler/32/3194_2.png) [@Juggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juggler)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/28 "2007-11-15T21:23:07Z")
Is this some new front in Bill O’Reilly’s (pseudo)war on christmas? ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/29 "2007-11-15T22:21:21Z")
Wait, WHAT? _blinkblink_ :eek: :smack: Someone has been into the eggnog a little too early, methinks. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![ThirdCultureKid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@ThirdCultureKid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThirdCultureKid)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/30 "2007-11-15T23:10:47Z")
> [@](#): > > originally posted by **cochrane** > > _Ho, Ho, Ho and to all a good night!_ 😃 This _totally_ made my day ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/31 "2007-11-15T23:33:53Z")
> [@](#): > > A local spokesman for the **US-based Westaff recruitment firm** said it was “misleading” to say the company had banned Santa’s traditional greeting and it was being left up to the discretion of the individual Santa himself. (Emphasis mine.) When I lived in Oz, more often than not the US-based firms in Australia created major fuckups with its Australian staff in Australia. I’m betting there’s a translation issue going on here between the home office and OZ, coupled with some fuckwit and clueless Aussie manager at Westaff. That and the politically correct far left crowd in Oz. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/32 "2007-11-16T00:15:47Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] When I lived in Oz, more often than not the US-based firms in Australia created major fuckups with its Australian staff in Australia. I’m betting there’s a translation issue going on here between the home office and OZ, coupled with some fuckwit and clueless Aussie manager at Westaff. That and the politically correct far left crowd in Oz. [/QUOTE] I’d say your assessment is spot on. Westaff spent most of yesterday backpedalling along the lines you’ve indicated after it was subjected to general ridicule. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/33 "2007-11-16T01:05:10Z")
“Tramp, tramp, tramp” the boys are marching ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/34 "2007-11-16T01:40:42Z")
Driving behind a car today. It had the plates “C Santa” on it, and a bumper sticker that said “Got toys?” The guy driving it was by far the best Santa I have ever seen. Thick white long beard, half glasses, big belly. Drove like a frickin’ maniac, though. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/35 "2007-11-16T02:09:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Drove like a frickin’ maniac, though. He’s nothin’ without his reindeer. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/36 "2007-11-16T02:12:57Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] “Trollop, trollop, trollop”? ETA: Sounds like what a horse does. [/QUOTE] I said to bring the POSSE! ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/37 "2007-11-16T02:39:51Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] “Trollop, trollop, trollop”? ETA: Sounds like what a horse does. [/QUOTE] Isn’t that from the **Holy Grail Christmas Special**? ETA: HoHo’s, Dingdongs, Twinkies, yeah I’m kinda whorish ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/38 "2007-11-16T13:53:03Z")
\ “A Christmas Warning: Should you encounter a man in a red jacket shouting “Ho Ho Ho”, before approaching make sure it is a sidewalk Santa and NOT a pimp drumming up business” \ ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/39 "2007-12-06T13:04:22Z")
Just thought I’d update 🙂 > [@](#): > > **Laughing Santa gets the old heave ho ho ho** > > CANBERRA (Reuters) - A Santa in an Australian department store said on Wednesday he has been fired for saying “ho ho ho” and singing Christmas songs to children. > > Employment company Westaff, which supplies stores with red-robed, white-bearded Father Christmases, had earlier asked its Santas to say “ha ha ha” because the word “ho,” which is American slang for whore, could offend women, media reported. > > In the latest incident, the Cairns Post newspaper said 70-year-old John Oakes was fired on Monday for saying “ho ho ho” and for singing the Christmas song Jingle Bells. > > “They’re trying to kill the spirit of Christmas,” said Oakes, a retired entertainer who has been a Santa for three years. > > Westaff spokesman Bert Jansz told the paper Oakes had been dismissed because of his attitude, and not for his ho ho ho-ing. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531/40 "2007-12-06T13:11:42Z")
Having heard a snippet of Britten’s _Saint Nicolas_ last night, I’m reminded that Santa should more properly be associated with three women who _would_ have been hos if it weren’t for him. Eh, I sleigh me. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-ho-ho-ho-called-insulting-to-women/426531.md?page=3)