Ho, ho, huh? Firm denies telling Aussie Santas ho is bad word

Trainees instructed to say 'ha, ha, ha,' Sydney tabloid reports

Last Updated: Thursday, November 15, 2007 | 4:18 PM ET

CBC News

A Sydney newspaper reports that some Santas in Australia have been told not to say "ho, ho, ho" this Christmas because it could insult women, but the firm that hired and trained them denies it.

The tabloid Daily Telegraph revelled in the story Thursday, telling readers that "Santas across Sydney are rebelling against attempts to ban their traditional greeting of 'ho, ho, ho' in favour of 'ha, ha, ha.'"

The star of Calgary's 2006 Santa Claus parade didn't have to worry about jolly expressions being misconstrued.
(CBC)

"One would-be Santa has told the Daily Telegraph he was taught not to use 'ho, ho, ho' because it was too close to the American slang for prostitute," it said. "He also quit."

The Daily Telegraph is part of the news empire of Rupert Murdoch, whose holdings extend to the New York Post and Fox News in the United States and the Times, Sun and News of the World in London. Prominently featured stories on Friday included the reported breakup of a retired soccer player and his girlfriend, under the heading Footy Hunk's Mystery Split.

The villain of the Santa piece was Westaff, a firm that supplies temporary help — including hundreds of seasonal Santa Claus stand-ins — across Australia.

Westaff "has told its trainees that the 'ho ho ho' phrase could frighten children and could even be derogatory to women," the newspaper said.

Then it rounded up outraged comment:

• "Australian Childhood Foundation chief executive officer Dr. Joe Tucci said it was the latest example of political correctness gone mad. 'There is no stronger tradition for children than Santa's ho, ho, ho,' Dr Tucci said."
• "'Gimme a break,' Julie Gale, who runs the campaign against sexualising children called Kids Free 2B Kids, said. 'We are talking about little kids who do not understand that "ho, ho, ho" has any other connotation and nor should they. Leave Santa alone.'"
• "Sydney mother Maybel Lopez said she wanted her daughter Andria, 5, to grow up hearing Santa's 'ho, ho, ho' just like she had and she did not realise it had other connotations. 'It's what Santa has been saying his whole life — my whole life. It is just a normal thing really for him to say 'ho, ho, ho,' Ms Lopez said."

Westaff denied the whole thing.

"Santas trained by Westaff have not been banned from saying 'ho, ho, ho,' " the firm said in a statement posted on its website.

"Westaff has had 40 years experience in the training and provision of quality caring Santas in Australia and New Zealand," it said. "Westaff Santas are fully trained, police checked, reference checked and presented in the highest quality and authentic Santa suits.

"We believe the training we give our Santas is of the highest quality and this is reflected in the many happy moments which they provide to thousands of children across Australia and New Zealand each Christmas,"  the statement said.

"At no time has Westaff directed its Santas not to use 'ho ho ho.'"