As early as Nov. 1, stores and homes start sporting their Christmas best. Well before Thanksgiving has its moment to shine, our lives are engulfed by everything red and green. The Christmas carols begin billowing from department store loudspeakers, and, of course, Santa Claus is everywhere. Regardless of their religion, nearly everyone in the U.S. is acquainted with the bearded, gift-bearing, jolly figure who originated from the legend of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. However, there is still one thing most people don't know about the Christmas mascot: Why does Santa say "ho, ho, ho"?
The truth is simple: The catchphrase is "used to represent laughter," according to Merriam-Webster. So, when Santa utters "ho, ho, ho," he isn't actually saying anything—he's laughing! Now, you might be asking yourself why Santa doesn't simply say "ha, ha, ha" if he's having a chuckle. Well, the answer lies in his figure. One of Santa's most iconic features is his round belly—and when a person says "ho, ho, ho," the sound is considered to come from the stomach. The phrase is also often associated with warmth and old age, both of which fit Santa's image perfectly.
In fact, "ho, ho, ho" has become such an iconic part of Santa's persona that the Canada Post uses the characters HOH OHO as the postal code for letters sent to Santa!
But Santa isn't the only figure who uses the phrase "ho, ho, ho." The Jolly Green Giant from Grimm’s Fairy Tales is known for saying it, and so is Jabba the Hutt from the Star Wars series.
However, it's worth noting that Santa doesn't say "ho, ho, ho" everywhere. In Australia, jolly old Saint Nick was banned from saying "ho, ho, ho" in 2009 for fear that the phrase might scare children! And if you want to learn more about Santa, check out the 17 Things You Never Knew About Santa Claus.
