You hear it before you see him. That deep, belly-shaking rumble that cuts through the mall's generic pop music or the freezing night air at a local parade. It’s iconic. It’s universal. Honestly, it’s probably the most recognized vocalization in the history of Western folklore. But have you ever stopped to wonder why Santa saying ho ho became the gold standard for holiday cheer? It wasn’t always this way. If you go back far enough, the man in the red suit was a lot more solemn, a lot less "jolly old elf," and definitely a lot quieter.
The sound itself is a linguistic shortcut for pure, unadulterated joy. Linguists often point out that the "h" sound combined with an open vowel like "o" requires a specific type of breathy exhalation that mimics the physical act of laughing. It’s a voiced laugh. It’s a signal to kids that the big guy with the beard is a friend, not a threat.
The Weird History Behind the Laugh
Most people assume Santa has been shouting "Ho ho ho!" since the Fourth Century. Not true. The real Saint Nicholas of Myra was a serious Greek bishop. He was known for secret gift-giving and being a bit of a hard-nose when it came to church doctrine. There are no historical records of him belly-laughing in the streets of what is now modern-day Turkey. The transformation took centuries.
It really started to gel in the 1800s. Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," gave us the physical blueprint. Moore described Santa having a "little round belly" that "shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly." He didn't explicitly write out the words "Ho ho ho," but he set the stage. He gave Santa the anatomy required for that specific sound. You can't really do a convincing "Ho ho ho" if you're thin and wiry; it demands a certain resonance that only a "jolly old elf" can provide.
Then came Thomas Nast. He was the illustrator for Harper’s Weekly who basically drew the Santa we know today. Nast’s drawings throughout the mid-to-late 19th century depicted a Santa who looked like he was constantly mid-chuckle. By the time the 20th century rolled around, Santa saying ho ho was becoming a cultural fixture.
Haddon Sundblom and the Coca-Cola Influence
If Nast gave Santa his face, Coca-Cola gave him his voice. Starting in the 1930s, artist Haddon Sundblom began creating the legendary Coca-Cola Santa advertisements. These ads weren't just static images; they told stories. They showed Santa raiding the fridge, playing with toys, and, most importantly, laughing.
The "Ho ho ho" became a marketing masterstroke. It was easy to remember. It translated across borders. It sounded like the holidays. In those early radio ads and later television spots, the voice actors leaned heavily into the deep, bass-heavy laugh. They needed to make him sound legendary. They succeeded. It’s a vibe.
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Is "Ho Ho Ho" Actually Dying Out?
Believe it or not, there was a weird controversy about this a few years back. In 2007, some reports surfaced out of Australia suggesting that Santas were being told to stop saying "Ho ho ho" because it might be offensive to women or too scary for kids. The idea was that they should switch to "Ha ha ha."
It was a total mess.
People were outraged. The "Ho ho ho" is sacred to many. As it turned out, the story was largely overblown—a few recruitment firms had suggested the change, but the vast majority of Santas (and the public) rejected it immediately. You can't just change a hundred-year-old vocal tradition because of a linguistic coincidence. "Ha ha ha" sounds like a generic laugh. Santa saying ho ho sounds like Christmas. There’s a weight to it.
The Art of the Professional Santa Laugh
Being a professional Santa is actually harder than it looks. You don't just put on a suit and yell. Real-deal Santas attend schools—like the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Michigan—where they actually study the nuances of the character.
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The laugh is a major part of the curriculum. A "Ho ho ho" from the throat sounds scratchy and fake. It has to come from the diaphragm. It’s an operatic technique, basically. If a Santa does it wrong for eight hours a day at a mall, he’ll lose his voice by December 10th.
- Deep Resonance: It has to vibrate in the chest.
- The Cadence: Usually three beats. Slow. Deliberate.
- The Facial Expression: Eyes must crinkle. If the eyes don't laugh, the "Ho ho ho" feels creepy.
The best Santas know that "Ho ho ho" isn't just a catchphrase; it's a tool for crowd control. If a line of kids is getting rowdy, a well-timed, booming laugh resets the energy of the room. It’s authoritative yet kind.
Why We Need the Laugh
We live in a pretty cynical world. Everything is fast, digital, and often a bit cold. Santa saying ho ho is a throwback to a slower kind of magic. It’s one of the few things that hasn't changed in an era of AI and social media. When a kid hears that sound, they aren't thinking about algorithms. They're thinking about reindeer.
There is a psychological comfort in the repetition. We know exactly what Santa is going to say. That predictability is why the tradition survives. It's a psychological anchor for the holiday season.
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Real-World Tips for Mastering the Holiday Spirit
If you’re the one tasked with putting on the suit this year for the family gathering or a local charity event, don’t just wing the laugh. People can smell a fake Santa from a mile away.
First, get the breathing right. Take a deep breath into your belly, not your chest. When you let out the "Ho," imagine you’re trying to move a candle flame across the room without blowing it out. It should be a sustained, rich sound.
Second, don't overdo it. You don't need to say it every thirty seconds. Use it as an entrance, an exit, or a response to something funny a kid says. Overusing it makes it lose its power.
Third, watch the classics. Watch Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street. His Santa was subtle. He didn't always need to boom. Sometimes a soft, chuckling "ho ho" is more effective than a shout. It’s about the warmth behind the sound, not the volume.
Actionable Insights for Your Holiday Season
To truly embrace the spirit of the season and the tradition of the "Ho ho ho," consider these practical steps:
- Research the History: Read Clement Clarke Moore's poem with your family and look at Thomas Nast's original sketches. Understanding where the imagery comes from makes the tradition feel deeper.
- Practice Mindfulness: The "Ho ho ho" represents joy. Try to find small moments of genuine, "belly-laugh" joy in your own life this December, away from the stress of shopping.
- Support Professional Santas: If you visit a mall Santa, acknowledge the work they put in. Many of them are trained performers who spend months preparing their "Ho ho ho" and their persona to keep the magic alive for children.
- Keep the Magic Grounded: If you have kids who are afraid of the loud laugh, explain that it's just Santa's way of saying he's happy. Context matters more than the volume.
The tradition of Santa saying ho ho isn't just a marketing gimmick or a weird linguistic quirk. It’s a piece of living history that connects us to generations of holiday celebrants. Whether you hear it in a movie, at a parade, or coming from the living room on Christmas morning, it’s a reminder to take a breath, have a laugh, and maybe—just for a second—believe in the magic.